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February 2011

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APA UPDATE #4 February 2011

E-NEWS AND INFORMATION ON SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS

FROM THE SECRETARIAT

Sign On to Our Recommendations

APA is currently accepting sign-ons for the recommendations to be submitted to the UNAIDS 2011 Asia-Pacific Regional Consultation on Universal Access on 29-31 March 2011. APA is pushing for more HIV/AIDS and sexual and reproductive health integration, among others. Read more.

APA Secretariat at the UN Women East and Southeast Asia Regional Consultation with CSOs

The UN Women is organizing a regional consultation with civil society organizations (CSO) on 3-4 March 2011 at the Intercontinental Hotel Bangkok, Thailand. The consultation aims to gain inputs and recommendations from key regional CSOs to contribute towards the establishment of the civil society advisory group at the national and regional levels and the development of UN Women’s 2012-2013 Strategic Plan, including strategies and priorities for East and Southeast Asia Regional Office. For more information or to pass on recommendations through APA secretariat, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

MEMBER NEWS

Population Action International Condemns Cuts to Contraception

Population Action International (PAI, APA member) issued a statement on the Republican spending bill saying family planning is one of our most cost-effective foreign assistance programs and supports U.S. diplomatic, development and national security priorities. Read more.

NEWS, RESOURCES and OPPORTUNITIES

US President's Budget Calls for Increased Investments in International Family Planning

In contrast to the extreme cuts being proposed by Republican spending bill, President Obama’s 2012 budget request is proposing $769.1 million for bilateral and multilateral international family planning and reproductive health assistance. This is a significant step toward addressing the contraceptive needs of millions of women and men in developing nations. Read more.

India: Look Outward to Reap Demographic Dividend

Recent reports indicate India may not meet its objective of a stable population base by 2045. The government is confident that an increase in the use of contraceptives will enable India to reach this target. Read more.

Mobile Sex Education Plan Unveiled in India

A new mobile service offering information on sexual and reproductive health-related issues was launched by Tata Docomo, the GSM brand of Tata Teleservices in India. Read more.

Pakistan Government Sets Up 104 Reproductive Health Services

Minister for Population Welfare Punjab, Neelam Jabbar Chaudhry said the government has established 104 reproductive health services-A centres and these would be increased to 130 to provide better reproductive health services. Read more.

Website on AusAID’s Effectiveness Independent Review

The Australian Government has established an independent panel to undertake a review on the future direction of Australia's aid program. An external website dedicated to the Independent Review on Aid Effectiveness has been developed. Go to the site.

55th Commission on the Status of Women

The 55th session of the Commission on the Status of Women is taking place at the UN Headquarters in New York from 22 February - 4 March 2011. Panel 5 on the Elimination of Preventable Maternal Mortality and Morbidity and the Empowerment of Women will be on 1 March 2011, 3:00-6:00 p.m. Conference Room 3, North Lawn Building. Click here for more info. Other events happening around the CSW are: Integrating VAW in HIV Responses, Parallel Event on 23 February, 12:00 - 1:30 PM, Church Center, 777 UN Plaza, Drew Room (Ground Floor) and the Stand Up For Women's Health Rally on 26 February 2011, 1:00-3:00pm, Foley Square, New York. Click here for more events.

UN Women Launch on Webcast

Watch the live webcast of the UN Women launch titled Honouring the Past – Envisioning the Future for Women and Girls. The launch will be held from UN Headquarters in New York on 24 February 2011, 6:30–8:00 p.m. EST (GMT–5) on www.un.org/webcast. Visit UN Women for more information.

PAI Materials Available Online

Meeting the Development and Health Needs of 215 Million Women

Eight Facts About the Global Gag Rule

How the Global Gag Rule Undermines U.S. Foreign Policy and Harms Women’s Health

Review of Polling on Family Planning

Online Short Courses for Young People

Youth Action for Change with UNFPA & Youth Dividend is providing free online short courses on Youth and the MDGs and on Critical & Ethical Consumerism on 13 March - 8 April 2011. To register, read the YAC student guide and complete the online application form. Read more about the courses here.

Advancing Women's Leadership and Advocacy for AIDS Action Training Manual

The training manual launched by the Center for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA) is designed to equip and empower a cadre of women from around the world with the knowledge and skills to strengthen and lead the global response to AIDS. Read more.


 
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APA UPDATE #3 February 2011

E-NEWS AND INFORMATION ON SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS

FROM THE SECRETARIAT

APA welcomes newly appointed officers of our member organizations

Planned Population Federation of Korea (PPFK) has elected Dr. Young Soon Kim as PPFK’s new President in November last year. New Zealand AIDS Foundation also has a new Executive Director, Shaun Robinson. Pathfinder International announced the addition of Margaret Kemp Carlson to Pathfinder’s Executive Team as the Vice President of Administration. The secretariat would like to extend a warm welcome to everyone.

MEMBER NEWS

Coming to Thailand

The Australian Reproductive Health Alliance’s (ARHA, member) parliamentarian study tour is happening on 13-19 February 2011. In Bangkok, they will visit APA members Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) and Population and Community Development Association (PDA), among other meetings. They will also hold meetings in Chiang Mai and will be visiting Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand (PPAT, APA member) clinics before going to the Thai-Burma border. The study tour aims to raise parliamentarians’ awareness on sexual and reproductive health responses being implemented in crisis and post-crisis situations. PPAT and APA are joining the group going to the refugee camp.

Thai Senate Accelerating Progress to ‘MDG Plus’ Targets

Approximately 300 participants gathered at the Senate of Thailand to discuss “Thailand’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)” on 4 February. Organized by the Thai Sub-Committee on Population and Development and in cooperation with the AFPPD, the seminar reviewed the outcomes of a series of public hearings held on achieving MDG targets set by Thailand.

Keep Abreast of the Latest Population Policy Developments

The AFPPD Policy Tracking and Monitoring Unit has created a population and development policy database. Population policy developments are sent out electronically to parliamentarians, UN representatives and other interested professionals. To be on the list, email AFPPD at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the words “AFPPD Population Policy Tracking” in the header. The AFPPD Policy Tracking website is available here.

NEWS, RESOURCES and OPPORTUNITIES

Philippine Government Backs Down on RH Bill

The administration has dropped its plan to include its reproductive health (RH) bill from the list of priority bills it will ask Congress to prioritize this year. Read more.

Female Genital Mutilation Threatens 3 Million Girls Each Year, UN Intensifies campaign

As part of the observance of the International Day on Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) on February 6, international agencies called for an end to FGM. The UN intensified its global campaign to eliminate FGM. Read more.

Abortion Issue in the US Heats Up

The abortion debate heats up again amid hidden video camera stings, bitter argument over the definition of rape, late-night satire and reinvigorated Republicans. Read more.

Canada PM Calls for Oversight of Maternal Health Funds

Canada Prime Minister Stephen Harper warned that the goal of saving the lives of women and children won't be met unless stringent oversight of money spent is in place. Read more.

GNP+ to Host Annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial

The Global Health Council (GHC) and the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) has announced that the Annual International AIDS Candlelight Memorial will be hosted by GNP+ on 15 May 2011 with the theme “Touching Lives.” Read more.

In Commemoration of Slain Activist David Kato

A coalition of thirty-five human rights organizations held a vigil on February 3 in memory of slain Ugandan human rights activist David Kato. Meanwhile, in recognition of Cato’s life and courage and the continued struggle of sexual minorities around the world, IPPF and other partners plan to establish a fund to recognise the leadership of individuals who uphold the sexual rights of minority groups. Read more.

The Meaning of Seven Billion

EU Commissioner in charge of International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid & Crisis Response Kristalina Georgieva, speaks out about the challenges associated with a world population of seven billion. Read more. In her blog, Georgieva referred to this video from National Geographic.


 

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