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Asian Parliamentary Staff Trained in Communication and Media

AFPPD organized a five-day, hands-on workshop on parliamentary advocacy through the use of communication and media in Chiangmai, Thailand, 23-26 November. 25 staff of parliament and parliamentary committee working on population and health from Asia-Pacific and Central Asia participated in this workshop, conducted by Ms. Katja Iversen, media specialist from UNFPA, New York. Participants were trained on a number of communication methodologies and techniques, including interview skills, preparation of media kit, drafting of press release and strategic communication. Participants also paid a study visit to a Thai TV station. The workshop was opened by Hon. Dr. Anan Ariyachaipanich, MP and Chair of the Senate Committee on Public Health of Thailand, and Mr. Montree Pekanan, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand, also spoke. Ms. Pascual Tanguay of AHRN spoke at the closing.

International Parliamentarian Conference in Cairo

The international parliamentarians’ conference on ICPD will take place on 26-27 October 2009 at the Cairo parliament. It will be organized by UNFPA, AFPPD and other regional parliamentarian organizations. This was decided at the steering committee meeting in Tunis, Tunisia, which was chaired by Ms. Safie Cagar, Director of IERD, UNFPA New York, and attended by regional and international parliamentary groups working on population and development issues.

9th General Assembly of AFPPD

The 9th General Assembly of AFPPD will be held in Hanoi, Vietnam, 13-14 December 2008. Held every three years, the General Assembly reviews the organization’s programme of work, examines budgets, elects new office-bearers and sets new directions for the future. Each General Assembly is organized around a specific theme and this year parliamentarians will discuss “Climate Change and Food Security: Linking Population as a Factor.” Over 60 parliamentarians and experts from international organizations and NGOs are expected to attend. Hon. Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, MP, former prime minister of Japan and Chair of AFPPD, will preside over the conference.

Parliamentarians and Harm Reduction

Parliamentarians are increasingly getting involved with Drugs & AIDS issues. AFPPD has included harm reduction as part of its mandate and has been engaging parliamentarians on harm reduction issues. Parliamentarians are invited to attend the International Harm Reduction Conference to be held in Bangkok on Monday 20 April- Thursday 23 April 2009. Interested parliamentarians should look at the website www.ihra.net or contact AFPPD secretariat afppd@afppd.org.

UNFPA Launches the State of World Population Report 2008

UNFPA launched its 2008 State of World Population Report on “Reaching Common Ground: Culture, Gender and Human Rights” on 12 November. Launch events were held all over the world, including Bangkok, Thailand, where it was held at the Siam Society Under Royal Patronage to also commemorate the dedicated efforts of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana in the area of culture, gender and human rights. Mr. G. Giridhar, UNFPA Representative in Thailand opened the ceremony. Speakers included Dr. Yooth Bodharamik, Deputy Secretary-General of the Princess Mother’s Medical Volunteer Foundation, Dr. Wassana Im-Em, UNFPA Assistant Representative; Assistant Professor Dr. Banchong Withayametha, Sirinthorn College of Public Health, Yala; Mr. Jeihae Phimwantana, Chief of Mae Suad TAO, Sop-Moey, Mae Hong Son Province; and Mrs. Suparlerk Hongpukdee, Director-General, Office of Women’s Affairs and Family Development, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Thailand. AFPPD was represented by Mr. Oleg Shovkovvy, Central Asia Programme Associate, and Mr. Shiwei Ye, Editorial Associate.

Conference of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank

AFPPD organized the participation of parliamentarians at the Annual Conference of the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank (PNoWB) in Paris, 20-22 November 2008. AFPPD held a parallel session entitled “Can Addressing Population Growth Help Tackle Climate Change and Food Security?” on 21 November, 2008. The session was moderated by Hon. Ms. Janette Garin, MP of Philippines and PNoWB Board Members, and was attended by over 40 parliamentarians from all over the globe. Speakers included Ms. Karen Newman, Coordinator of the Population and Sustainability Network, London; Mr. Jean-Marc Chataigner, Head of Cabinet, Cooperation and la francophonie, Foreign and European Affairs Ministry, France; Hon. Ms. Janette Garin, MP, Philippines; Hon. Dr. Donya Aziz, MP, Pakistan; and Hon. Dr. Pinit Kullavanijaya, Senator of Thailand and Secretary-General of AFPPD.

FSM Bill Seeks Reservation of Seats for Female Lawmakers

A bill has been introduced in the Federated States of Micronesia Congress which will reserve four seats for female lawmakers, reports Radio New Zealand International. The bill is sponsored by Speaker Isaac Figir and Vice Speaker Resio Moses. During the debate on the bill some lawmakers suggested that nothing but personal choice has hindered women’s participation in Congress. Because the change would involve amending the constitution, it would be placed for referendum after it is passed by Congress and signed into law by the FSM president.

German Parliament Provides More Funds to UNFPA

Last week the German Parliament approved the development budget for the year 2009. Germany is going to spend an additional 800 million Euro on ODA, which means an overall spending of about 9.8 billion Euro. Most of these additional funds will go to the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). BMZ will accordingly see a budget increase by approximately 637 million Euro to 5.772 million Euro. This represents an increase of more than 13 percent - the highest percentage increase of all German ministries. The BMZ announced that 50 percent of its budget will flow into bilateral aid for Africa with a focus on HIV/AIDS prevention in addition to resources for climate change and the food crisis.

Thanks to the great commitment of Sibylle Pfeiffer, chair of German Foundation for World Population’s (DSW) Parliamentary Advisory Committee, and her peers, funding for UNFPA increased by 2 million Euro, from 16 to 18 million. Furthermore, IPPF will be granted an additional 2 million Euro which means a two third increase - from 3 million Euro up to 5 million Euro.