INFORMATION SERVICE

July 2008

World Population Day

The world population Day on 11^th July 2008 was observed all over the world with renewed call for repositioning family planning. Governments, UNFPA, IPPF, International, National NGOs and Parliamentarians groups gave special emphasis on family planning. It is remembered that it was AFPPD Asian parliamentarians’ conference in Beijing which in its declaration in 1981 had recommended that a “World Population Day” be observed.

AFPPD Gender efforts

The AFPPD will organize three women parliament event in next two month. Central Asian women parliamentarians conference on the status of women in Central Asian at Dushanbe, Tajakistan, on 3-4 September 2008.  Asian Pacific women parliamentarians conference on “Financing of MDGs with focus on Health MDGs at Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia 23-24 September 2008. AFPPD Standing Committee on women chaired by Ms. Steve Chadwick Hon. Minister of Women Affairs New Zealand, at Wellington, New Zealand on 20-21 August 2008. These meetings are in cooperation with UNFPA, Government of Japan and local parliament.

UNFPA re-organization functional

The UN Fund for Population (UNFPA) has recognized itself to face new challenges and new realities.  The regional offices of UNFPA will now be based in the region. Ms. Thorya Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA in letter to International NGO’s informed that the Asia-pacific Division will be based in Bangkok. With two sub-regional offices in Nepal and Fiji. Similarly, East Europe and Central Asia will move to Bratislava, Slovakia and there will be separate Division for Arab States.

Parliamentarians at Mexico AIDS conference

Thousands of AIDS activists including Governments, funding agencies and NGO’s are gathering in Mexico to review and revitalize their future efforts to combat AIDS endemic. An International Parliamentarians seminar is also organized. Parliamentarians of AFPPD committee’s from Vietnam, India, Philippines and other countries are also attending. European parliamentarians Forum is leading a European parliamentarian group to the conference to be followed by a study visit in Mexico.

UN High level event on MDG

The High-level Event (HLE) on the Millennium Development Goals will take place at UN Headquarters on 25 September 2008. It will be jointly convened by the Secretary-General and the President of the General Assembly to review progress, identify gaps and motivate commitments to bridge the gaps to ensure that the MDGS are achieved by 2015. It will be a special informal event bringing together Heads of State or Government, as well as leaders of the private sector and civil society. The HLE will provide an opportunity for world leaders to announce concrete plans and proposals to translate commitments into action and help accelerate implementation of the MDGs. http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/2008highlevel/

Thai parliamentarians study visit

Members of Thailand Senate Committee on public health visited Australia and New Zealand  to study the Health system and discussed ways of cooperation. The delegation was lead by Hon. Anan Ariyachaipanich, Chair of Senate Committee on Public Health. 

IAPG move to Panama

The Inter-American Parliamentary Group on Population and Development (IAPG), the regional network of parliamentarians working on population and development issues in the Western Hemisphere Region, have launched new re-designed website www.iapg.org for English, or www.gparlamentario.org for Spanish.  Regional Secretariat of IAPG has moved to Panama City, Panama.  NY Office of IAPC will be smaller and dedicated to follow-up on the activities at the United Nations. 

CIA Chief Sees Unrest Rising with Population

Swelling populations and a global tide of immigration will present new security challenges for the United States by straining resources and stoking extremism and civil unrest in distant corners of the globe, CIA Director Michael V. Hayden said in a speech. The population surge could undermine the stability of some of the world's most fragile states, especially in Africa, while in the West, governments will be forced to grapple with ever larger immigrant communities and deepening divisions over ethnicity and race, Hayden said. Hayden, speaking at Kansas State University, described the projected 33 percent growth in global population over the next 40 years as one of three significant trends that will alter the security landscape in the current century. By 2050, the number of humans on Earth is expected to rise from 6.7 billion to more than 9 billion, he said. "Most of that growth will occur in countries least able to sustain it, a situation that will likely fuel instability and extremism, both in those countries and beyond," Hayden said. Source: The Washington Post. https://www.cia.gov/news-information/speeches-testimony/landon-lecture-series.html

NZPPD launches ten year report

The NZPPD turned ten in 2008 and launched a celebration report Taking Action on 2^nd July at Parliament. The report outlines the aims of the group and the role that parliamentarians can play on international population and development issues. It includes highlights of the group’s activities over the last ten years. Launch was attended by Parliamentarians, parliamentary and ministerial staff, representatives of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the youth branches of political parties.  The event and report received media coverage both in New Zealand, and internationally. Copies of the report can be requested by emailing Naomi.Williams@familyplanning.org.nz

Indonesian Parliamentarian delegation in New Zealand

On 8 July, Jill Pettis, MP and NZPPD Chair, and Naomi Williams, NZPPD Secretariat, briefed an Indonesian parliamentary delegation visiting New Zealand on a study visit. The NZPPD representatives briefed the parliamentarians on NZPPD’s work, sharing strategies and lessons learned.

European Parliamentary Study tour to Burkina Faso on “Pregnancy & Malaria”

As member of the “European Alliance Malaria”, Equilibres & Populations has organized a Parliamentary study Tour on the issue of “Pregnancy & Malaria” in Burkina Faso from April 29 to May 6, 2008. Two MPs: Hon. Henriette Martinez (conservative), president of the study group on “Population & Development” in the French National Assembly and rapporteur of the ODA budget and Hon. Francoise Castex (socialist) member of the Working Group on Reproductive Health, HIV Aids and Development (EPWG) at the European Parliament participated. The delegation was composed of Cyril Wissocq, E&P Director of Operations and Aurelie Desrumaux, representative of the joint E&P – DSW office in Ouagadougou. For more information, contact: Cyril.wissocq@equipop.org