Japanese NGOs petition their government to increase aid for international health

30 June 2009

Civil Society organizations, led by Africa Japan Forum (an APA member) and Japan AIDS and Society Association submitted a petition to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, concerning the current financial gap faced by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Lancet editorial: Moving forward with maternal health and human rights

27 June 2009
The Lancet

500,000 women die each year as a result of pregnancy or childbirth. Efforts are being made to reduce these deaths by three quarters by 2015-Millennium Development Goal 5. But many countries are not making substantial progress towards this target. Can the human-rights community help?

China donates medical equipment to Uganda

30 June 2009
Source: Xinhua General News Service (China)

KAMPALA -- The Chinese government on Tuesday donated medical equipment worth 300,000 U. S. dollars to Uganda boost the East African country's effort to promote reproductive health.

Taiwan to decriminalise prostitution

Radio Australia

25 June 2009

Taiwan is planning to decriminalise prostitution by revising laws punishing sex workers . It's also considering allowing red-light districts. Under existing laws, prostitutes face being detained for three days or a fine of up to 900 US dollars.

Indonesia: 2.6 million abortions each year

29 June 2009
Antara News (Indonesia)

Yogyakarta -- The abortion rate in Indonesia reaches around 2-2.6 million annually, or 43 abortions per 100 pregnancies, Dr Titik Kuntari, a lecturer at the medical faculty of the Indonesian Islamic University (UII) said.

US: House of Reps approves increases for global reproductive health

CHANGE Matters (www.genderhealth.org)

On June 17, 2009, the House State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee approved its fiscal year 2010 bill. Chaired by Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D -NY), the total funding for global health was about $7.684 billion. International reproductive health and family planning funding totaled $648 million, including $60 million for UNFPA. The international reproductive health and family planning appropriation is an increase of $103 million above the President's request. In addition to the reproductive health funding, $5.7 billion was appropriated for global HIV and AIDS programs, including $700 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria - a $100 million increase above the President's request. Maternal and Child Health funding totaled $541 million, about $17.5 million above the President's request.

China call on donors to support global aid for HIV

16 June 2009
Xinhua Economic News Service

A senior Chinese diplomat said China hopes the United Nations takes further action to support developing countries in their efforts to combat HIV and AIDS.

Sri Lanka: Australia supports healthcare for displaced women

16 June 2009
Daily News, Sri Lanka

The Australian Government will donate US$383,400 to support efforts by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, to meet the health needs of thousands of women displaced by the conflict in northern parts of the island nation.

UN: Economic crisis no excuse to cut funds for HIV

IRIN Plus News
17 June 2009

International donors must continue meeting their commitments, even in the face of the economic downturn, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged.

Human rights council recognises maternal mortality as a pressing concern

Media Release: 17 June 2009

Today, the Human Rights Council at its eleventh regular session adopted a landmark resolution on ‘Preventable maternal mortality and morbidity and human rights'. In this resolution, governments express grave concern for the unacceptably high rates of maternal mortality and morbidity, acknowledge that this is a human rights issue and commit to enhance their efforts at the national and international level to protect the lives of women and girls worldwide. ­­Over 70 UN member states co-sponsored this resolution, led by Colombia and New Zealand.