Girls at the brunt of the financial crisis

 By Carol Nader, The Age (Melbourne, Australia)
22 November 2009

Pakistan: Poor Women Most Affected by Unsafe Abortions

5 November 2009

Induced abortion is legal under very limited circumstances in Pakistan, yet it is commonly performed, according to a new literature review, Abortion in Pakistan, released today in Karachi by the National Committee for Maternal and Neonatal Health (NCMNH) and the Guttmacher Institute. Researchers estimate that 890,000 abortions were performed in Pakistan in 2002, a rate of 29 abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age (15-49) annually. Because access to abortion is highly restricted, the majority of these procedures take place under clandestine-and often unsafe-conditions. As a result, many Pakistani women suffer from serious health complications that sometimes result in long-term disabilities and death.

Beijing Call to Action: 5th APCRSHR

Background

Over one quarter of the world's people were born since the ICPD, yet even today they do not fully enjoy the guarantees of services and rights promised by 179 nations in 1994. Many adolescents remain ignorant of their reproductive and sexual rights. In some societies they are taken out of school prematurely to be thrust into marriages arranged without regard to their personal preferences. Too often they are subject to gender based violence and disrespectful treatment. Women and men continue to struggle in many societies to obtain the services that would guarantee safe childbearing and achievement of their family formation goals. The elderly remain victims of social stereotypes that relegate them to the category of "dependent" despite the continuing contributions they make to society. Their sexuality is overlooked by most programmes of reproductive and sexual health.
The Asia-Pacific community represents an intricate mosaic of cultures and religions, reflecting a full range of reproductive and sexual health and behaviour challenges. It is in this region that many sexual and reproductive challenges are clearly manifested, and it is in consideration of these challenges that we representatives of civil societies, universities, parliaments, governments, donors and youth organizations have gathered for the 5th APCRSHR in Beijing.

East Timor: Abortion laws stir debate

Lateline ABC-TV Australia (Transcripts)

LEIGH SALES, PRESENTER: The predominantly Catholic country of East Timor has introduced controversial new laws on abortion. They don't go as far as women's groups had hoped - they've been campaigning forlegal abortion to be extended to cases of rape and incest. But the Catholic Church rejected those proposals, as Sara Everingham reports.

Pacific nations press for action on climate change

18 November 2009
Sources: Radio Australia and Radio New Zealand