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May 2011

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APA UPDATE #10 May 2011

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

FROM THE SECRETARIAT

APA SC Meeting in Seoul

The APA Steering Committee (SC) Meeting will be held on 26 May 2011 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. APA SC members will also attend the International Symposium 'Styles of Foreign Assistance' to be held 26-28 May 2011 in Seoul. The international symposium is a preparatory meeting for the 4th High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (HLF-4) organized by the Organizing Office for the HLF-4 and the Korea Association of International Development and Cooperation (KAIDEC).

APA Welcomes Appointment of New IPPF Director-General

APA welcomes the International Planned Parenthood Federation's (IPPF) announcement that Mr. Tewodros Melesse has been appointed as the next Director-General of IPPF. Read more about the appointment.

Investing in Sexual and Reproductive Health Saves Women’s Lives Info Kit

APA is pleased to announce that the information kit Investing in Sexual and Reproductive Health Saves Women’s Lives is now available online and in print. The information kit provides evidence for advocacy on Millennium Development Goal 5, sexual and reproductive health and supplies and the funding gap in Asia and the Pacific. The secretariat would like to especially thank members Family Planning International New Zealand and Burnet Institute for their inputs to the kit. Read the Info Kit here.

MEMBER NEWS

NZ AIDS Foundation Welcomes Groundbreaking HIV Treatment Trial

A trial that showed antiretroviral treatment to be 96% effective in reducing sexual transmission of HIV is being closely examined by the New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF) for its potential to make a difference. Read more.

Medical researchers relieved at NHMRC funding in 2011 Budget

The Burnet Institute welcomes the Australian government’s budget announcement that funding for the National Health and Medical Research Funding Council (NHMRC) will not be cut as predicted, but be retained at close to current levels. Read more.

Health Timing and Spacing of Pregnancy Toolkit launched

Extending Service Delivery (ESD), a Pathfinder-led USAID project, recently launched an online Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancy (HTSP) Toolkit. The toolkit is an electronic library of resources that assembles an extensive collection of counselling, advocacy, and educational materials in one convenient online location. Read more.

NEWS, RESOURCES and OPPORTUNITIES

ICAAP proposal submissions extended to 25 May

The 10th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP) proposal submissions for symposia has been extended to 25 May. The ICAAP will be held 26 to 30 August 2011 in Busan, Republic of Korea. Regular registration runs from 1 April to 31 May and late registration is on 1 June to 26 August. Read more.

New Commitments to Save Women and Children

Sixteen countries announced new commitments to dramatically reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality, as part of the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health. The new commitments were made by the following countries: Burundi, Chad, the Central African Republic, Comoros, Guinea, Kyrgyzstan, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Madagascar, Mongolia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Tajikistan, Togo, and Viet Nam. Read more.

More Investment in Contraceptive Technologies Needed to Reduce Unintended Pregnancy Rates among Developing Country Women

Findings of the Guttmacher research Contraceptive Technologies: Responding to Women’s Needs suggest that substantially bringing down unintended pregnancy rates in developing regions will require increased investment in the development of new methods that better address women’s concerns and life circumstances. Read the report.

Philippine Doctors Probe Nationwide Maternal Death Rate

Doctors have started an audit of the country’s rate of maternal deaths after discovering alarming discrepancies due to different measurement standards used by government and private hospitals in the Philippines. Read more.

Call for Expression of Interest in Developing Training Module for SRH-HIV Integration in Global Fund Proposals

IPPF South Asia Regional Office (SARO) is inviting Expressions of Interest from SRHR and HIV organizations to develop three training modules to train project partners and CSOs on: Gender Equality and Mainstreaming; Global Fund proposal writing; and Global Fund budgetary processes and financial management. Read more.

PSI Launched Maternal Health Impact Report

The Maternal Health Impact Report launched by PSI summarizes PSI's health impact gained from health interventions and behavior change communications. Read the report.

WLUML and VNC Campaign Released E-Campaigning Toolkit

The Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML) and The Global Campaign to Stop VAW in the name of "Culture" (VNC Campaign) released the Strategic E-Campaigning Toolkit. Inspired by the workshops held in Asia and Africa for partners and members of WLUML and the VNC campaign, the toolkit can also be a resource for human rights activists who are keen to develop their online activism. Read the toolkit.

 
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APA UPDATE #9 May 2011

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

FROM THE SECRETARIAT

The APA Steering Committee (SC) Meeting will be held on 26 May 2011 in Seoul, Republic of Korea. APA SC members will also attend the preparatory meeting of Planned Population Federation of Korea (PPFK) on 27 to 28 May for the 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness.

APA Secretariat bids farewell and expresses our thanks to Suwanna Promchan who served as APA's Finance and Administration Officer (FAO) for two years. The Secretariat welcomes our new FAO Benchawan Pongurgsorn to the team.

MEMBER NEWS

Burnet’s CD4 PoC Test to Improve HIV Patient Care in the Developing World

Associate Professor David Anderson analyses what hurdles still need to be overcome before Burnet Institute’s CD4 Point-of Care test can provide improved, cost-effective testing for 30 million HIV patients worldwide. Read more.

More Funding Needed for International Reproductive Health

Population Action International has released the April Policy & Issue Brief ‘More Funding Needed for International Reproductive Health’ by Suzanna Dennis. The brief reinforces the need for donors and governments to maintain and increase budgets for reproductive health, to build on progress that countries have made since ICPD. Read the brief.

Two Films, Two Ways to Take Action This Mother's Day

Pathfinder International is pleased to highlight two special film screenings focused on maternal health: ‘Edge of Joy’ and ‘No Woman, No Cry’. The films document the struggles and successes women face during pregnancy and delivery. Pathfinder is thrilled to support both films and their moving portrayals of struggles that Pathfinder addresses every day through its projects. Read more.

NEWS, RESOURCES and OPPORTUNITIES

Deadline for CSO Application to HLF on Aid Effectiveness on 8 May

The deadline for the civil society organizations (CSOs) application to the 4th High Level Forum (HLF) on Aid Effectiveness is on 8 May. The 4th HLF on Aid Effectiveness will be held on 29 November to 1 December 2011 in Busan, South Korea. To read more or to apply,  click here.

ICAAP Deadlines for Submission Extended to 10 May

The 10th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP10) Local Organizing Committee has extended the deadlines for Abstract Submission; Symposia, Satellite Meeting, Skills Building Workshop Proposal Submission; and Scholarship Application to 10 May. The ICAAP will be held 26 to 30 August 2011 in Busan, Republic of Korea. Regular registration runs from 1 April to 31 May and late registration is on 1 June to 26 August. Read more.

Deadline for 6th APCRSHR Abstract Submission on 1 June

The 6th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (APCRSHR) will be held on 19 to 22 October 2011 with the theme ‘Claiming Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Asian and Pacific Societies’. The deadline for applications to submit abstracts for oral/poster presentations is on 1 June 2011. Read the flier or the booklet. 

Are You Attending the UN HLM on AIDS?

If you are, we would like to hear from you. The Asia Pacific Council of AIDS Service Organizations (APCASO) is planning a two-day Preparatory Forum (PrepForum) in late May for civil society delegates going to the UN 2011 High Level Meeting (HLM) on AIDS in June in New York. The PrepForum is to provide these delegates and CS advocates orientation to the HLM process and also offers opportunities for advocacy and working together. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Letter of Concern from GEEJ Participants

The Gender, Economic and Ecological Justice (GEEJ) Pacific Workshop participants issued a Letter of Concern on the status of the Pacific Regional Office of UN Women and non-renewal of contract of incumbent UN Women Pacific Office Regional Programme Director, Ms Elizabeth Cox. GEEJ was jointly convened by Development Alternatives with Women for a New Era (DAWN) and Pacific Network on Globalisation. DAWN is accepting signatures of support. Read more.

Sexuality Education Cost-Effective When Mandatory & Integrated – UN Study

Programmes to impart sexuality education to young people are more cost-effective when integrated and mandatory, according to the findings of a UN study released today. Read more.

Educate girls and reduce poverty, UNESCO urges

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and Global Campaign for Education have launched 2 to 8 May as Global Action Week, highlighting the importance of education under the theme "Gender Equality in Education". Read more.

World Population to Reach 7 Billion in October 2011, 10 Billion by 2100

The world population is estimated to reach 7 billion in October 2011 and projected to increase to 10.1 billion in the next 90 years, according to estimates in the recently released 2010 Revision of World Population Prospects of the UN. Most of this growth is expected to come from high-fertility countries: 39 in Africa, nine in Asia, six in Oceania and four in Latin America. Read the UN press release.

ACPD is Hiring

Action Canada for Population and Development (ACPD, APA member) is seeking an Advocacy and Communications Officer to undertake some of its key international advocacy work and to assist with its social media communications. Read the job description.

 

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