EL SALVADOR: Seniors Ask to Be Heard
La Prensa Gráfica reported on 20 January that the Department of Older Adults in the Social Inclusion Secretariat presented their report results in this sector to 1,000 older adults between October and November 2010. The report was driven by the National Council for Integral Attention to Seniors Adult Programmes with financial and technical support from UNFPA. Read in Spanish: La Prensa Grafica
GUATEMALA: UNFPA Supports Women’s Empowerment
Cerigua reported on 20 January that women in the western area of the country have strengthened their leadership and promoted awareness of women’s rights with the support of UNFPA. Julia Cajas, representing the Organization of Western Women (AMO-Ixquic), said that UNFPA has provided input for the women of San Marcos, Totonicapán, Solola and Quetzaltenango who are now trained on the contents of the law against femicide, domestic violence and sexual violence and human trafficking. Read in Spanish: Cerigua
PAKISTAN: Government Urged to Work with Private Sector For Child, Mother Healthcare
The News reported on 20 January that speakers said in a seminar organised by the Mir Khalil-ur-Rahman Memorial Society that the government should join hands with the private sector to start a health awareness programme for the safety of the child and mother. The topic of the seminar was “Importance of the child and mother healthcare and cooperation of health department.” Zahida Sarwar said that both the UNFPA and MNCH were working for the improvement of the facilities for child and mother health care. Read: The News
BANGLADESH: Three Women Killed Daily in 2010
Daily Star reported on 20 January that almost 16 cases of violence against women occurred daily in Bangladesh last year, totaling 5,743 incidences, with three women being killed every day. With this note, 11 ministries and nine UN agencies, including UNFPA, launched a two-day workshop, under the project 'The Joint Programme to Address Violence Against Women,’ aimed at finding areas for future collaboration between the government and UN counterparts. Speakers at the workshop said that the daily cases mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg, as most cases still remain unreported, unnoticed and even accepted in the society. Read: The Daily Star
NIGERIA: Family Planning for National Development
The Daily Trust published an analysis by Hajiya Bilkisu on 20 January on the first national family planning conference in Nigeria. The conference was organised by the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with an Abuja-based nongovernmental organisation, Advocacy Nigeria, and the Local Organizing Committee comprised of the Packard Foundation, Gates Institute, Nigeria Urban Reproductive Health Project (NURHI), MacArthur Foundation, UNFPA, USAID, the Society for Family Health and other key stakeholders. Read: The Daily Trust
CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): UNFPA Commits To Support Indigenous People
Le Journal de Brazza and Les Depeches de Brazzaville reported on 18 and 20 January on the commitment by UNFPA to strengthen its support to Congolese indigenous peoples in 2011. UNFPA will intensify support to indigenous people's representation in national and provincial policy decision making, and to indigenous women, through enhanced HIV prevention, access to reproductive health services, a survey on their living conditions, practices and customs and a documentary film. On the International Day of Indigenous Peoples on 9 August 2010, UNFPA Representative David Lawson advocated for the adoption of a bill promoting and protecting indigenous peoples in Congo, which was passed by Parliament on 30 December. He said, "This bill is a positive demonstration of the political maturity of the government in its willingness to protect vulnerable populations." Read in French: Le Journal de Brazza and Les Depeches de Brazzaville
CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): Training Held on Reproductive Health in Humanitarian Situations
Tele and Radio-Congo and Les Depeches de Brazzaville reported on 20 January on a training of trainers in reproductive health in humanitarian situations. Organized jointly by ACBEF (IPPF-affiliate) and UNFPA with support from the Health Ministry, participants from various ministries, civil society and UN organizations were trained to respond to and address reproductive health needs in emergency situations and related contingency planning to strengthen the national capacity to face humanitarian crises. UNFPA Representative David Lawson said, "The multiplication of humanitarian crises of various natures imposes contingency planning and the integration of reproductive health needs to protect women's rights and prevent increased maternal mortality, violence against them and HIV transmission in emergency situations." Watch in French: Tele-Congo and read in French: Les Depeches de Brazzaville
COMOROS: Workshop on Government and UNFPA Work
Al Balad and Al Watwan reported on 20 January that the government and UNFPA organized a national workshop for the annual review of their activities and programming for 2011. “UNFPA has mobilized to support the Comorian government to find solutions to reduce gender inequality. Important advances have been achieved but much remains to be done and we expect this meeting to help us out of the immobility and promote the human right," said the UNFPA Representative.