ETHIOPIA: UNFPA Launches Condomize Campaign in Addis Ababa
The Ethiopian News Agency reported on 13 December that a high-level advocacy meeting on child marriage was conducted in the Assosa Town in Western Ethiopia. The National Coalition of Women Against AIDS (NCWH), in collaboration with UNFPA, organized the half-day high level advocacy meeting on stopping child marriage on December 12. The advocacy meeting was organized with the intention of looking at the achievements of the NCWH in its interventions on stopping early marriage over the last three years and discussing what could be done to address this harmful practice in a more effective and coordinated manner at the national level. UNFPA has been providing support to the NCWH to implement the “Stopping Early Marriage” initiative in the Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz and Tigray Regional States.
The high level advocacy meeting was attended by H.E. Woizero Azeb Mesfin- First Lady Ethiopia and Board chairperson of NCWH – Members of Parliament, officials from the aforementioned three regions, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives from UN Agencies and the African Union Commission and other partners working on stopping child marriage.
Georgia: The Award Ceremony for Winners of Youth “Elephant in the Room” Contest
Various media outlets reported that on 13 December, the United Nations Population Fund in Georgia held the award ceremony for the winners of the youth contest “Elephant in the Room,” at the gallery Kopala/Vernisazhi. Youth contest “Elephant in the Room” was held in partnership with the International Centre on Conflict and Negotiation (ICCN), Youth Development and Education Association (GYDEA) and the Caucasus Social Marketing Association (CSMA).
The contest was conducted within the framework of the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence and UNFPA global “7 Billion Actions” campaigns. The name of the contest was related to the metaphor “Elephant in the Room” for an obvious problem that is being ignored or goes unaddressed. The contest aimed to raise awareness of the general public and most importantly the youth on important social issues, such as HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence and human rights that still remain challenges faced by Georgia in the world of 7 billion.
Read in English: InterPress News Watch in Georgian: My Video
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY: Midwifery job description workshop
Media outlets reported on 13 December on the midwifery job description workshop that was organized by the Ministry of Health and funded by UNFPA. “Maternal mortality rate can be decreased with good midwifery practices and performances” H.E. Dr. Fathi Abou Moghli, Minister of Health (MoH), said. "In Palestine from 1990 – 2010, and according to World Bank statistics, the mm rate was recorded at 92/100,000 deaths, and according to MoH statistics in 2010 it was 32/100,000 deaths” he continued. “We are hoping to bring this figure down by 2015 since maternal health is one of the MDGs ” he said. Read in Arabic: Alquds
CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): Call on diaspora support to national health system
Les Depeches de Brazzaville reported on 13 December on a colloquim held in Paris on 10 December about the support by the Congolese diaspora to the national health system in Congo. On this occasion, National AIDS Committee Executive Secretary Marie-Frankhe Puruhence called on medical doctors abroad to come back home to support national efforts to strengthen the national health systems. She informed of the joint UNFPA-NAC initiative on female condoms recently launched by UNFPA Representative David Lawson and herself on World AIDS Day. Read in French: Les Depeches de Brazzaville
CONGO (BRAZZAVILLE): UNFPA joins Human Rights Day Celebration
Les Depeches de Brazzaville reported on 13 December on the celebration of Human Rights Day on 10 December in Brazzaville. Jointly organized by UNFPA, UNICEF, NGO Association des Femmes Juristes, and the US Embassy on the theme "Celebrating action of Human Rights Activists" it was the occasion to debate on the matter and to present an exhibition, including women rights. Read in French: Les Depeches de Brazzaville
JORDAN: UNFPA Holds Evaluation Meeting
Al Rai and Addustour reported on 13 December that UNFPA Jordan held a meeting for all its partners in Jordan to present the results of the evaluation done for UNFPA’s Seventh Country Programme (2008-2012).
This evaluation aimed to assess UNFPA’s programme in terms of its design, management and contribution to its five stated outputs under each component.
The whole programme, according to the assessment, was effective in achieving its objectives; as it was relevant to both national and UN priorities and visions. Also, the program was found to be very efficient in terms of staff, budget and number of partners. Read in Arabic: Addustour and Al Rai