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