INFORMATION SERVICE

November 2007

Women Parliamentarians and Ministers from 24 Countries Pledged to Monitor the Implementation of Gender-Based Legislations

Beijing, November 27-28: Eighty women ministers, parliamentarians and parliament staff met at the Conference Center of the National People's Congress of China to review, exchange information, plan gender-related actions in the region and approve the Beijing's Statement of Commitment which states that parliamentarians and ministers should monitor the implementation of gender-based legislations - especially on the elimination of discrimination and violence against women. The 5th Asian Women Parliamentarians' and Ministers' Conference was hosted by the Education, Science, Culture and Public Health Committee of the National People's Congress of China and the All-China Women's Federation, and organized by AFPPD, in cooperation with UNFPA and the Government of Japan.

Parliamentarians Highlight Advocacy on MDGs

Bangkok, November 6-7: AFPPD and UN Millennium Campaign (UNMC) organized a brainstorming meeting on Parliamentarians' Advocacy on MDGs - in collaboration with the Office of the UN Special Ambassador on MDGs for Asia-Pacific and the UNDP Regional Centers in Bangkok (RCB) and Colombo (RCC). Ms. Marcia VJ Kran, Deputy Regional Manager and Head of Policy and Programme in UNDP RCB; Dr. Prat Boonyawongvirot, MP (Thailand), Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health in Thailand and Secretary-General of AFPPD; Mr. Shigeru Mochida, Deputy Executive Secretary of UNESCAP; Mr. Salil Shetty, Director of UNMC; Mr. Omar Noman, Deputy Regional Manager and Head of Policy and Programme in UNDP RCC; Mr. Arusha Stanislaus, Deputy Coordinator of the Asia Regional Governance Programme of UNDP RCB; and Mr. Minar Pimple, Deputy Director for Asia of UNMC Asia-Pacific; addressed the gathering which was attended by 20 parliamentarians from Asia-Pacific. The meeting aimed to inform, motivate and involve parliamentarians to formulate their national strategy and programming towards achieving the MDGs.

Regional Parliamentary Groups to Reinforce Efforts for ICPD Implementation

2009 IPCI-ICPD Set for Cairo

The International Parliamentarians' Conference on the Implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action (IPCI-ICPD) will be held in Cairo, Egypt in 2009 as agreed at the 2006 IPCI-ICPD Conference in Bangkok, Thailand and reaffirmed at the meeting of Regional Parliamentary Groups in New York, USA.

AFPPD Parliamentarian in World Bank's Study Visit to Cambodia

Phnom Penh, November 11-16: A high-level delegation of 14 parliamentarians from Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America - including AFPPD's parliamentarian, Mr. Tuang Untachai (Thailand) - visited Cambodia to evaluate the country's development efforts. The visit was hosted by the National Assembly of Cambodia and organized by the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank, the Consultative Group on International Research and the World Bank. Parliamentarians were able to visit projects in agriculture, public health, education and infrastructure. Further, the study visit included discussions with stakeholders, government officials, and representatives from the civil society, donor community and private sector.

IMPO at WHO's Session on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property

Geneva, November 5-10: The World Health Organization (WHO) organized the "Session of Inter-Governmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property" which was attended by Dr. We Ka Siong, MP (Malaysia). It made progress in developing a plan to ensure poor populations have better access to medicines and other health products. In the six-day event, involving representatives from 140 countries, the group moved forward in building a consensus among countries on how to narrow the health gap between rich and poor. The key issues - including research and development, innovative capacity in the developing countries, intellectual property rights and sustainable financing - were also highlighted in the discussions.

President Pratibha Patil of India Released IAPPD's Briefing Kits for Parliamentarians on Health-Related Issues

New Delhi, December 7: President Pratibha Patil of India released the briefing kits on National Rural Health Mission, Age Marriage and Sex Selection, which was developed by the Indian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (IAPPD), a member of AFPPD. The launch event was also attended by Mr. Anbumani Ramdoss, Union Health Minister of India, and Mr. Jagannath Manda, MP and Vice-Chair of IAPPD. She appreciated IAPPD's effort in generating parliamentarian awareness on population and development issues.

The first female president of India, Pratibha Patil, has been closely associated with IAPPD. She was the Chair during the conference on "South Asian Parliamentarians - Towards Solidarity for Equality, Development and Peace", organized by IAPPD in New Delhi on August 1995.

Catholics Favor Condom Use, New Poll Says

The support for condom use among Catholics is overwhelming, according to the recent poll, conducted by the Catholics for Choice, which interviewed Catholics in 5 countries. When asked if 'using condoms is pro-life because it helps save lives by preventing the spread of AIDS', 90% of Catholics in Mexico, 86% in Ireland, 77% in USA, 59% in Philippines and 59% in Ghana agreed. Whereas Catholics in Ireland (79%), USA (63%), Mexico (60%), Philippines (47%) and Ghana (37%) agreed that the church's position on condoms is wrong and should be changed.

Europeans of the Year Award, Donation Goes to UNFPA

UNFPA had been named the beneficiary of the 2007 'Europeans of the Year'. The financial proceeds of 32,000 EUR will support the UNFPA-led campaign to end fistula. The awards, known as EV50, are conferred annually by the European Voice, the European Union Affairs' newspaper, to ten individuals who have influenced the European agenda over the past 12 months. Winners were selected among 50 nominees by leading editors, opinion makers and thinkers.

Norway Provided 105 Million USD to World Bank for MDGs 4 and 5

The Norwegian government provided 105 million USD 'Health Results Innovation Grant' for World Bank (WB) to fund the health care of mothers and infants. In keeping with the Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5, the grant will allow developing countries to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates. The fund came at the same time as WB had appointed a new Director for Health, Nutrition, and Population, who will carry out WB's health strategy to improve and strengthen the health systems in low-income countries.

Dates to Remember

AFPPD is currently engaged in the preparation for the following events:

• AFPPD and UNFPA-CST, Bangkok's workshop on "Reproductive Health Commodity Security (RHCS) Advocacy in Strengthening National Capacity for Achieving RHCS" in Bangkok, Thailand on 11-13 December
• AFPPD, UNFPA and AHRN's workshop on "Promoting of HIV/AIDS, Reproductive Health and Harm Reduction for Parliament Staff" in Chiang Mai, Thailand on 14-15 December