Secretariat News

After two years at the APA secretariat, Eileen Kelly will be moving on at the end of March. Below is the advertisement for the Regional Coordinator position. We welcome applications from amongst our interested members and partnersin sexual and reproductive health and rights in the Asia Pacific region.

Asia Pacific Alliance (APA) Regional Coordinator

The Asia-Pacific Alliance is a network of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), overseas development agencies (ODAs), and philanthropic foundations from donor countries in the Pacific Rim (Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, and the United States). It promotes effective implementation of the Programme of Action adopted by the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in 1994 at Cairo and supplemented by Key Actions adopted by the 21st Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly on ICPD + 5 in 1999. http://www.asiapacificalliance.org/Site/About_Us/Default.aspx

We are looking for a new Regional Co-ordinator. You will be passionate about advocating for sexual and reproductive health and rights, and advancing global commitment to meeting ICPD. You will be responsible for coordinating, implementing and monitoring the activities of APA, and provide overall management of the APA secretariat. This work will involve responsibility for the APA budget, communication with donors and other stakeholders, and coordinating members’ participation at international meetings and conferences.

The position is full time and is based on our office in Bangkok.

The salary range is: $45,000-$53,000 US.

For a position description and further information, please contact:

Jackie Edmond - Chief Executive, New Zealand Family Planning, Jackie.Edmond@familyplanning.org.nz

Closing date for applications is 21 March. All applications should be sent via email to Jackie.Edmond@familyplanning.org.nz

The 2008 session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nations in New York, will take place from February 25 - March 7. APA members attending include Joanna Spratt from NZ Family Planning International. As in other years it is expected that members attending will link with each other and other SRH colleagues to discuss their countries positions on our issues.

In accordance with its multi-year programme of work for 2007–2009, the  Commission will consider the following themes at its 52nd session:

• Priority Theme: “Financing for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women”
• Emerging Issue: “Gender Perspectives on Climate Change”
• Review Theme: “Women’s Equal Participation in Conflict Prevention, Management and Conflict Resolution and in Post-Conflict Peacebuilding” — review of the agreed conclusions on thise theme adopted by the Commission at its 48th session in 2004

For more information click here http://www.unifem.org/campaigns/csw/2008/

Member Updates

Bush Touts HIV/AIDS Program in Africa; House Committee on Foreign Affairs Set to Consider Strong PEPFAR Bill; Minority Threatens to Derail Bill over Opposition to Family Planning - An Update from Member organisation Population Action Internartional. (PAI)

Washington, DC… President Bush is traveling around Africa this week, where he has been touting his HIV/AIDS program. While the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is a historic effort to combat HIV, there are critical flaws in the program that Congress is poised to address. The arbitrary funding mandate on abstinence and be-faithful programs are tying the hands of programs on the ground and HIV-positive women are in need of the contraceptives that will allow them to plan the timing and spacing of their children.The House Committee on Foreign Affairs will mark-up a bill to reauthorize PEPFAR Wednesday, February 27. The bill, authored by the late and highly revered Chairman Lantos and widely supported by the community, would strengthen U.S. HIV/AIDS assistance by taking a big step forward in meeting the needs of the population most at risk for HIV infection – women and girls.

What the Bill Does:

Provides greater access to contraceptives for HIV-positive women who desire to space and plan their births or who choose not to get pregnant.
Provides greater effectiveness and flexibility in the fight against HIV/AIDS by striking the restriction under PEPFAR that mandates at least one-third of U.S. HIV/AIDS prevention funding be limited to abstinence-only programs.

Why Contraceptives Are Important:

Many people living with HIV want contraception: At various points in their lives, HIV-positive men and women want to have a child or another child or want to prevent a pregnancy, either to time and space their childbearing or to avoid it entirely. Those living with HIV often desire to prevent pregnancy because of the risk of transmitting the virus to their newborn or because of concerns that they will be leaving behind children, HIV-positive or not, as orphans. Unmet need for contraception: High rates of unintended pregnancy occur throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, including among women living with HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported in 2006 that among pregnant women receiving antiretroviral treatment in Uganda, 92% said their pregnancies were unintended. Contraception as HIV Prevention: Research suggests that in the absence of contraceptive use in Sub-Saharan Africa, the number of HIV-positive births would be 31% higher than it is now. There would be an additional 153,000 infants born HIV-positive each year—and all of these births would be unplanned.

Contraception Enhances PMTCT Programs: USAID has projected that adding contraceptive services to PMTCT (Preventing Mother to Child Transmission) programs to make it easier for women to avoid an unintended pregnancy can prevent almost twice the number of child HIV infections and three times the number of child deaths as can PMTCT programs alone. Linking HIV and Contraceptive Services is Cost-effective: Family Health International calculated in 2006 that for the same cost, contraceptive services can avert nearly 30% more HIV-positive births (by preventing unwanted pregnancies) than identifying HIV-positive women during pregnancy and administering nevirapine. *The law makes clear that no PEPFAR funds may be used for abortion. That is because the Helms amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act applies to PEPFAR as it does to all foreign aid. Nothing in the PEPFAR reauthorization bill would alter the Helms amendment in any way.

Quote from Amy Coen, President of Population Action International:

“I want to live to see the day that victory is declared on the dreaded and deadly HIV/AIDS virus. Until then we have to do all we can to stop it, slow it, and save lives. Declaring victory against HIV/AIDS requires us to pool all effective resources and to put aside our ideological differences to save precious lives. It is only by standing together that we will ensure PEPFAR's legacy.”

For more information go to the PAI website.

Regional News

CAMBODIA - Following Passing of a New Law, Cambodia Takes Steps Forward in Ending Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation

Phnom Penh (Agenzia Fides) - They are among the most tragic social problems in Cambodia: human trafficking and sexual exploitation, and they represent two authentic plagues on the society of this tiny south-eastern Asian country. They are situations that have been tolerated for too long and that have created a sort of “parallel economy,” administrated by criminals and trafficking groups with exterior contacts.

The Cambodian Parliament has finally presented and unanimously approved a new law to fight human trafficking and sexual exploitation. The prior legislation, of 1966, held only 10 articles and was inadequate in its preventative measures, as well as in its punishments and allowed for free room and mobility for criminal organisations. The new law, which has been in question since December 2007, consists of 52 articles to be applied more rigorously in cases of kidnapping for trafficking or sexual exploitation of women and minors, with punishments of up to 20 years in prison and heavy fines. “This law is a great step forward towards global reform in our country’s judicial system,” commented Ang Vong Vattana, Justice Minister of Cambodia, widening horizons and noting that the entire legislative system in Cambodia is in urgent need of updating. The new law, the Minister promised, will be scrupulously observed.

According to groups like UNICEF and other international organisations, Cambodian minors and women are often taken to other countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, where they are made slaves, or become victims of sexual abuse or forced marriages, or organ trafficking. The increase of people and marketing makes it easier for traffickers to smuggle children into other countries, increasing the number of places of sexual tourism. Cambodia, international organisations say, is one of the most plagued countries, in terms of child trafficking within the prostitution world. The percentile of AIDS victims in the country is extremely high: over half of the children who have been exploited have been tested positive. 35% of Cambodian prostitutes are minors and 43% of these, are infected with the AIDS virus. The cause for the situation is almost always poverty. Oftentimes, their own families are the ones who sell the children, in hopes of offering them a better future. This plague is also perpetuated due to the complications and conveniences that exist on various levels, given the corruption in the public systems.

The newly approved law shows the nation’s desire to turn things around and to fight strongly against the practices of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. To read further about this development, follow this link here.

Womens Rights in the Phillippines Today

"It has taken many years of campaigning and education, but finally there is widespread legal recognition that women are humans too. Alas however the law, traditions and attitudes do not fully overlap and women struggle through life constantly juggling productive and reproductive work, always trying to prove that she is a human being worthy of rights and respect in equal measure..

It was only in 1937 that Filipino women won the right to vote having fought hard for it. The Suffragists marked the beginning of the Filipino women’s movement that blossomed in the Martial Law years and culminated during the United Nations-led series of International Conferences on Women.This report on the human rights situation of 44 million Filipino women will attempt to show the status of women and judge the Philippine government’s success in enacting national laws enacted to protect women, as well as implementing those international instruments it has ratified towards gender equality and gender justice.

The framework of analysis will be based on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which the Philippines ratified in 1981. In August 2006, the Philippines reported to the CEDAW Committee and its Concluding Comments revealed the gaps in the fulfillment of women’s rights. Alongside CEDAW, the status of Filipino women will also be marked against the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and its time-bound benchmarks.

Cabinet has approved the National Policy on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace under the Employment Relations Promulgation.

Cabinet based its decision on a submission by the Minister for Labour, Industrial Relations, Employment, Local Government, Urban Development and Housing, Mr Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi. Mr Vayeshnoi explained that sexual harassment in the workplace is a very important and priority issue that has to be effectively addressed in order to ensure quality of work in an environment free of intimidation and sexual harassment, and to enhance productivity.

“As a Member State of the International Labour Organisation ((ILO) and signatory to the UN Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) the draft Policy fulfils Government’s obligations to ensure that every worker should enjoy work and at the end of the day returns home to his or her family with his or her dignity intact. “It provides one of the grounds on which an employment grievance or dispute can be raised under the ER Promulgation.”

Mr Vayeshnoi said that the operating principles of the national policy include ensuring that all stakeholders associated with a workplace and the community at large are safeguarded against sexual harassment; and ensuring the behaviour appropriate to promoting and ensuring a harassment-free workplace environment is characterised by mutual respect and support. “It also aims to empower those persons within an organisation who have insufficient power to prevent any form of harassing behaviours from occurring and to support people who feel sexually harassed to find appropriate solutions. “Conversely, it aims to provide appropriate solutions for those persons who may be accused of sexually harassing other in the workplace.”

Mr Vayeshnoi said that adoption of the National Policy on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace by all relevant stakeholders will ensure that they consciously and deliberately build a positive, respectful and productive working environment. He added that it is an evolving policy and would be reviewed and amended as and when required.

International News

Namibia: HIV Women - Involuntary Sterilization

New Era (Windhoek), 12 February 2008 , By Wezi Tjaronda

Some young Namibia women have, unknowingly and forcibly, been sterilised because of their HIV status, New Era has learnt. At a workshop in Windhoek last month, which brought together 30 young women living with HIV, three participants from the Khomas, Karas and Oshikoto regions said they were forcibly sterilised. New Era spoke to two of the women who chose to remain anonymous for fear of stigmatisation. A 25-year-old Khomas woman was sterilised without her consent on October 15, 2003 at Windhoek Central Hospital after giving birth by Caesarian section.

She said she only found out when she went to the hospital for a check-up. "The nurse asked me if I was on any contraception but when I said no, she looked in my health passport and told me that there was no need because I was sterilised," she related emotionally. She was diagnosed HIV-positive in 2000. The nurse allegedly claimed that it was done to women living with HIV at all the hospitals because there was no point in having children in future, as they were positive. The other woman was sterilised in 2001 after she fell very sick. She told New Era that she was admitted in March 2000 to Katutura State Hospital probably because of her HIV status, which she found out during the time she was admitted and was referred to another health worker for counselling.

After she told the counsellor that she was living with HIV and was expecting, the woman apparently told her that she would die and her baby would also die. She said she attempted suicide and started bleeding, which sent her back to the hospital. This time, she was told they would abort the baby because "the pregnancy was damaged". To read the full story, follow this link here

OSCE Representative Urges Parliamentarians to Step up Fight Against Human Trafficking

VIENNA, 12 February 2008 - The OSCE Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Eva Biaudet, said today that parliamentarians have a crucial role to play in the fight against trafficking. "The role of Parliament in the fight against human trafficking is not only to discuss and amend national legislation, but also a vehicle for national reflection on how to change the situation," she said, addressing participants from 116 countries at the first global Parliamentary Forum to fight human trafficking in Vienna. The event is part of the U.N. Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking.

Participants at the Vienna Forum discussed practical measures to increase the effectiveness of measures aiming to prevent human trafficking and bring perpetrators to justice. Lack of information and a disjointed response were named as reasons that have enabled human trafficking to continue. Biaudet urged parliamentarians to call for a day of national reflection on human trafficking. "A day of national reflection during which parliamentarians from different segments come together to discuss and contribute towards concrete policies and results is needed to curb this crime. We should be more ambitious and mark today as our day of reflection. We should come together in the near future as a true Global Forum, bringing our contributions, challenges and achievements in the battle against human trafficking," she said.

"Human trafficking takes many forms, and exists side-by-side with other unlawful activities such as illegal migration, forced labor, pedophilia, child exploitation, civil conflicts and organized prostitution. It is a violation of human rights and it is very complex, so there is no quick solution." Follow this important issue here

UN NEWS

UNITED NATIONS 2008 High-Level Meeting on AIDS

The 2008 High-Level Meeting on AIDS will take place at the United Nations headquarters in New York on 10 - 11 June. It will review progress made in implementing the 2001 Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS and the 2006 Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS.

Ahead of this high-level meeting, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will submit a comprehensive and analytical report for consideration by Member States. The SG’s Report will be based on national reports that Member States were requested to submit to UNAIDS by 31 January 2008. The organizational arrangements for the high-level meeting are outlined in a resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 19 December 2007. Detailed information about the plenary meetings, the thematic panel discussions, and the informal interactive civil society hearing will be provided in due course.

The high-level meeting will provide an important forum for various stakeholders, including government representatives and accredited civil society participants. Discussions are expected to focus on the progress made, challenges remaining and sustainable ways to overcome them.

Civil Society Engagement in the 2008 High-Level Meeting on AIDS

UNAIDS has been working closely with the Office of the President of the General Assembly (OPGA), the Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS) and the Civil Society Support Mechanism (CSSM) to support civil society engagement in the high-level meeting and in the country level reporting processes on AIDS. The CSSM is a coalition led by the International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO) and the International Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC).

On-Line Civil Society Application Form

The on-line application form was officially launched on Wednesday, 23 January 2008. It includes background information on the high-level meeting and Civil Society Hearing, as well as two different forms: a registration form for those organizations in consultative status with ECOSOC; and an accreditation form for non-ECOSOC accredited organizations wishing to attend the high-level meeting.

Civil Society Task Force

A Civil Society Task Force is currently being set up, in cooperation with the Civil Society Support Mechanism, to support UNAIDS and the OPGA in key decisions relating to the attendance and participation of civil society organizations and the private sector in the high-level meeting.

For information on the above, follow this link here to the online information.

Resources and Opportunities

Gender, Environment, Conflict

The linkages between gender, environment and conflict have so far not been studied in detail. Environmental changes and conflicts impact men and women differently in the light of their gender roles and socio-cultural situation. More often than not, environmental degradation and the consequences of climate change or natural disasters reinforce existing gender discrepancies. Gender aspects therefore need to be systematically mainstreamed to achieve effective conflict prevention. This special issue of the newsletter entitled "Civilian Crisis Prevention – Environment and Natural Resources" (ECC) has been issued in this context and contains articles that explore the links between gender, environment and conflict or peace. We hope this overview will stimulate further discussion and network building.

In the first article Nora Holzmann outlines gender relations against the backdrop of growing resource scarcity and differential gender-related access to these resources in conflict and post conflict situations. Ulrike R๖hr, in the second article, goes on to establish how natural disasters and resource scarcity induced by climate change are related to negative gender inequalities. The key conclusions of both articles are examined in greater detail in the subsequent case studies on the Cauvery river water dispute in India and the aftermath of the earthquake in northern Pakistan. In both articles Susanne Fleischli and Cordula Reimann highlight how rigid traditional gender roles cause women to be most severely affected in conflict and post conflict situations as well as in the aftermath of natural disasters. At the same time, women are systematically by-passed in decision-making during the post conflict or conflict prevention phase.

The authors thus provide initial insights into the linkages between gender, environment and conflict. The newsletter also contains information on various initiatives and publications to facilitate more in-depth study and involvement in these areas. We hope this overview will inspire more work on the subject and succeed in generating a debate – and perhaps also provoke controversy. We therefore welcome any comments and suggestions you might have and would like to ask you to direct them to our editing team.

For further information on gender, environment and conflict please visit http://www.ecc-platform.de

Special Issue "Gender, Environment, Conflict" Download the pdf-version of the Newsletter "Gender, Environment, Conflict" here

REPORT: Myanmar (Burma)-No End in Sight for Internal Displacement Crisis

Profile of the Internal Displacement Siuation in Myanmar (Burma) Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre Norwegian Refugee Council

14 February, 2008 Examples of Gender Components of Report which can be downloaded by following this link here..

*Ethnic Minority Women Face Human Rights Violations. *Displaced Women Suffer From Army's Widespread Use Of Sexual Violence In The Shan State And Other Conflict Areas. *Limited Access To Education Among Myanmar Internally Displaced Persons (IDP's) *Poor Nutrition Status Among Displaced Children And Women Of Reproductive Age *Women In The Karen State Are Frequently Sexually Abused. *A Report By The Shan Human Rights Forum Documented Systematic Rape Of Shan Women.

Dates for the Diary

MARCH 2008

3rd National Conference on Population, Health and Environment, March 5 – 7, 2008, Taal Vista Hotel, Tagaytay City, PHILIPPINES.

The theme of the Conference will be “Scaling Up PHE”. The conference explores increasing the impact of integrated PHE projects and programs in various dimensions: geographically, programmatically, organizationally, and networking. The conference will look at the potential for intensifying, replicating and expanding the population, health and environment programmatic approach to different landscapes (urban and rural settings; from a community to an ecosystem approach; across varying landscapes such as coastal and upland areas; and others; and to different strategic points of intervention (disaster mitigation, poverty alleviation, food security, HIV-AIDS programming, and others). The gathering will explore the successes and challenges of scaling up PHE projects and programs in the Philippines.

Visit the website for more conference information.

14 & 15March 2008

POPULATION, PEAK OIL AND CLIMATE CHANGE c o n f e r e n c e & their impact on the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals), CANBERRA, Rydges Lakeside Hotel

Organised by Sustainable Population Australia inc, To see the brochure for this upcoming conference, follow this link here.

JUNE 2008

HARVARD UNIVERSITY JOHN F. KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT EXECUTIVE EDUCATION

LEADERS IN DEVELOPMENT: MANAGING POLITICAL & ECONOMIC CHANGE

JUNE 9 - 20, 2008

During times of great change, leadership is critically important. This is particularly true today in developing and newly industrialized countries where the pace of political and economic change is accelerating rapidly. Today's leaders face an increasingly complex tapestry of economic, political, and social challenges.

Leaders in Development is designed for leaders in public affairs whose responsibilities place them at the center of these issues. During the program, participants will:

• Sharpen problem solving, analytic, and strategic action skills to help them plan, introduce, and sustain major policy and institutional reform.
• Consider new ways to strengthen representative politics and open markets, and manage the challenges of globalization.
• Share experiences with their counterparts in other countries in a collective search for effective responses to change.

Participants return to their countries with enhanced understanding of the tasks of leadership in promoting reform, greater knowledge of changes taking place internationally, and a renewed commitment to working with others to develop their societies.

For more information, follow this link here

JULY 2008

G8 Summit 2008, 7-9 July 2008, Tokyo, Japan

The G8 Summit 2008, which will include global health as a focus theme, will take place in Tokyo, Japan. An outline of the summit, including preliminary and fixed dates of minister meetings, as well as additional information, can be found at the official website.

Preparatory Ministers Meetings:

April 5-6 2008, Tokyo: Development Ministers Meeting
May 28-30 2008, Yokohama: TICAD IV – Tokyo International Conference on African Development
June 13-14 2008, Osaka: Finance Ministers Meeting
June 26-27 2008, Kyoto: Foreign Ministers Meeting

AUGUST 2008

International AIDS Conference – Mexico 2008

The AIDS 2008 theme, Universal Action Now, underscores the continued urgency of the pandemic and reminds us of the responsibility we have to take individual and collective action. For scientists, researchers, people living with HIV and other civil society leaders and professionals working in the field of HIV/AIDS, AIDS 2008 is an ideal opportunity to meet new colleagues and learn from the experiences of others engaged at the local, national and international levels. Join us in México City and help bring us closer to the goals of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. For more information about this conference visit the IAC Website.

SEPTEMBER 2008

Global Course: Achieving the Millennium Development Goals: Poverty Reduction, Reproductive Health and Health Sector Reform (Sep 15-27 2008), Bangkok, Thailand

The course explores key elements in designing efficient, equitable and financially sustainable population policies and reproductive health programs in the context of health sector reform and Millennium Development Goals. After attending the course, participants learn to recognize how the changing international and national policy environments affect their work in population and reproductive health and to identify the linkages among health, gender and poverty.

This two-week course is designed for staff from governments, donor agencies, international organizations, the World Bank, and NGOs working in the health sector. In addition, it targets staff from training and research institutions, as well as academics and researchers working in the areas of health, public administration and social sector reform.

The course is a face-to-face learning event and will be held at the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. The sessions will consist of presentations, readings, case studies and group work. Participants must have a good working knowledge of English to participate.

Information about how to apply and fees can be found through the website which you can access by following this link here.

NOVEMBER 2008

The AWID International Forum on Women's Rights and Development, November 14 - 17, 2008, South Africa.

You can expect to be enlightened, provoked and inspired by an exceptional group of thoughtful, forward-looking and fiercely committed women and men. You can expect to move beyond simply talking to getting involved in global action plans and campaigns that will emerge out of the Forum, but will last well beyond it. You can expect to work hard and gain an abundance of new skills, new knowledge, new colleagues, and new ideas for the long road ahead. You can expect to be welcomed, nurtured, fortified and challenged by a group of like-minded activists, academics and practitioners. And finally, you can expect to have more fun than you thought was possible at a conference!

For more information, visit the AWID Website.