INFORMATION SERVICE

Celebrating 25th year

May 2006

Dr. Gill Greer named new Director-General of IPPF

Dr. Gill Greer, MP (New Zealand) and Executive Director of the New Zealand Family Planning Association, is named new Director-General of International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). Dr. Greer will take over her role in IPPF in late September 2006 after the retirement of Dr. Steven Sinding at the end of August 2006.

In 2005, Dr. Greer was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to family planning and literature. She was also joint recipient of the New Horizons for Women Award for women's role in media project in 2002. Dr. Greer, a PhD in Women's Literature is also the Chair of the Asia Pacific Alliance for the advancement of ICPD and a member of International Development Advisory Committee for the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Dr. Greer was the host to the recently organized AFPPD's "4th Asian-Pacific Women Parliamentarians' and Minister's Conference" held in Wellington, New Zealand.

AFPPD Chairman Mr. Fukuda's condolence on the death of WHO chief

Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, MP (Japan) and Chairman of AFPPD, on behalf of the parliamentarians from Asia-Pacific and Central Asia, expressed his heart-felt condolence on the death of Dr. Lee Jong Wook, Director-General of World Health Organization (WHO), who died after a stroke. Mr. Fukuda, in his message to WHO said that AFPPD has worked very closely with WHO in mobilizing parliamentarians and that Dr. Lee valued the contributions made by the parliamentarians in advancing public health laws, legislation and in monitoring the programmes. "In his death, we lost a crusader for health for all", said Mr. Fukuda.

Ms. Thoraya Obaid meets Japanese Prince and Princess Akishino

Ms. Thoraya A. Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA, discussed women's health under emergency situation during her two-day visit to Japan in May. Ms. Obaid accompanied by Ms. Safiye Cagar, Director of IERD, and Ms. Kae Ishikawa, Resource Mobilization Officer, IERD, met Japanese Foreign Minister Mr. Taro Aso, Finance Minister Mr. Sadakazu Tanigaki, Gender Equality Minister Ms. Kuniko Inoguchi as well as Mr. Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary. During the visit, Ms. Obaid thanked the political and financial support from Japan and mentioned about the UN reform and funding issues in her meeting with Dr. Taro Nakayama, chairman of APDA and key members of JPFP.

Ms. Obaid also paid a courtesy call to their Imperial Highness Prince and Princess Akishino, who listened their concerns to her explanation on development and health issues especially on fistula and on the need for safe delivery. There was wide media coverage by major TV stations and newspapers about her visit.

AFPPD representatives attend UNGASS Session

Rep. (Mr.) Gilbert Cesar C. Remulla and five other parliamentarians from the Philippines and Mr. Jon Ungphakorn, acting Senator of Thailand, were the AFPPD representatives at the UNGASS Session. Mr. Gilbert also attended the parliamentary briefings by UNFPA at its headquarters in New York on May 30.

More than a dozen heads of state and government, over 100 ministers, and more than a thousand representatives of civil society and the private sector gathered at UN Headquarters in New York for a major review of international efforts to fight AIDS. The 2006 High Level Meeting on AIDS took place from May 31 to June 02 also included a person living with HIV/AIDS who addressed the General Assembly. Other speakers included the President of the General Assembly Mr. Jan Eliasson, Executive Director of UNAIDS Dr. Peter Piot, and Secretary-General Mr. Kofi Annan, who presented a report on the progress achieved in realizing the targets agreed by UN member states in the historic declaration of commitment on HIV/AIDS, adopted in 2001 at the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS.

Support for population programme

The support for the population programme globally has increased in 2005, according to the Global Population Policy update by UNFPA. Developed countries support increased from US$ 4,305 million in 2004 to US$ 5,277 million in 2005. Similarly, foundation and NGO support went up from US$ 404 million to US$ 451 million. However, the UN system support decreased from US$ 60 million to US$ 51 million and the development bank grant went down considerably from US$ 233 million to US$ 33 million.

AFPPD's participation in WHRAP

AFPPD was represented by Mr. Shiv Khare, Executive Director, on Regional Policy Dialogue Follow-Up at Women's Health and Rights Advocacy Partnership (WHRAP) organized by Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW), based in Kuala Lumpur, from May 29 to 31 in Bangkok. Apart from NGO representatives from South Asia, the programme was also attended by Dr. Girija Vyas, Chairperson, National Commission for Women, India, and an AFPPD alumna, and by Mr. Sandeep Dikshit, MP (India).

U.S. House approves international family planning funds

The New York Times reported May 20 that a U.S. House appropriations subcommittee had approved a 2007 foreign aid budget that would reverse the deep cuts President Bush proposed for international family planning programs he himself once described as among the best ways to prevent abortion. In 2001, Bush committed to maintaining family planning program financing at $425 million, but this year he proposed $357 million for the programs. The subcommittee recommended $432 million. The story noted that the federal budget process is far from over, but the aid package in the Foreign Operations subcommittee often indicates how administration priorities will fare in Congress.

Second U.S. judge rules against AIDS funding restrictions

The Washington Post reported May 19 that a second federal judge had ruled unconstitutional the USAIDS policy that forces US health groups to denounce prostitution as a condition for receiving funds for international AIDS work. Both judges said the requirement violated the First Amendment right to free speech. The most recent ruling, issued in Washington by U.S. District Court Judge Emmet G. Sullivan, found that the regulation "casts too wide a net and is not narrowly tailored," forcing aid groups to "parrot the government's policies" and preventing them from using even privately raised funds to help sex workers curb AIDS. The Associated Press reported May 18 that in its lawsuit, DKT, an organization that works in 11 countries, said the anti-prostitution pledge was counter-productive in that it required health groups to vilify the very people they were trying to reach with services.