GLOBAL: “Honor” Killings Are a Global Problem
CNN Europe reported on 8 July on the global problem of “honor” killings, citing a UNFPA statistic finding that there are approximately 5000 such murders of women and girls around the world every year.
INDONESIA: Family Planning and Women
The Jakarta Post published an op-ed on 8 July by a researcher reporting on findings related to family planning and maternal health in rural Indonesia. The writer, Bandung Indraswari noted that in 2009, international agencies such as the UNFPA, UNESCAP, WHO and the UNDP confirm that there has been an increase of Indonesia’s maternal mortality rate from 307 deaths for every 100,000 to 420 deaths for every 100,000 births. On the other hand, the government denies this data and reveals that the maternal mortality rate decreased to 228 in every 100,000 births as stated in Indonesia’s MDGs report in 2009. Read: The Jakarta Post
INDONESIA: Proposal to Require Minimum Initial Service Package On Reproductive Health In Emergencies
UN Radio interviewed a UNFPA official on 8 July about a proposal to introduce legislation on reproductive health servcies in emergencies. Disasters such as earthquake or flood often happen in Indonesia. Read in Bahasa Indonesia: UN Radio
CONTINUING COVERAGE OF ESTABLISHMENT OF UN WOMEN
JORDAN: McClatchy (United States) reported on 8 July that a UN entity recently established in New York to address women’s rights is expected to boost UN programmes in Jordan and across the region. UN Women, which will be operational starting January 2011, was created by the General Assembly to be a “dynamic and strong champion for women and girls” to provide women with a powerful voice at the global, regional and local levels, said UNIFEM Regional Coordinator Dena Assaf. She pointed out that the new entity will enhance, not replace, other parts of the UN system that work for gender equality and women’s empowerment in their areas of expertise such as UNICEF, UNDP and UNFPA. Read: McClatchy
UGANDA: Make Contraceptives Available, UN Urges
The New Vision reported on 8 July that UNFPA wants contraceptives made available to women as a means of ending unsafe abortions. The country representative, Janet Jackson, who was addressing journalists in Kampala, said only 21 per cent of Ugandans can access contraceptives. She observed that Uganda’s population had grown from 24.2 million people to about 31 million. Ms. Jackson added that Ugandans under 21 years make 61 per cent of the population. Read: New Vision
UNITED STATES: Secretary-General Joins Christy Turlington for Film Premiere
UN News Centre reported on 8 July that UN Secretary-General Ban stressed the need to invest more in the health of women and girls, as he joined former model Christy Turlington Burns for the premiere of her new film documenting the preventable tragedy of maternal mortality at the Museum of Modern Art. Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA also called for investing in women's reproductive health, stressing that this is central to building a peaceful and just society. "Women are central to the economic and physical health of families, communities and nations," she said. Addressing a UN panel discussion on global health on 7 July, Ms. Obaid noted that some progress is being made, for example, more births today are attended by skilled health personnel and family planning has increased worldwide. Read: UN News Centre