PARAGUAY: Talks On Gender And Justice
Abc reported 18 October that training of trainers course “Gender, access to justice and violence against women” carried out in the framework of Monitoring and Training for Improving Access to Justice for Women Victims of Domestic Violence (Majuvi) Project, executed by CLADEM Paraguay in agreement with the CSJ and with the Public Ministry, with support from different agencies of the United Nations, including UNDP, UNFPA and UNIFEM. Read in Spanish: ABC
JAMAICA: New Data Collection System For Public Hospitals
Jamaica Gleaner reported 18 October that vital statistics such as births and deaths will soon be made available to the Jamaican public with the completion of a civil registration and vital statistics manual being worked on by the Registrar General's Department (RGD). The project is being funded by UNFPA, with support from other agencies.
CHINA: China Calls For More Efforts In Reproductive Health
Xinhua reported in two stories on 18 October that Senior Chinese legislator Chen Zhili called for further increase in investment on reproductive health and enhance cooperation in this regard. Chen, vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, made the comment when addressing the Fifth Asia-Pacific Conference on Reproductive Health. Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, executive director of UNFPA, said that the Asia-Pacific region is exploring and developing new exciting areas of reproductive health and that there are limitless opportunities through cooperation to cope with challenges. Read: Xinhua (a) and Xinhua (b)
SOLOMON ISLANDS: UN Consultations With Government Conclude
The Solomon Times reported 17 October and The Solomon Star News reported 16 October that seven U.N. organizations, including UNFPA, gathered in Honiara with the Solomon Islands Government to review progress toward development goals in 2009 and to agree on plans for 2010. Read: Solomon Times and Solomon Star News
GHANA: Concern Over Increasing Rate of HIV/AIDS In Bole
GNA reported 17 October that a forum was held in Bole in the Northern Region during a sensitization and advocacy programme organized by the NGO ActionAid, to create awareness about the AIDS pandemic. The forum which was supported by UNFPA, attracted about 50 participants. Read: GNA
COVERAGE ON INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ERADICATION OF POVERTY
VIET NAM: Thanh Nien Daily, Look at Vietnam and VN Media featured, on 17 October, a statement marking International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 2009, by Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, UNFPA Executive Director, stating that to expand gains in human development, now is the time to invest in women and girls, in their health, education, participation and well-being. Read: Thanh Nien Daily and Look at Vietnam
VIET NAM: Thanh Nien Daily featured on 17 October Bruce Campbell, UNFPA representative stating that child poverty is about more than money. “Child poverty is not just the children who live in poor households. It is also the children who are deprived of health, education, shelter, nutrition, sanitation, recreation, protection and social inclusion,” said Mr. Campbell. Read: Thanh Nien Daily.
VIET NAM: Workshop To Address Challenges On Population, Gender And Reproductive Health
Communist Party Website and Propaganda and Education magazine reported on 16 October on a workshop, which was organized by the Central Committee for Propaganda and Education and UNFPA in order to share information on population and development, gender and reproductive health. In the opening speech, Bruce Campbell, UNFPA Representative, spoke about the challenges ahead, with special emphasis in some emerging issues as the imbalance in sex ratio at birth, among others. Read in Vietanamese: Communist Party Website and Propaganda and Education.
SIERRA LEONE: UNFPA Representative Chats With First Lady
The Awareness Times reported 16 October that UNFPA representative, Ratzie Ndlovu congratulated the First Lady of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Sia Nyama Koroma for assiduously working to address issues affecting the welfare of women and children. Read: Awareness Times
CAMBODIA: Lowering The Bar On Deaths In Pregnancy
Phom Penh Post reported 16 October that a key MDG 5 target is being debated among involved expertise agencies after the recent estimates place the maternal mortality rate at 461 deaths per 100,000 live births. While other development partners confirmed the new target changed from 140 to 250, UNFPA could not verify given the info was a rumor. UNFPA Representative Alice Levisay said the change might be necessary given current realities and new data and the crisis had made it more difficult to make all of the necessary improvements to areas affecting maternal health including education, infrastructure and access to health care. Read: Phnom Penh Post
SWAZILAND: Scribes Get Lessons On Population
The Swazi Observer reported 15 October on a training staged by UNFPA, in collaboration with the national Population Unit (NPU), under the ministry of economic planning and development. UNFPA representative Aisha Camara Drammeh said the workshop would give journalists a better understanding of population issues and the role of UNFPA within the country. Read: Swazi Observer
SIERRA LEONE: UNFPA Supports Mattru Jong Hospital
Awareness Times reported 15 October that, with funds provided by UNFPA, the Mattru Jong Hospital was officially handed over to the contractor, Moses Moseray, to be refurbished. Read: Awareness Times
MÉXICO: Winner Of “Mirada Joven” Photography Contest Announced
Diario reported 15 October that the winner of the photography contest “Mirada Joven 2009” organized by UNFPA in Mexico is photographer Julio Cesar Aguilar Fuentes. The title of the photograph was “Living without violence” and it was taken at a house where a murder had taken place. Read in Spanish: Diario
INDIA: Gender-Selective Abortion On The Rise
The Christian Science Monitor (United States) reported 15 October that, though female infanticide and gender-selective abortion have been on the radar of human rights groups for decades, the situation is worsening in most areas of India, said UNFPA. Read: Christian Science Monitor
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: UNFPA Representative Speaks On Abortion Ban
El Día reported 15 October that Gilka Melendez, Dominican Republic UNFPA representative, predicted that the constitutional criminalization of abortion would dramatically increase the number of pregnancy-related deaths in the country. Read in Spanish: El Dia
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC/HAITI: Authorities Seek To Reduce Maternal Mortality
Barrigaverde and Al Momento reported 15 October on the launch of a project to improve maternal health. UNFPA representative in the Dominican Republic, Gilka Melendez, recalled that 42 per cent of patients in border-town hospitals are Haitians. She explained that the formulation of the budget for the area of health is based on the population of the Dominican Republic and ignores foreigners residing in the country, no matter whether they are legal or illegal. Read in Spanish: Barrigaverde and Al Momento
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Preparations Begin For 2010 Census
L’Observateur, Le Potential and Le Phare reported 16 October that, with the help of UNFPA funding, the DRC government is preparing to conduct a population census. The building rehabilitated and equipment supplied by UNFPA, was inaugurated on 15 October by the Secretary of the Ministry of Planning in the presence of the UNFPA Representative Richard Dackam-Ngatchou and invitees from the UN.
CHINA: China Seeks To Enhance Cooperation With UNFPA
Xinhua reported 15 October that China hoped to further cooperation with UNFPA. Zhang Rongming, vice chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, said this when she met with Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, the UNFPA executive director. Read: Xinhua
BELARUS: Survey Details Reproductive Health Of People Living With HIV
Tut.By reported 15 October on the results of a survey within a project “Sexual and reproductive health of people, living with HIV.” The project is implemented by UNFPA and the NGO Positive Movement, and supported by UNAIDs and the Ministry of Healthcare of Belarus. Read in Russian: Tut.By
UNITED STATES: Implications For U.S. Policy From New Evidence On Global Abortion Trends
The Hill (United States) published a blog 14 October by Susan Cohen, Director of Government Affairs for the Guttmacher Institute on a new report from the Guttmacher Institute has major implications for U.S. policy. Ms. Cohen wrote, “The Obama administration deserves praise for reprioritizing international family planning assistance by rescinding the anti-family planning Mexico City Policy and for restoring U.S. funding to UNFPA.” Read: The Hill
PHILIPPINES: Special Needs In Time Of Emergency
The Philippine Inquirer published a column 14 October by Rina Jimenez David on evacuation following recent flooding and ensuing evacuations, noting that POST-ONDOY, the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP) and UNFPA, in coordination with local government units, are distributing more than 3,400 hygiene kits for pregnant women as well as various reproductive health kits for more than 10,000 individuals. Read: The Philippine Inquirer
PERU: Seminar Addresses Concerns Of Elderly Population
La Jornada de Morelos (Mexico) reported 14 October on“Strategies And Security Policy For The Elderly,” a seminar organized by the National Association of Older Adults, Anamp, Peru, with support from UNFPA, the Office of the Ombudsman, the Lima Bar Association, and other private institutions. The seminar aimed to identify the main features in the situation of rights for older people and the real exercise of citizenship. Read in Spanish: La Jornada de Morelos
PARAGUAY: Training Police To Prevent HIV
ABC reported 14 October on an event to sensitize police officers on HIV/AIDS. The event was part of a national programming response to HIV and AIDS, and for the implementation of prevention, control and management measures. The programme has the technical and financial support of UNFPA. Read in Spanish: ABC
NETHERLANDS ANTILLES: Gynaecologists given FC2 female condoms
The Daily Herald reported 14 October that FC2 female condoms were handed over by HIV/AIDS assistant programme manager Cornelius de Weever. The activity was part of the implementation plan for St. Maarten under a Comprehensive Condom Programming project entered into with UNFPA until December 2010. Read: The Daily Herald
NEPAL: Handle With Care
Republica published a column by Kiran Chapagain 14 October on the ongoing efforts to discharge and rehabilitate former Maoist rebels, arguing that the Peace Ministry, UNDP, UNICEF and UNFPA, who are currently working together on developing the rehabilitation programmes should focus on designing such a package that combatants happily accept. Read: Republica
LAOS: UN To Boost Aid to Ketsana Victims In The South
Vientiane Times reported 14 October that UNFPA was among the UN bodies participating in an effort to provide aid to victims of tropical storm Ketsana, following an appeal from the Lao government.
INDIA: Return Of Traditional Birth Attendants Urged to Meet MDG 5
IPS reported 14 October that As India struggles to lower one of the world's highest maternal mortality rates, activists and experts are calling for a revision of polices aimed at institutionalizing deliveries in resource-poor rural settings and phasing out the dai or traditional birth attendant (TBA). Many national policies promoting institutionalization of birth deliveries follow the ideals of the Safe Motherhood Initiative, launched in Nairobi in 1987 by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and the World Bank, and by the 1994 ICPD. Read: IPS
GUATEMALA: STI Incidence Increases Among Young Women
ABC reported 14 October that the incidence of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) among young women has increased in recent years in Guatemala. "The responsibility to give sex education to children and adolescents is a task shared between families and the State," said UNFPA National Officer on Sexual and Reproductive Health in Guatemala, Adriane Salinas. Read in Spanish: ABC
GHANA: UNDP Aids NADMO To Support Farmers
Graphic Ghana reported 14 October that the National Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Kofi Portuphy announced that UNDP has made $90,000 available to support farmers. The coordinator intimated that UNFPA had provided several kits for reproductive health issues in the 10 regions of the country. Read: Graphic Ghana
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugee and Migration Visits
L’Observatuer and Le Potentiel reported 15 and 16 October that Eric Schwartz, Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration, visited the DRC and was welcomed at UNFPA Offices on 14 October. Mr. Schwartz was briefed by UNFPA representative Richard Dackam-Ngatchou and the heads of units on UNFPA-mandated activities on reproductive health service delivery, commodities programming, population and response to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence and fistula.
REPUBLIC OF CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): UNFPA Donates Equipment To Fight Fistula
Congo-site and Les Depeches de Brazzaville reported 14 October on a donation of medical equipments by UNFPA to the Military Hospital Pierre Mobengo in Brazzaville, as part of UNFPA strategy to eradicate obstetric fistula in Congo in support of the Government efforts towards improving maternal health. Read in French: Congo-Site and Les Depeches de Brazzaville