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INFORMATION SERVICE
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The AFPPD E-mail Information Service is issued every month to subscribers in order to provide information and news on AFPPD members' and other parliamentarians' activities around the world. If you are interested in subscribing to AFPPD's e-mail information service, please contact AFPPD's Secretariat |
July 2007
AFPPD Organized Training for Culturally-Sensitive Programme
Chiang Mai, July 9-13: AFPPD, in cooperation with the UNFPA and UNESCO, organized an intensive training course for national committee staff, titled "Development of Culturally-Sensitive Programme". The training was attended by 42 participants from the Asia-Pacific and Central Asia regions, and the European and African forums. The opening session of the event was addressed by Mr. Garimella Giridhar, Director of UNFPA-CST, Bangkok, and Ms. Malinee Sukavejworakit, Adviser of AFPPD. The training course aimed to provide participants with key knowledge, concepts, tools and techniques on culturally-sensitive programming. The course focused on providing an overview of culturally-linked frameworks and relevant standard-setting instruments; understanding of the importance, and inter-relation of culture, gender, human rights and development; mainstreaming cultural analysis in programmes; and the use, application and development of cultural lenses.
The training sessions were facilitated by resource persons from UNFPA, Ms. Mere Kisekka, Advisor on Gender and Socio-Cultural Research; and UNESCO, Ms. Vanessa Archilles, Programme Specialist, and Ms. Maria Majella Rio, Project Officer. The closing session of the training was addressed by Mr. Prat Boonyawongvirot, Secretary-General of AFPPD.
Steve Chadwick Received PointSeven Campaign Fair Play Awards
Wellington, July 17: The PointSeven Campaign Fair Play Awards was organized to acknowledge parties and individuals who have contributed towards reaching the internationally agreed target of 0.7 per cent of Gross Development Assistance (GNI) for Overseas Development Assistance (ODA). The event was hosted by the New Zealand Council for International Development, and Ms. Steve Chadwick MP, Chair of the AFPPD's Standing Committee on Women and Chair of the New Zealand Parliamentarians' Group on Population and Development (NZPPD). Ms. Chadwick received an award in her role as the Chair of NZPPD. A key strategic focus of the NZPPD is to encourage the New Zealand government to commit in a timetable for allocating 0.7 per cent of GNI to ODA.
Vital Role of Media Acknowledged by the Philippine Legislators' Committee
Quezon City, July 27: Network and print executives, media personalities, elected officials and development groups gathered during the launch of the "Solidarity of Media against Poverty", aiming for the promotion of public awareness on the issues of poverty, population management and human development. In her solidarity message, Ms. Darlene Custodio, Vice Chair of the Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), acknowledged the vital role played by media in informing and forming public opinion on those issues. Ms. Maria Theresa Fernandez, Programme Officer of UNFPA, also expressed her solidarity with the media and the cause.
The occasion also unveiled the 3rd Annual Population and Development Media Awards, an initiative that aims to give recognition to media practitioners who help disseminate relevant information and positive values on population and development, and heighten public awareness and knowledge on those issues. Mr. Ramon San Pascual, Executive Director of PLCPD, briefed the media representatives and encouraged them to participate in the competition.
Joint Monitoring Visit by the Indonesian Forum and UNFPA
West Nusa Tengara, July 18-19: Indonesian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (IFPPD) participated in a joint monitoring visit, with UNFPA and its partners, to see UNFPA's field activities. They visited places where projects under UNFPA were implemented, such as: an Islamic boarding school, a village-integrated health post which offers services on family planning, and a local NGO that focuses on HIV/AIDS prevention and care.
Health Law Amendment
IFPPD also organized a two-day hearing on July 18-19 at Jakarta, Indonesia, in relation to the political process of the health law amendment. The participants were parliamentarians, public relation officers and health experts. The hearings led to some inputs and recommendations from the participants to accelerate the process of the amendment.
Anti-Trafficking Law Workshop
Earlier in July 12, IFPPD organized a workshop on "Policy to Prevent Trafficking in Persons" in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. The workshop aimed to increase understanding and knowledge of parliamentarians at provincial and district level on prevention against trafficking. The outcomes of the event included the dissemination of the anti-trafficking law to the public, allocation of a local budget for the implementation of the law, mapping of trafficking issues and local regulation on anti-trafficking.
Tobacco Control Law in the Making
To disseminate information on the urgency of having a national law on tobacco control, the IFPPD also organized series of interactive radio talk shows from June to July in Jakarta, Indonesia, on tobacco control issues.
"Let's Talk About Sex" by the Australian Forum
Canberra, July 13-14: The Australian Reproductive Health Alliance organized a two-day gathering for young women, titled "Let's Talk About Sex". The gathering provided an opportunity for young women from across Australia to discuss and explore sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues. The overall aims were to achieve better SRH outcomes for young people, to generate new knowledge about rights-based approaches to SRH, and to foster a better understanding of the current attitudes of young people.
Filipino MP Participated in World Bank's Visit to Mozambique
Maputo, July 22-27: The Parliamentary Network on World Bank (PNoWB) and the World Bank (WB) organized a parliamentarians' field visit to Mozambique. A delegation of 14 MPs from around the world participated in the four-day field visit. The programme aimed to foster a better understanding among MPs on WB's work, to broaden the input of MPs and to review the poverty reduction strategy. In addition to project visits, the programme also included discussions with government officials, donor communities and civil society representatives. AFPPD facilitated the participation of Mr. Neric Acosta, MP (Philippines).
World Bank Warns Family Planning Ignored
On July 18 and 24, Reuters and This Day (Lagos) reported on a new World Bank warning that developing nations, wealthy donors and aid agencies are ignoring the ability of family planning and contraception to boost economic growth and reduce poverty. Ms. Joy Phumaphi, Vice President for Human Development of World Bank, said, "Women's full and equal participation in development depends directly on accessing essential sexual and reproductive health care. The bank is committed to help these women, along with the UNFPA, WHO and other technical health agencies, to make voluntary and informed decisions about fertility."
Noeleen Heyzer Appointed Executive Secretary of UNESCAP
Bangkok, July 30: Ms. Noleen Heyzer of Singapore had been appointed as the Executive Secretary of UNESCAP, with the rank of Under-Secretary General. She is the first woman to head UNESCAP. She was the Executive Director of UNIFEM, a position she held since 1994. Since joining UNIFEM, Ms. Heyzer had worked on strengthening women's economic security and rights; promoting women's leadership in conflict resolution, peace-building and governance; ending violence against women; and combating HIV/AIDS from a gender perspective.
European and Canadian Parliamentarians' Study Tour in Ghana
UNFPA Urged the End of Female Mutilation/Cutting
Addis Ababa, July 31: UNFPA urged the international community to back its pledge to zero tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) by intensifying advocacy and grassroots interventions against the practice, and mobilizing additional resources to combat FGM/C. During the five-day Global Technical Consultation attended by 70 experts on FGM/C, Ms. Fama Ba, Director of the Africa Division of UNFPA, said that although considerable progress had been made in some countries, worrying trends are beginning to emerge, She urged governments, development partners and communities to recommit themselves to the elimination of FGM/C, because it violates the basic human rights of women and girls, and endangers their health.
