TANZANIA: Need to control Dar’s population growth
DailyNews reported on 12 December that in the spirit of Delivering as One in Tanzania, three agencies, namely UNICEF, UNFPA, and UNWomen, jointly launched their reports in Dar es Salaam with a focus on adolescents and issues affecting the population. During the launching ceremony, Hon. Anne Makinda, Speaker of the National Parliament, said that the implication of population growth will become bigger burden if it does not go hand in hand with the economic growth. UNFPA Deputy Representative Mariam Khan on the launch of the SWOP 2011, “People and Possibilities in a world of seven Billion”, says the world’s population reached 7 billion people on October 31, this year marking an important milestone adding that UNFPA sees it as a challenge, an opportunity and a call for action. “The 7 billion milestone is a wake up call, it is a reminder that we must act now," it addes. As part of UN System Delivering as One in Tanzania, UNFPA is addressing the needs of youth, girls, and women by supporting the provision of comprehensive reproductive health care including family planning and ensuring strong prevention agenda for HIV and AIDS as well as addressing population and development issues. Read in English: DailyNews
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY: Al-Najah National University organizes annual film festival
Media outlets reported on 12 December on the film festival celebrations that were organized by the Media Department at the An- Najah National University in Nablus, in coordination with the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH) and funded by UNFPA as part of the project activity entitled “Gender Equity and Protection.” “This year’s festival focuses on violence again women. Women in Palestine play a crucial role; she’s the mother, the worker, educator and freedom fighter ” Dr. Rami Hamdallah, President of An-Najah University said. Read in Arabic: Al-Quds, Najah, and MIFTAH
PARAGUAY: Director of UN Women Visits
Jaku´eke reported on 12 December that Manuelita Escobar, Assistant Representative of the United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Ministry of Women’s Gloria Rubin, emphasized the importance of UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet’s visit to Paraguay's visit. Escobar indicated that her presence helps strengthen programmes that are being implemented with support from the organization she represents. Also she remarked that her speeches create an open dialogue about gender equality issues. Read in Spanish: Jaku´eke
TUNISIA: UNFPA’s response to the Libyan crisis
Radio Tunis Chaine Internationale reported on 12 December on UNFPA’s immediate response to the Libyan crisis including the provision, storage and distribution of reproductive health kits to various medical centers at the Tunisian-Libyan border area, in camps and urban settings as well as the provision of reproductive health services (antenatal and post natal care, referral for medical delivery, prevention and treatment of STIs, Family Planning , etc.). Listen in French: Radio Tunis Chaine Internationale
JORDAN: National Conference to address violence against women and children
All local newspapers and Petra News Agency reported on 12 December that a press conference was held as an introduction for the coming “First Jordanian National Conference for the Prevention of Violence against Children and Women: Reality and Challenges,” which will take place from 18-19 December. The Jordan River Foundation/Queen Rania Foundation, in cooperation with UNFPA, and UNICEF in Jordan organized this conference.
The organizers of the conference (JRF & UNICEF & UNFPA) clarified the main objective and messages of the conference for the reporters, and also explained how this network was formulated stating that professionals working in different organizations formed a network aiming to prevent all sorts of violence against children in Jordan. This network decided to conduct the first national conference to end violence against children and women.
Ms. Muna Idris, UNFPA Assistant Representative, said that the timing of the conference is great for the United Nations Agencies in Jordan which are planning their new UNDAF and Country Programmes for the coming 5 years, as this conference will assist them in identifying the national priorities and issues that should be tackled in their programmes.
Ms. Idris also stated that the conference will aim to share information between professionals in the different fields and to evaluate the current situation of women and child safety in Jordan, highlight gaps, and suggest solutions. Read in Arabic: Petra News Agency, Al Arabalyawm, Addustour Read in English: Jordan Times