ARMENIA: Population Ageing
News.am on 17 August reported on the ageing demographic issue in Armenia. Head of the UNFPA Yerevan Office Garik Hayrapetyan is quoted saying, "The average age will make 50 in Armenia by 2050.” Read in English: News.am
UGANDA: ED Op-ed Published
The Daily Monitor on 17 August published an op-ed by UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin in which he says, "Not only do women want to time and space their pregnancies to achieve healthier outcomes and better lives for themselves and their families, it is their human right to do so." Read in English: The Daily Monitor
BRAZIL: Discussions Held on Gender, Race and Ethnicity
Agencia Brasil and other outlets reported on 17 August that UNFPA and other UN agencies, together with the Brazilian and Spanish governments, examined the results of a joint programme aimed at the promotion of gender, race and ethnic equality in Brazil. The assessment was made on the two-day seminar “Intersectionality of Gender, Race and Ethnicity: The Joint Work on the Preparation and Implementation of Public Policies." The seminar discussed opportunities for future cooperation between the UN and governments, as well as innovative Brazilian practices, such as training courses for public managers on gender, race and ethnicity and a course for journalists on these subjects, held in eight capital cities. The Interagency Programme for Promotion of Gender, Race and Ethnicity was the first UN initiative that brought together various UN agencies (UNFPA, UNDP, ILO, UNICEF, UN Habitat) and governments in this area. Read in Portuguese: Agencia Brasil
UGANDA: UNFPA ED Calls for Family Planning Commitment
The Daily Monitor on 17 August published the op-ed by UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin calling for, "all of Africa’s leaders and the international community to do their part through a sustained commitment to improving the provision of contraceptive services. Not only do women want to time and space their pregnancies to achieve healthier outcomes and better lives for themselves and their families, it is their human right to do so." Read in English: Daily Monitor
CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE: UNFPA Pleads for Fight Against All Forms of Discrimination
DRTV and les Depeches de Brazzaville reported on 17 August on a vibrant plea made by UNFPA Representative David Lawson in favour of the fight against all forms of discrimination against indigenous peoples. Mr. Lawson said, "Justice, equality and equity are ideals proclaimed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples that we must fight for with all our strengths, with special attention to the case of indigenous peoples who, in Congo, are in danger of extinction." The UNFPA Representative said that discrimination against ethnic minorities and tribalism must be defeated for enhanced national unity and democracy. Read in French: les Depeches de Brazzaville
PARAGUAY: Promote Training of Police in HIV
Última Hora reported on 17 August that the police officers in the headquarters of the Alto Paraná were trained to be multiplying agents in the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and HIV. This training was developed in the framework of the activities implemented by the committee COPRECOS Paraguay, an initiative supported by UNFPA. What is intended here is "that the participants are multipliers of knowledge acquired, among his comrades and family," said Norma Cáceres, head of the workshop. Read more in Spanish: Diario Última Hora
MALAWI: Government to Give Youth More Opportunities
Nyasa Times reported on 17 August that the Minister of Youth Development and Sports, Enoch Chihana, said the government was taking all necessary steps to ensure that youth in the country were given opportunities to participate in development projects. Chihana was speaking in Salima during the International Youth Day Commemoration celebrated belatedly in Malawi.
Speaking at the commemorative event, UNFPA country representative, Athanase Nzokirishaka, emphasized the need for educating, protecting and empowering young people so that the country develops. “We need to significantly increase our efforts in creating employment schemes in the country,” said Nzokirishaka. The event was celebrated under the theme “Building a Better Malawi, Partnering with the Youth." Read in English: Nyasa Times
MALAWI: Spotlight on Fistula
Zodiak online, a web publication by Zodiak Radio, reported on 17 August that in Malawi now, strides have been made on the management of fistula cases. The radio quoted Malawi’s President Joyce Banda who said, “I wish to ask the Minister of Health to ensure that the Ministry of Health accords the issue of fistula the necessary attention. I know UNFPA conducts fistula repair camps twice a year in June and November. This is not enough and I urge the Ministry to do more campaigns and mount more fistula repair camps.” Read in English: Zodiak Online
BELARUS: 74.4% Married Women Use Contraception
Aif.by, open.by and realbrest.by on 17 August wrote articles on the occasion of the London Summit on Family Planning, which was co-organized by UNFPA. International and national statistics on contraception were given. According to the text, 74.4% married Belarusian women use contraception. However, quite a lot of them use only so-called traditional methods, which are not so efficient. It is estimated that unmet need for family planning in Belarus accounts 16%. Read in Russian: aif.by, open.by, realbrest.by