URUGUAY: Report Shows Sexual and Reproductive Rights Are Often Unknown
La Diaria, El Pais, UYPRESS and Crónicas reported on 8 April on the annual report from the National Observatory on Gender and Sexual and Reproductive Health, launched by Mujer y Salud Uruguay (MYSU) and UNFPA. The survey sheds light on women and health professionals’ knowledge of national S&RH norms and directives. The areas analyzed include: contraceptives; sexual and domestic violence; attendance during pregnancy and at delivery; pre and post abortion attendance; and breast and genital cancer. A substantial lack of knowledge of rights was identified, especially among women users of sexual and reproductive health services.
TUNISIA: Promotion of Tripartite Partnership For Gender Approach
La Presse de Tunisie reported on 8 April that the means of promoting cooperation between Tunisia and the various UN structures and representations, particularly those operating in the field of gender, were at the centre of the audience given in Tunis by Bebia Bouhnak Chihi the minister of Women, Family, Children, and the Elderly Affairs to Mohamed Belhocine, UNDP Representative and Leila Joudane, UNFPA Assistant Representative in Tunis. The two UN officials welcomed the goals outlined in the presidential programme for 2009-2014 for the benefit of women, particularly those relating to the integration of gender in various social policies and programmes. They highlighted the gains won by women and the importance of equal opportunities for both sexes which remain a cutting edge issue in Tunisia. Read in French: La Presse de Tunisie
PAKISTAN: Sehat Mela Raises Awareness
The News International reported on 8 April that the District Health Department, in collaboration with the Pakistan Initiative for Mothers and Newborns (Paiman), organised a Sehat Mela at the Mandra Rural Health Centre on 7 April. UNICEF and UNFPA representatives attended the mela. Read: The News International
CAPE VERDE: Mobile Youth Centre Improves Access to Information and Technology for Young People
RTC reported on 8 April that a mobile unit of the Centre of Youth has been delivered to Santa Cruz, to serve the youth of Santiago Island. The main objective of this initiative is to promote access to information and technology for young people living in remote communities. As a result, they will improve their knowledge and skills concerning innovative technologies, being able to actively participate in the development of their own community, municipality and of the country as a whole, fully exercising their citizenship rights. This has been the first of a series of four mobile centres that will follow in other municipalities. Watch in Portuguese: RTC
BURKINA FASO: Workshop Held on Gender-Based Violence
Le Pays reported on 8 April on a workshop related to a study on gender-based violence in school. The study, undertaken by the National Council on Population was financed by UNFPA. The study aims at reinforcing the capacities of Education in Material Population (EmP) in order to introduce emergent topics, such as violence in school, into the traditional disciplines.
GLOBAL: UN May Finally Create Agency to Address Women’s Issues Globally
Media Global reported on 8 April that a long-awaited United Nations agency to deal exclusively with woman's issues is on its way to becoming a reality. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has provided an official proposal for the new entity, which would combine the major groups within the UN that currently deal with women's issues. The new entity for women, as outlined by the Secretary-General in his January 2010 proposal, would unite the four agencies that deal with women's issues into a single, more powerful entity. The new entity would have its own Under-Secretary General and either its own executive board or its own section of the existing UNDP and UNFPA executive board. Read: MediaGlobal
COVERAGE ON WORLD HEALTH DAY
BANGLADESH: The Independent reported on 8 April that WHO regards urbanisation as an urgent public health concern and makes the issue as the theme of this year's World Health Day, which is going to be observed today across the globe. Of the total urban population, 35 per cent live in slums where basic health facilities are missing. "Such population will have immense impact on infrastructures followed by health consequences," Country Representative of UNFPA, Arthur Erken said. He said urbanisation is inevitable and in Bangladesh it was taking a phenomenal and unprecedented pattern that would pose a Herculean and intractable challenge to public health.
PARAGUAY: Multiple media outlets reported on 6 and 7 April that on World Health Day, UNFPA, urged to reflect on the factors that keep women, especially adolescents, from having full access to reproductive and sexual health services. In Paraguay, cervical cancer is not only a public health problem, but has a high social and economic impact to remain the leading cause of cancer death in women, with one of the highest incidence rates in the world: 53.2 deaths per 100,000 women. Read in Spanish: Radio Ñanduti, La Nación, Jaku˙eke, Viva Paraguay, Última Hora, Ecos del Paraguay