PARAGUAY: Invest in Women for Development, Says UNFPA
PPN reported on 6 January that the global economic crisis of 2009 has left important lessons for public policy. “The first thing is the need to incorporate gender and human rights perspectives in development planning and implementation. The cost for not taking these issues into account has been very high,” said Mirtha Rivarola, Gender and Youth Officer for UNFPA. Read in Spanish: PPN
HAITI: “Haiti’s Rapists Do Not Sleep”
El Espectador (Colombia) reported on 6 January that while sexual violence was already difficult before the earthquake that struck Haiti on 12 January according to a recent Amnesty report, the tragedy shattered the few protection mechanisms that exist. In addition to other efforts by MINUSTAH, the article noted that during 2010, UNFPA installed a total of 75 solar lights in the latrines and water tanks in some camps to contribute to security. Read in Spanish: El Espectador
CUBA: Progress Toward MDGs Guided by National Commitments
Mujeres reported on 6 January that Cuba has already achieved several of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). “Cuba has fulfilled the Millennium Development Goal which calls for gender equality and empowerment of women, and continues to make progress,” said the Assistant Representative of UNFPA on the island. Read in Spanish: Mujeres
PAKISTAN: Youth Tackle Gender-Based Violence
Newsline reported on 6 January that “Through the Gender Lens” – a handbook on the year-long collaborative effort between Uks, UNFPA and 39 young people – was launched in Islamabad. Available in both Urdu and English versions, the handbook details the different activities the participants were involved in as part of their training on gender-based violence. It also serves as a training manual for those who want to conduct peer training of their own. Read: Newsline
GHANA: Health Expert Pessimistic About Reducing Maternal Mortality
Joy Online reported on 6 January that a health expert is pessimistic about the success of the government’s war on maternal and child mortality. The Ghana Health Service has declared 2011 the year of action to meet MDGs 4 and 5. Currently about 380 women die out of a hundred thousand deliveries in sharp contrast to the UN target of 185. UNFPA Reproductive Health Specialist Dr. Robert Kwesi Mensah said that very little can be achieved since the government does not intend to increase funding for the campaign. Read: Joy Online
CONTINUING COVERAGE ON APPOINTMENT OF UNFPA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BABATUNDE OSOTIMEHIN
AFRICA: PANA reported on 6 January that the newly-appointed Executive Director of UNFPA, Nigeria's Professor Babatunde Osotimehin, has assumed duty at the agency's headquarters in New York, according to a UN statement. The statement, made available to the Pan African News Agency (PANA) in New York, said that Mr. Osotimehin, who is a former Nigerian health minister, took over the mantle of leadership from Thoraya Ahmed Obaid. Read: PANA
IRAN: IRNA reported on 5 January that a former Nigerian health minister with wide experience in fighting HIV/AIDS has taken over leadership of the United Nations agency charged with assisting countries with reproductive and maternal health, and population development. Babatunde Osotimehin, who has also served as African spokesperson for the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, became the fourth Executive Director of UNFPA on 1 January, succeeding Thoraya Ahmed Obaid. Read: IRNA