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1.
Parliamentarians
Young People
– A Hard Talk
Indonesia – AFPPD with
UNFPA sponsored a special session
“Parliamentarians and Young People Speak Out on
SRHR” with two parliamentarians, including Mr.
Tanvir Shakil Joy, MP of Bangladesh and Ms.
Abigail Faye Ferriol, MP of Philippines, and two
young activists, including Ms. Gopika Bashi and
Ms. Rachel Arinii. Both sides discussed the
realities of youth situation in Asia and the
Pacific with reference to sexual reproductive
health and rights. Parliamentarians admitted
that there is a need for better information and
education as well as services for young people
irrespective of culture and religion. It was
noted that despite cultural and religion
restrictions, young people are sexually active,
and they need to be protected through
information and services. Ms. Aarti Dhar, a
journalist of the Hindu Newspaper from India
moderated the session. Dr. Nafis Sadik, special
advisor to UN Secretary General and UN Special
Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Asia also presented.
2.
Parliamentarians
for Better
Maternal Health Services
Indonesia – The 6th
Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and
Sexual Health and Rights (APCRSHR) in Yogyakarta,
Indonesia had an interesting parliamentary
session on “Enhancing Political Commitment for
Maternal Health” chaired by Associate Professor
Dr. Porapan Panyaratabandhu, senator of Thailand
and Secretary General of AFPPD. Also present
were Dr. Sumarjati Arjoso and Ms. Ledia Hanifa,
MP of Indonesia, Dame Carol Kidu, former
minister of community development of Papua New
Guinea, Ms. Humaira Awais Shahid, MP, Pakistan,
and Mr. Josef Benedict, Campaigner of Amnesty
International.
All of the panelists shared the view that
government should do more to avoid maternal
death. For this purpose, parliamentarians have
to create an oversight to make sure that
pregnant women are provided with proper services
irrespective of their financial status.
Parliamentarians also pledged to mobilize their
fellow parliamentarians on maternal health
issues, including reproductive health advice to
young mothers. This session was organized by
AFPPD and UNFPA.
3.
Money Talks – Philippine MP
Indonesia – Ms.
Angelica Malbas, MP of the Philippines joined
Ms. Keiko Osaki, Senior Advisor of Japan
international Cooperation Agency (JICA), Mr.
Jose “Oying” Rimon, Senior Program Officer at
the Global Health Policy and Advocacy Group of
the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ms. Lourdes
A. Rivera, Program Officer of Ford Foundation
and Dr. Anna Whelan, Director of IPPF ESEAOR at
Asia Pacific Alliance (APA) and AFPPD session on
Money Talks at the 6th APCRSHR in Yogyakarta,
Indonesia.
4.
15 Indonesian
Parliamentarians Joined APCRSHR
Indonesia – Apart from
the seven parliaments from Asia and the Pacific
which was sponsored by AFPPD and UNFPA, 15
Indonesian parliamentarians also participated at
the 6th APCRSHR in Yogyakarta. They were active
at various sessions. The parliamentarians were
supported by the Indonesian Forum of
Parliamentarians on Population and Development (IFPPD)
and UNFPA Indonesia country office.
5.
7 Billion; 7
Billion; 7 Billion
Human population reached
seven billion this month, and it has caught the
imagination of the world. Media around the
globe, including big and small newspapers and
television stations such as BBC, CNN and Al
Jazeera have run special series. From the
Economists, the Guardian to small town
newspapers and televisions, various media have
sent the seven billion message.
Even UN agencies, which have been afraid of
linking themselves with population issues, are
now in line with the consequences of the seven
billion and their agenda. UNFPA and UN
Population Division must be congratulated for
their successful projection. The German
Foundation for World Population (DSW) also
reported vast interest in the issue of seven
billion world population among key politicians
in Germany. They further stated that the
Christian Democrat announced population dynamics
as the party’s main emphasis in development
cooperation policy and there is a plan to have a
series of congresses with experts in Spring
2012.
Population related parliamentary networks have
also brought the seven billion message to the
parliamentarians. AFPPD devoted a newsletter on
the seven billion.
6. APDA
Completed Capacity Building Project
Japan – The Asian
Population and Development Association (APDA)
with Japan Parliamentarians Federation on
Population (JPFP), AFPPD, Japan Trust Fund (JTF)
and UNFPA organized the last of the series of
Parliamentary Capacity Building Project on
Accountability and AID Implementation on
Population and Development Issues during 25-27
October 2011 in Tokyo, Japan. The seminar was
opened by Hon. Mr. Yasuo Fukuda, MP of Japan and
Chair of APDA, AFPPD, and JPFP and addressed by
Ms. Junko Sazaki, director of UNFPA Tokyo
office. Other than the AFPPD member committees,
13 parliamentarians from African region with
civil societies joined the three days seminar,
which concluded with an adoption of outcome
documents for future actions. AFPPD was
represented by Mr. Shiv Khare, Executive
Director.
7. European
Journalist in India on SRHR: European Forum
Initiative
India – The European
Parliamentary Forum of Parliamentarians on
Population and Development (EPF) arranged a
study visit of European journalists to India,
specifically to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, to have
firsthand knowledge about various population,
reproductive health, and adolescence health
projects supported by UNFPA and other donors.
They also interacted with members of parliament
and journalists based in Delhi.
8.
Parliamentarians in New Zealand and Australia
Launch Population Report
Australian senator, Ms.
Claire Moore, chair of the AFPPD Standing
Committee on Women, and Ms. Sue Kedgley, MP of
New Zealand released the State of World
Population Report on 26 and 28 October 2011.
UNFPA Status of World Population Report is
devoted to the world at seven billion. Ms. Dirk
Jena of UNFPA Pacific Sub-Regional Office
organized the event with support from New
Zealand Parliamentarians Group on Population and
Development (NZPPD) and Parliamentary Group on
Population and Development Australia, which are
members of AFPPD.
9. Ugandan MP
Urges Canadian Parliamentarians to Support ODA
on SHR
Canada – Population
Action International’s Documentary “Empty
Handed: Responding to the Demands for
Contraceptives” was launched in Canada in
October 2011. For this occasion, Action Canada
for Population and Development (ACPD) invited
Hon. Sylvia Ssinabulya, MP of Uganda to address
about the need for increased investment in
contraceptives and family planning. ACPD
reported that Hon. Ssinabulya urged Canadian
parliamentarians to champion development agenda
through establishing enabling environment in
their parliament so that ODA on sexual and
reproductive health can be raised. Mr. Sandeep
Prasad, Executive Director of APCD stated that
only 13 out of 800 million funding announced by
Canada at the moment is directed toward
reproductive health supplies and services. It is
evident that greater efforts from civil
societies and parliamentarians are necessary.
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