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1.
Global Young Parliamentarians Meet in Thailand
Thailand Around 50
young parliamentarians and UN officials from
around the world met for the first time in Krabi,
Thailand on 15-16 November 2011 to discuss ICPD
issues (Population, Reproductive and Maternal
Health, Women Empowerment, etc.). The young
parliamentarians, defined as parliamentarians
who are below 35 years of age, were very open
and provided their insights on ICPD issues. They
have also shown better understanding and
commitment to human rights and gender equality.
The dialogue was conducted by IERD, UNFPA with
AFPPD.
2.
Male Parliamentarians Take Charges
Thailand Either to
eliminate violence against women or to fight
harmful cultural practices, men have a major
role in ensuring equal opportunities for women.
Similarly, male parliamentarians must play a
pivotal role to safeguard women from violence
and discrimination against them. The AFPPD
Standing Committee of Male Parliamentarians on
the Elimination of Violence against Women, which
met for the third time on 12-13 November 2011 in
Krabi, Thailand to discuss these issues. They
decided to take their commitment to all
sub-regions. Hon. Mr. Tissa Karalliyadda,
Minister of Child Development and Womens
Affairs of Sri Lanka was elected as the new
chair of this Standing Committee.
3.
New Strategy
for Parliamentary Advocacy
Thailand Officials
of Regional Parliamentary Forums, UNFPA Regional
Parliamentary Focal Points and UNFPA Information
and External Relations Division (IERD) New York
met in Krabi, Thailand on 17 November 2011 to
discuss the new strategies for parliamentary
advocacy to suit emerging issues and changes in
circumstances and scenarios. Ms. Safiye Cagar,
Director of IERD, UNFPA chaired the strategy
meeting.
4.
Pakistan
Approves Anti Women Practices Bill
Pakistan After three
years of hard work, the bill on prevention of
anti women practices, which has been actively
lobbied by Hon. Donya Aziz, an alumnus of AFPPD,
and Hon. Attiya Inayatulla, was passed by the
National Assembly of Pakistan. The bill
prohibits practices which are unjust toward
women, including forced marriage, marriage with
Quran, restricting women from share of
inheritance, and giving women in exchange for
conflict resolution. The bill is currently
waiting to be passed by the senate.
The Asian Forum would like to take this
opportunity to congratulate Hon. Donya Aziz and
Hon. Attiya Inayatulla for their involvement
with the bill. Their success has shown us
precisely how women parliamentarians can bring
about positive changes in their countries. Hon.
Donya Aziz has been closely involved with AFPPD
programmes for many years, including the recent
Open Hearing of Young Parliamentarians Forum of
Pakistan on Elimination of Violence against
Women funded by AusAID through AFPPD Small Grant
on 19 April 2011.
5.
Exploring the
Sexual Network of Bisexual Men
Thailand The Burnett
Institute organized a meeting on 15 November
2011 in Bangkok, Thailand to discuss its recent
findings with regard to the sexual network of
men who have sex with women and men in Hanoi,
Cambodia and Vientiane, Lao PDR. The research
which was funded by AusAID and VICOMP founded
that heterosexual networks and homosexual
networks are not mutually exclusive because the
two networks are generally linked by the people
who engage in bisexual behaviors. Consistent
condom usage was also founded to be surprisingly
low at approximately 20 percent. The research
provides an alarming prospect that the HIV
responses which selectively target men who have
sex with men may not provide optimum results
because the responses cannot effectively
influence men who have sex with women and men as
they generally view themselves as predominantly
heterosexual. It was proposed that HIV responses
should also aim toward general male population,
and consistent condom usage should be further
encouraged. Mr. Tammavit Tasnavites, programme
associate, represented AFPPD at this meeting.
6. ACPD
to Become the Secretariat of the Canadian
Parliamentary Group
Canada Following the
Executive Committee Meeting of the Canadian
Association of Parliamentarians on Population
and Development (CAPPD), it was announced that
Action Canada for Population and Development (ACPD)
was to become the secretariat of CAPPD with
immediate effect. The new office bearers of
CAPPD were also announced.
7.
Statement of
AFPPD on the International Day for EVAW
Humanity has come a long way
from when privileges within our societies were
enjoyed exclusively by men. We have seen many
improvements within the area of gender equality
around the world. These improvements would have
never been possible without the efforts of
activists from previous generations, whose
groundwork has guided us toward the righteous
path. Too much tear and even blood has been
shed. On 25 November 1960, three Mirabel sisters
were murdered as a result of their opposition
against dictatorship over Dominican Republic.
Today, fifty one years later, we observe the
International Day for the Elimination of
Violence against Women in their memory with hope
of violence-free world.
The Asian Forum has actively engaged in the
Elimination of Violence against Women through
continuous involvement with parliamentarians and
persuades them to support legislations that
promote gender equality. AFPPD has a standing
committee of male parliamentarians which is
exclusively dedicated to the issue of EVAW. In
2011, AFPPD also provided a Small Grant with
funding from AusAID to its national committee to
conduct open hearings on EVAW at national level
in Pakistan and the Philippines.
8.
Myanmar to
Organize a Parliamentary Committee on Population
and Social Development
Myanmar Mr. Shiv
Khare, Executive Director of AFPPD, visited
Myanmar on the invitation of UNFPA Country
Office from 21-25 November 2011 to explore
future collaboration between AFPPD and the
parliament of Myanmar. Mr. Khare, along with Mr.
Mohamed Abdel-Ahad, UNFPA Representative, met
with H.E. U Nanda Kyaw Swar, Deputy Speaker of
Parliament, H.E. U Maung Maung Swe, the Chair of
Parliament Committee on Women and Child
Protection, and H.E. U Hla Myint Oo, the Chair
of Parliament Committee on International
Relations. Mr. Shiv Khare addressed a
parliamentary seminar in the Parliament House.
He and Mr. Abdel-Ahad also met with H.E. U Khin
Yi, Minister of Immigration and Population, H.E.
U Aung Kyi, Minister of Social Welfare, Relief
and Resettlement, H.E. U Ting Naing Thein,
Minister of National Planning and Economic
Development, and H.E. Dr. Pe Thet Khin, Minister
of Health to discuss future cooperation with
AFPPD. Parliament of Myanmar agreed to the
formation of parliamentary committee on
population and social development, which will
join as a member of AFPPD.
9.
New PGPD
Australia Coordinator
Australia The
Parliamentary Group on Population and
Development Australia will now be housed by Care
Australia. Ms. Melanie Poole is the new
coordinator.
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