PHILIPPINES: Reproductive Health Bill Backed by UN and Multiple Agencies
Xinhua General News Service on 5 August reported that the United Nations and twenty government agencies back the reproductive health bill. “In a joint statement, the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), and the UN Children's Fund said the enactment of Philippine House Bill 4244 or more popularly known as the reproductive health (RH) bill would help prevent the rise of urban poverty.”
PHILIPPINES: UNFPA Urges Passage of Bill
Agence France Presse on 5 August reported on the impending vote on the nation’s reproductive health bill. UNPFA stressed the urgency of the bill saying maternal deaths would continue to rise with more and more women getting pregnant at a young age without the proper health care and access to key reproductive information. Ugochi Daniels, country representative from UNFPA is quoted several times in the piece.
SIERRA LEONE: UNFPA Boosts Development Journalists
Concord Times on 3 August reported that the regional chapters of the Media Alliance for Population and Development Issues (MAPDI) received equipment that would boost their efforts aimed at promoting population issues. MAPDI was formed by UNFPA some nine years ago. Each chapter will receive five recorders, one modem, one camera, one printer and one UPS backup screen and monitor.
PHILIPPINES: Reproductive Health Bill
Multiple media outlets reported from 3 to 6 August on the reproductive health bill currently being debated and the recent support its received from numerous organizations.
"The United Nations and 20 Philippine government agencies voiced their support for the passage of a reproductive health (RH) bill that would supposedly promote responsible parenthood. The support came after Catholics staged a protest rally against the bill on Saturday. In a joint statement, the World Health Organization (WHO), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), and the UN Children's Fund said the enactment of Philippine House Bill 4244 or more popularly known as the reproductive health (RH) bill would help prevent the rise of urban poverty."
Read in English: Inquirer, Yahoo News Philippines, Yahoo News Australia, MSN.com Malaysia, Rappler.com, Manila Times, Daily Tribune, Manila Bulletin, GMA News, Philippine Star, Shanghai Daily.com, The Gulf Today, Oman Tribune, Philippine Star, Philippine Star, ABS-CBN, Rappler.com
YEMEN: Y-PEER Discussed
Multiple media outlets on 1 and 3 August reported on the three-day consultative meeting of Y-PEER Yemen that was organized by the Civic Democratic Initiative Support Foundation (CDF) with the support of UNFPA. The report highlighted that Y-PEER is a comprehensive youth-to-youth initiative pioneered by UNFPA in order to raise awareness about reproductive health, reproductive rights, HIV/AIDS and population issues. Read in Arabic: Yemen Today, Saba News, 14October, Althawra, Althawra, GSM Egypt, Hour News
BELARUS: Hotline for Domestic Violence Survivors to Open
BelTA, MoyBY and 21.by reported on 3 August that the hotline for domestic violence survivors will start operation in Belarus on 13 August. BelTA’s author mentions UNFPA's Paulina Ivanko, communication/advocacy assistant for projects on domestic violence prevention and ensuring gender equality. Psychological counseling will be available every day and legal counseling two times a week. The hotline will have a “green number,” i.e. calls will be free of charge. The training for hotline personnel is organized in Minsk. The Chairperson of the Board of international public association “Gender Perspectives” Irina Alkhovka and the future hotline consultant are sited on the programme of training. Read in Russian: belta.by, moyby.com, 21.by.
TAJIKISTAN: Preventing Gender-based Violence
Asia-Plus Media Group on 2 August reported on the arrival of a UN Initiative to bring attention to violence against women. The initiative encourages the wearing of orange on the 25th of every month to raise awareness about gender-based violence. Parviz Boboyev, Program Specialist for UNFPA is quoted saying, "the law on domestic violence has not yet been adopted, and it is something we are working towards, to improve, so we decided to became involved." Read in Russian: Asia-Plus Media Group
YEMEN: UNFPA Supports Reproductive Health Strategy
Yemen News Agency on 2 August reported that UNFPA will help fill the deficit in the budget for the National Strategy for Reproductive Health for 2011-2012 with $200,000.
TAJIKISTAN: Bringing Attention to Gender-based Violence
Asia Plus News Agency on 2 August reported that UNFPA Tajikistan conducted an online campaign dedicated to the prevention of violence against women and girls as part of the UNiTE campaign, which proclaims every 25th of the month Orange Day. The aim of the action is to raise awareness about the issue of gender-based violence.
YEMEN: More Interventions Requested
Multiple media outlets on 1 and 2 August reported on the visit of UNFPA’s Arab States Regional Office Director Hafedh Chekir to Yemen and his meeting with the Minister of Planning and International Cooperation (MOPIC) Mr. Mohammed AL-Sadee. The Minister praised the efforts of UNFPA to handle the population problem in Yemen and asked for more interventions to respond to national population challenges. Read in Arabic: Althawra, Saba News, Yemen-TV, 14October, Saba News, Algomhoriah
GEORGIA: Continuing Coverage on Student Face 2012
Georgia Today reported on 2 August that Batumi hosted the finals of the Student Face 2012 Beauty Contest. This fourth year of the contest was dedicated to women’s reproductive health and healthy lifestyles. The contest was organized by the Ministry of Sports and Youth of Georgia with the support of Georgia’s First Lady’s healthy lifestyle initiative, Don’t Worry, Be Healthy, the Georgian National Reproductive Health Council, and the UNFPA/Georgia Country Office. UNFPA Georgia Assistant Representative Ms. Tamar Khomasuridze, as a member of the contest’s jury, took part in the evaluation of the contestants and, along with the other members, identified the winner of the best message for promoting a healthy lifestyle and reproductive health.
The jury identified two winners for the best messages on health promotion – Ms. Medea Akhalkatsi, a student of Gori State University received a bicycle as a special prize given by Georgia’s First Lady’s healthy lifestyle initiative, Don’t Worry, Be Healthy, and Ms. Ana Zenaishvili, a student of Batumi State University received a netbook from the UNFPA CO.
The winners as well as the other contestants will continue to participate in the youth initiatives and projects supported by the UNFPA and the Don’t Worry, Be Happy Initiative to promote healthy lifestyles and increase awareness on reproductive health issues among the peers. Read in English: Georgia Today
BURKINA FASO: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Committee on Issues of Population Refugees and Migration Visits
Observateur Paalga on 2 August reported on the visit of U.S. Assistant Secretary of the State Committee on Issues of Population Refugees and Migration, Mrs. Anne Richard, at the Rama Foundation for the fight against obstetric fistula on 31 July. The newspaper said the achievements of the foundation, funded by UNFPA since 2006, have inspired Ms. Richard, who has promised to report on the work of the Rama Foundation and UNFPA when she returns to her country. The article quotes Dr. Olga Sankara, who states that "UNFPA supports Rama Foundation so she can care for women. We give her the means to raise awareness and identify women with fistula and then give them the medicines necessary for their treatment and finally to organize their reintegration."
The website of the Radio Television of Burkina (RTB) has published an article on the visit of Madame Anne Richard to the foundation RAma. According to the media, women victims of fistulas have agreed to break the silence to talk about their experiences to the visitor of the day. Dr. Olga Sankara, programme specialist reproductive health, UNFPA, interviewee says "We give him the means to educate communities. She identifies and supports women victims to carry out an activity allowing them to have the means to manage a pregnancy. "
http://www.rtb.bf/infos/Sante/article/lutte-contre-les-fistules
BURKINA FASO: Dignity Kits Gifted to Malian Refugees
Sidwaya on 2 August published an article on the official handover by UNFPA of 2,000 dignity kits to UNHCR for refugees in the Sahel region. The newspaper said the Representative Assistant of UNFPA, Saïdou Kaboré, presented this gift and indicated that the response of UNFPA in emergency and post-crisis is primarily the provision of emergency kits for reproductive health, safe motherhood, family planning and dignity kits. The High Commissioner of the region, who presided over the ceremony, and Mrs. Mary Louise Kabré, UNHCR team leader Dori, thanked UNFPA for this gift that will contribute to the well being of women and girls. Read in French: Sidwaya
YEMEN: UNFPA Support Will Continue
Qatar News Agency on 1 August reported on a meeting between Yemen's Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Dr. Mohammed Al-Saadi and UNFPA’s Hafedh Chekir on a range of issues related to bilateral cooperation. Hafedh Chekir stressed the organizations interest in continuing support in Yemen.
UNITED STATES: UNFPA Does Not Condone Forced Abortion
USA Today on 1 August published a letter by Valerie DeFillipo, president of the Friends of UNFPA. “Your story 'Forced abortions, broken hearts' highlights the tragic stories of Chinese women made to have abortions against their will (Cover story, News, Wednesday). However, the article perpetuates the myth that the United Nations Population Fund participates, condones or endorses such gross violations of human rights. UNFPA has spoken out forcefully against coercion in all its forms, and in fact is dedicating substantial resources to promoting volunteerism and human rights in China and about 150 other countries where it works. Moreover, the story failed to acknowledge that no U.S. taxpayer funds support China's family planning program. To eliminate funding to UNFPA would only hurt women in sub-Saharan Africa, and would have no impact on helping Chinese women in these abortion cases.”
MYANMAR: Excerpt from UNFPA Rep Published
The Health Digest Journal on 1 August published an excerpt from the statement made by Mr. Mohamed Abdel-Ahad, UNFPA representative, at World Population Day celebrations in Nay Pyi Taw on 11 July.
MYANMAR: International Youth Day Seminar Organized
Weekly Eleven on 1 August reported that in commemoration of International Youth Day, invitations have been sent out for paper reading at the seminar jointly organized by the Youth Development Programme of Myanmar Medical Association and UNFPA. The seminar is on 13 August at the Chatrium Hotel.
YEMEN: UNFPA Fills RH Budget Deficit $200 Thousand
Althawra and Al-Islah on 1 August reported on the meeting between UNFPA’s Arab States Regional Office Director Hafedh Chekir and the Minister of Public health and Population (MOPHP) Mr. Ahmed AL-Ansi. The Minister thanked UNFPA for its support in overcoming the obstacles they are facing. The UNFPA regional director showed UNFPA's willingness to support the Ministry’s budget deficit in the 2011-2012 Reproductive Health National Strategy with 200 thousand U.S. dollars. Read in Arabic: Althawra and Al-Islah
http://www.althawra.net/portal/news-19045.htm
http://www.al-islah.net/details.aspx?pagename=gen&pageid=17493
BENIN: Results from AIDS Conference
La Nation and Aube Nouvelle reported in the first week of August that from 22 to 27 July, Madam Diene Keita, Representative of UNFPA in Benin and Beninese Minister for Health professor Dorothé Kinde Gazard participated in the international conference on the HIV/AIDS in Washington. Upon their return, they held a press conference to brief the media on the meeting.
LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC: Rural Women Await Midwives
Inter Press Service on 31 July reported that a year after the Laotian government launched a safe pregnancy programme, involving the dispatch of teams of midwives across the country, it is yet to reach women in the remote communities.
Lack of professional help has resulted in an average of two women dying every day in Laos from pregnancy-related complications and childbirth, notes the UNFPA in a report. “For every woman who dies, many more suffer from illnesses or disability from complications during pregnancy and childbirth.”
In June 80 midwives graduate from a special programme shaped by the Ministry of Health, international donors and the UNFPA. This second graduating class added to the initial group of 140 midwives who qualified last year, pioneering a professional cadre of community midwives in the communist-ruled country. Read in English: Inter Press Service
TOGO: World Population Day Celebrated
Multiple media outlets reported on 31 July on the celebration of World Population Day in Togo. The representative of UNFPA in Togo gave an interview to the media. Read in French: Pa-l'Union, Togo en Vogue and Afriquinfos
LIBERIA: UNFPA Director Talks Maternal Health
Front Page Africa reported on 30 July that UNFPA’s Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, says that he has “zero tolerance for a situation where a woman dies giving birth.” On the eve of the country’s Independence Day, Babatunde Osotimehin, executive director for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), visited the Redemption Hospital in Point Four, New Kru Town. There, while others around Monrovia prepared celebrations for the holiday, Osotimehin called attention to the issue of maternal health. “In the life of every country there are times of trial, and Liberia has gone through this period and is on the path of recovery,” Dr. Osotimehin was quoted as saying. Read in English: Front Page Africa
LIBERIA: UNFPA ED Urges More Efforts for Youth
The Inquirer reported on 30 July that The United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director and the Under Secretary General of the United Nations, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin says that the government of Liberia needs to put more efforts on the youths. Dr. Osotimehin was speaking recently in Monrovia at the Dissemination of the 2008 National Population and Housing Census, Final Products. Read in English: The Inquirer
YEMEN: Supporting Women’s Participation in National Dialogue
Multiple media outlets reported on 30 July on the meeting of UNFPA’s Deputy, Eiko Narita, and UN Women representatives with the head of Women National Committee Dr Shafika Saeed. The three parties discussed a number of issues related to Yemeni women, the top of which was women’s participation in the national dialogue as well as the importance of women’s participation in the coming donor conference in Riyadh. Read in Arabic: Alwahdawi, Al-Tagheer, Albadell