JORDAN: Endorsement of the National Action Plan for Reproductive Health
Al Arab Al Youm reported on 28 February that the 2011 action plan for Reproductive Health/ Family Planning was discussed among the steering committee members. The action plan for this year has the following main objectives: Improve and support the RH/FP policies; Enhance the services provided and its accessibility; Strengthen awareness in RH issues; and Strengthen the implementation of the action plan. During the meeting, several partners, including UNFPA, presented their plans and activities for this year. Read in Arabic: Al Arab Al Youm
ANTIGUA: 2011 Census Officially Launched
Caribarena reported on 28 February that the Housing and Population Census 2011 was launched. Addressing the launch ceremony, Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer said the census plays a very important role in the government’s understanding of the island’s economic potential. He urged residents to participate fully in the activities. Also present were representatives of CARICOM and UNFPA, who shared information on the benefits of the census in the development of both Antigua and the wider Caribbean. Read: Caribarena
COMOROS: UNFPA Mission in Anjouan to Launch Two Projects to Fund Peace Building
Al Balad reported on 28 February on the launch of a mission supported by UNFPA as the DDR-Women enters its active phase in Anjouan. The last mission of this UN agency led locally by the Assistant Representative Mamadou Boina Maecha was to launch a number of activities related to this programme.
BELARUS: Informal Education Course to Be Held in Belarus
Naviny.by reported on 27 February that a course of informal education for older people, organized by UNESCO clubs in Belarus and the library Pradslava, will take place in Vitebsk. According to Tatyana Haplichnik, UNFPA Programme Analyst, with time the necessity to share the responsibility for older persons between the state and the family becomes more evident. “We should prepare for the pension age the same way we prepare ourselves for other life stages – beginning with school, entering higher educational establishment . . . Retirement is the the beginning of a new quality stage of everyone’s life,” she said. Read in Russian: Naviny.by
UNITED STATES: America’s Debt to the UN
The Boston Globe published a column by Renee Loth on 26 February. She wrote, “The black helicopters are back. After a brief respite when it appeared the United States would be rejoining the community of nations, isolationist posturing has returned to Washington, often in the guise of deficit reduction. Those who believe the United Nations represents a shadowy “one-world’’ government have new enablers in the House majority, who are bent on defunding the beast. Last week, Republicans lost a vote to claw back $179 million already committed to upgrade security at UN headquarters in New York — but only because a two-thirds majority was needed. The House did adopt amendments to its budget resolution that strip all funds from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the UN Population Fund — two perennial targets of hyperbole and disinformation. More than $200 million was cut from the annual contribution to UN peacekeeping activities.” Read: The Boston Globe
MALAWI: “Why I Became A Prostitute”
The Nation reported on 26 February that a UNFPA delegation, led by Representative Athanase Nzokirishaka, heard testimony from sex workers on why they have turned to that profession, and the impact of a UNFPA-funded Family Planning Association of Malawi (FPAM) project to reduce sex workers’ risk of contracting HIV/AIDS by supplying them with both male and female condoms and training them on condom use. The article cited UNFPA statistics on HIV prevalence in Malawi, where women account for 60 per cent of those infected with HIV. Read: The Nation
GLOBAL: COVERAGE ON UN COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN
IPS reported on 26 February that risk of sexual violence, limited access to education, and health issues such as HIV/AIDS and forced female genital mutilation/cutting are just a few of the obstacles adolescent girls face in developing countries, yet these girls are the key to the future and the eradication of poverty, according to experts at the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). "Investing in the world's 1.2 billion adolescents in an imperative if we want to break entrenched cycles of poverty and inequality," said Richard Morgan, director of UNICEF's Division of Policy and Practice. Children "face grave vulnerabilities and grave challenges as they make the transition towards adulthood," he added. The U.N. Adolescent Girls Task Force, which organised a panel on the issue, is comprised of UNFPA, UNICEF, the newly-launched U.N. Women, and several other U.N. entities. Read: IPS
NEPAL: The Himalayan Times reported on 24 February that Nepal internationally launched the National Action Plan on implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions on women, peace and security on the sidelines of the 55th Commission on the Status of Women in New York. NAP, which was formally launched nationally in Kathmandu on 17 February, was formulated along the lines of Resolutions 1325 and 1820 of the Security Council. The event, after which Nepal became the first country to adopt NAP to address the two resolutions, was co-organised by Nepali and Norwegian missions, UN Women and UNFPA. Read: The Himalayan Times
GLOBAL: Babatunde Osotimehin – New Executive Director of UNFPA
The Lancet (UK) published a profile on 26 February of Babatunde Osotimehin, the new Executive Director of UNFPA. It noted, "Sworn in last month, he is calling on UNFPA's officers, partners and UN member states to embody a vision of young women and men empowered to voluntarily make responsible reproductive decisions, with services available to all to plan pregnancy and reduce maternal mortality." ‘Working together’ is the way to make progress, Mr. Osotimehin says. ‘We need to ensure that young people of both genders have equal participation, not only in reproductive rights and health but also within society and in the economy.’” Read: The Lancet
PARAGUAY: Local Development Plan Presented
Neike, La Nación, Ultima Hora, Neike and Prensa Indigena reported on 25 February on the presentation of a model of local development planning and land to population approach at the Musa Hotel in the city of Villarrica. The advice provided to the municipalities was led by experts from the University of Colombia University of Externado staff, with the Technical Secretariat of Planning (STP), the Environment Secretariat (SEAM) and the support of UNFPA, the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and the Spanish Cooperation Agency (AECID). Read in Spanish: Neike, La Nacion, Prensa Indigena
TAJIKISTAN: Results of Hospital Care Assessment Presented
Khovar and Avesta TJ reported on 25 February that the presentation on the results of assessment of hospital care for mothers and babies in Dushanbe. The assessment was conducted jointly by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tajikistan and in partnership with UNFPA, GIZ, USAID, WHO. Read in Russian: Khovar and Avesta
MALAYSIA: Malaysian Women’s Literacy Rate Very High
Bernama reported on 25 February on Malaysian women’s high literacy rate, noting that Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil met recently with Babatunde Osotimahin, the executive director of UNFPA and fellow Malaysian Tan Sri Jemilah Mahmood, the head of UNFPA's humanitarian section. Read: Bernama
GEORGIA: Georgia Adopts Concept Paper on Rehabilitation of Perpetrators of Domestic Violence
24 hours reported on 24 February that the Government of Georgia adopted a concept paper on rehabilitation of perpetrators of domestic violence elaborated on the initiative of the Inter-Agency Council on Domestic Violence and supported by UNFPA/Georgia implemented project “Combating Gender-Based Violence in the South Caucasus.” The concept paper was developed by an ad hoc working group comprised of domestic violence experts, lawyers and psychologists in 2010. It reflects on international practice and experiences and sets out principles, guidelines, approaches and programme directions for domestic violence perpetrator rehabilitation. The document has been signed by the Prime-Minister of Georgia Nikoloz Gilauri and will enter into force as of 1 June. Read: 24 Hours
MADAGASCAR: Donation From UNFPA Seeks to Reduce Maternal Death
Midi Mdagaskaria, L’Express and La Verite reported on 24 February that UNFPA Madagascar through the RHCS Global Programme and Maternal Health Thematic Fund has donated to the Ministry of Health via SALAMA a number of goods and medicines including Caesarean kits, emergency obstetric care kits and training materials, contraceptives, motorcycles and computers with related accessories. The total value of this donation amounted to approximately $6 million. These goods will be distributed to health centres in order to assist women deliveries and to promote family planning.
JORDAN: Editor in Chief meets UNFPA Jordan Assistant Representative
Al Rai reported on 23 February on a meeting between Muna Idris, UNFPA Assistant Representative and Abdulwahhab Zgheilat, the newspapers’s editor in chief. Ms. Idris briefed Mr. Zgheilat about UNFPA work in Jordan and the major components that UNFPA is focusing on within its seventh country programme for the years 2008-2012. She addressed the importance of organizing periodic meetings among journalists and UNFPA representatives. Mr. Al-Zgheilat stressed on the idea of partnership between Al Rai newspaper and UNFPA, and offered their full support to UNFPA activities, including media coverage, participating in field visits and major workshops and to assist in highlighting issues that ensure the well-being and health of Jordanians. Read in Arabic: Al Rai
PARAGUAY: Doctors Are Alarmed By Increase in Adolescent Birth Rate
La Nación reported on 23 February on the rising birth rates among the country's adolescent, noting that a survey by UNFPA found that 65 per cent of teens do not use protection when having sex. Read in Spanish: La Nacion
BELARUS: Gender Ratio Imbalance Grows
Zautra.by and Tut.by reported on 23 February that in the last decade Belarus’s population structure became more unbalanced because of high mortality among men of working age. According to 2009 census results, the ratio is100 men for 155 Belarusian women. Zautra.by reported that male infertility has increased in recent years. According to Tatyana Haplichnik, UNFPA Programme Analyst, it is important that families don’t support gender stereotypes, so that boys don’t grow up into people not being able to express their feelings and take care of their own bodies and health. Read in Russian Zautra.by Zautra.by and TUT.BY Tut.by
CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): Joint UN Action to Support Women’s Affairs Ministry
PANA reported on 23 February and Tele-Congo reported on 22 February that Women's Affairs Minister Jeanne Leckoumba Loumeto Pombo met with representatives of UN agencies to discuss UN action to support the Ministry in implementing the national gender policy. Speaking as Chair of the UN Theme Group on Gender, UNFPA Representative David Lawson, said, "The talks focused on the areas in which the UN would enhance its coordinated support to the Ministry, including on women's health, women's rights, rural women, gender-based violence, women's empowerment and employment, gender and HIV/AIDS. We will also help to strengthen the government’s capacity on gender budgeting." Read: PANA and Watch in French: Tele-Congo
SUDAN: GOSS Minister Warns Against Gender Violence
The Juba Post reported on 23 February on a workshop on gender-based violence that was jointly organized by the Ministry of Gender, Social Welfare and Child protection of the Government of Southern Sudan and UN agencies including UNFPA, UNHCR and UNICEF. The training aimed at increasing the knowledge base for multi-sectoral prevention and response to gender-based violence through building capacity of staff working in the field. In total 25 people were trained. The trainees were from diverse backgrounds, coming from health providers, lawyers, social workers, psychologists and protection, and are currently working for government, state government, national and international NGOs and UN agencies. Read: The Juba Post
SYRIA: Awareness Raising Campaign on Reproductive Health and Gender-Based Violence
SANA and Syrian Days reported on 22 February that through the support provided by the humanitarian project, which is funded by the Australian Government, the Halbouni Health Counselling Centre (HCC), a project co-funded by the European Union, and implemented by the Syrian Family Planning Association (SFPA) with the technical assistance of the Italian Association for Women in Development (AIDOS), organised an awareness campaign on Reproductive Health (RH) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Damascus. The campaign aimed at providing thorough information on RH and GBV, including its concept, phenomena and consequences, available free services, and a brief description of the legal framework. The campaign attracted around 700 people; more than 90 per cent of them are women, with the participation of community leaders who are well known in the areas with high concentration of Iraqi refugees. Not only did the participants expand their knowledge on RH and GBV, they were also provided with vouchers for free counselling at HCC as well as the hygiene kits procured by UNFPA. Read in Arabic: SANA and Syrian Days
MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA: Renewable Energy and the Middle East Revolutions
Forbes (US) published a blog on 22 February on reporting that protesters across the Middle East continue their fight for democracy and liberation, speculators have drawn attention to the inevitable impact of this instability and change on the oil and gas sector, in oil price spikes. The blog noted that according to UNFPA, Cairo’s population has nearly doubled over the past 30 years as many rural poor have moved to the city seeking work. In addition, an influx of refugees fleeing neighboring Sudan’s civil war has added to the city’s population burden. As a result, a new urban poor population has taken root in Cairo, with the vast majority living in informal settlements without access to electricity and without political clout. Read: Forbes
SUDAN: South Sudan Plans Law against Gender-Based Violence
Khartoum Monitor reported on 22 February on a workshop co-sponsored by the Ministry of Gender and Social Affairs, UNFPA, UNICEF and UNHCR to build capacity on gender-based violence. The Government of South Sudan (GoSS) pledged to legislate and enforce specific laws against gender-based violence.
BOTSWANA: CARMMA Launch Announced
The Daily News and Mmegi reported on 22 February that the Ministry of Health will launch the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal mortality in Africa (CARMMA). The launch, which will be held in Maun, will carry the theme “Botswana cares: No woman should die while giving life.” The campaign has been adopted to further strengthen the provision of quality health information and services in order to reduce high maternal and newborn deaths. UNFPA Assistant Representative Sarah Masale has indicated that the campaign was launched at a larger scale in June 2009 at the African Union (AU)'s Ministers of Health conference in Addis Ababa under the theme “Africa cares: No woman should die while giving life.” Read: Mmegi
CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): UNFPA Representative And Youth Minister Commit To Youth
Les Depeches de Brazzaville reported on 21 February on a joint commitment by Civic Education and Youth Minister, Zacharie Kimpouni and UNFPA Representative David Lawson to support youth as a top priority in Congo. The Minister and UN diplomat saluted the excellent cooperation between the Government and UNFPA and committed to support one another in pursuing the Ministry's initiatives and goals, including supporting the newly established National Youth Council. Mr. Lawson said, "Young people are the essence of the future of Congo; we will strengthen to Minister Kimpouni action plan towards young people." Read in French: Les Depeches de Brazzaville
CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): UNFPA Strengthens Gender Policy Implementation
Congo-site and Tele-Congo reported on 21 February on a meeting between Women's Affairs Minister Jeanne Leckoumba Loumeto Pombo and UNFPA Representative David Lawson to sign a cooperation agreement aimed at enhancing UNFPA's support to the implementation of the Gender Policy. Among the key priorities are to provide support for early pregnancy prevention, an on-going male leadership initiative for women's rights, gender budgeting, and ending gender-based violence. Mr. Lawson said, “We intend to support the implementation of the gender parity bill on elective, administrative and political positions. We will build on 2010 massive political and social mobilization on gender issues created by Minister Leckoumba Loumeto's leadership last year in order to enhance further on women condition." Watch in French: Tele-Congo and Read in French: Congo-Site
CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): CONTINUING COVERAGE ON INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST FGM/C
Tele-Congo reported on 21 February on the commemoration of the International Day Against Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) with Women's Affairs Minister Jeanne Leckoumba Loumeto, UNFPA Representative David Lawson and the President of the African Committee Against FGM/C. At a round table, the Minister denounced FGM/C forcefully and outlined the Government's policy to fight it. Speaking as President of the UN Theme Group on Gender, David Lawson said, "100 million girls and women have been victims of female genital mutilations globally, and two million girls are at risk each year. Although FGM/C is not widespread in Congo, I commend the government for its forceful policy on the issue." Watch in French: Tele-Congo
CONTINUING COVERAGE ON SWOP 2010 RELEASE
BURKINA FASO: Sidwaya and L’Observateur Paalga reported on 20 February on the Ouagadougou launch of UNFPA’s 2010 State of World Population report. Pascaline Tamini, Minister for the Social Action and the National Solidarity, in the name of the Minister for Finance and Economy, chaired the launch ceremony. UNFPA Representative Dr. Mamadou Kanté said, “The subject of this report is unquestionably interest for Burkina Faso, this is why I invite you to exploit it within the framework of your respective missions so that Burkina is equipped better to face the management of possible catastrophes.”
BANGLADESH: Digital Maps to Be Introduced In Population Census
The News Today reported on 20 February that during a recent census workshop, Planning Minister A.K. Khandker said that digital maps for each and every moujas and area have been prepared for the first time through aerial photography to bring accuracy in the upcoming Population and Housing Census-2011 to be held next month. “Every enumerator and supervisor will be briefed about their respective areas through using these maps,” he said at the Dhaka divisional workshop on census held at the Department of Public Health and Engineering (DPHE) auditorium in Kakrail. The workshop was organized by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). The workshop was chaired by Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Moinuddin Abdullah and addressed by Statistics Division Secretary Riti Ibrahim and UNFPA Representative Arthur Erken. Read: The News Today
ECUADOR: Number of Teenage Pregnancies Is “Alarming” Says President
EFE, Andes Info, Ecuavisa and Hoy reported on 19 February that President Rafael Correa and Health Minister David Chiriboga spoke of the need to initiate an aggressive family planning campaign, given the high rates of teenage pregnancy reflected in the statistics, pointing to the high cost and social and economic impact this has. This statement is aligned with the approval granted by the President to "Intersectoral National Strategy for Family Planning (ENIPLA) by the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador, the Coordinating Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Education, UNFPA and PAHO. Read in Spanish: EFE, Andes Info, Ecuavisa, Hoy
MALAYSIA: UNDP Representative Kamal Malhotra Answers Questions on Role, Relevance of UN
The Star published, on 19 February, questions from the public and answers from UNDP Representative Kamal Malhotra on the role of the UN and its relevance for Malaysian citizens. In his discussion of the roles of several UN agencies, he noted that UNFPA is helping address Malaysia's considerable sexual and reproductive health challenges; WHO and UNFPA are together helping address maternal-mortality-related issues, while WHO is helping Malaysia address its current major health challenges. Read: The Star
SUDAN: Walking Together for Safe Motherhood
Sudan Vision Daily reported on 19 February on a walk organized by the White Ribbon Alliance-Sudan with the support from the Obstetrics and Gynaecologists Society of Sudan, Ahfad University, Salmmah Women’s Resource Centre and UNFPA. Read: Sudan Vision Daily