APA UPDATE #20 October 2011

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

FROM THE SECRETARIAT

Better Aid for the World We Want!

In the run-up to the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (HLF4),  the “Better Aid for the world we want” campaign was launched on 17 October, mobilizing public support for civil society’s asks towards the upcoming HLF4 taking place in Busan, South Korea in November.   Access updates and news items, and add your voice to the call for better aid policy and practice.   APA Secretariat Executive Director, Rose Koenders, has been chosen to participate in the HLF4.

CSO and Young People meeting on ICPD Beyond 2014

APA Secretariat Executive Director Rose Koenders is invited to participate in a CSO and young people stakeholder meeting on the ICPD Beyond 2014 process, organized by UNFPA and held in Istanbul, Turkey from 7-8 December.  The objective is to share information and receive feedback on the ICPD Beyond 2014 review process and discuss its components; including the global survey approach, tools and indicators framework, topics for in-depth study and expert group meetings, identify thematic issues to consider, as well as get feedback on how to best fully and effectively involve CSOs and young people.  In this regards, if any APA members have issues they wish to highlight, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

APA MEMBERS

Family Planning Pacific Forum in Two Weeks!

The Family Planning Pacific Forum aims to bring together civil society organisations, government, international funding agencies and donors who are working in the Pacific towards the achievement of MDG5b: 'Achieve, by 2015, Universal Access to Reproductive Health'.  The two day event, hosted by Sexual Health and Family Planning Australia (SH&FPA) is being held on15-16 November in Sydney, Australia. Family Planning NSW is coordinating the Forum on behalf of SH&FPA, and it is part of the APA Advocacy Grants Program. Read more here.

Family Planning International hosts launch of UNFPA's State of World Population and the Pacific Portraits Photo Book

The New Zealand launch of the United Nations Population Fund's (UNFPA) annual report, State of World Population, was hosted by Family Planning International NZ and  Sue Kedgley, MP and NZPPD member, on 28 October at the New Zealand Parliament. This year's report, People and Possibilities in a World of 7 Billion, looks at how the world is coping with a population of 7 billion and its continued growth.   The Pacific Portraits: Photo book from the Pacific, which looks at the human stories behind sexual and reproductive health statistics in the Pacific, was also launched at the event.  Order a copy here.

APA  Members at APCRSHR6

APA members participated in a Workshop on using strategic tools for family planning programmes, resource allocation, and policy making; organized by APA Secretariat with Family Planning International, NZ (FPI) and Futures Group in advance of the 6th Asia Pacific Conference on Reproductive and Sexual Health and Rights (APCRSHR6) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.  APA, FPI and JOICFP also organized an NGO satellite session on 'Will NGOs Deliver? Time for effective strategies to place SRHR on everybody's agenda!'.  A donor satellite session was organized by APA Secretariat with IPPF ESEAOR, in collaboration with AFPPD and Pathfinder International on "Sex and Money: What Drives Donors to Invest in SRHR."

NEWS, RESOURCES, AND OPPORTUNITIES

Postponement of the Asia-Pacific High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Assessment of Progress against Commitments in the Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS and the MDGs

The Asia-Pacific High-level Intergovernmental Meeting on the Assessment of Progress against Commitments in the Political  Declaration on HIV/AIDS and the MDGs, organized by UN ESCAP in cooperation with other UN agencies,  has been postponed due to the current  flood situation in Bangkok, Thailand.  The meeting has been shifted to the period of 6 to 8 February 2012, (from 1-3 November 2011), in Bangkok. Access more information here.

Postponement of Regional Consultation on SRH and HIV Linkages

The Regional Consultation on SRH and HIV Linkages, organized by UNFPA in cooperation with partners, is now postponed due to the current flood situation in Bangkok, Thailand.  New dates and a new venue are currently being organized for the event, originally scheduled to be in Bangkok from 9 - 11 November.  New potential dates could be at the end of November or early December 2011 and the new venue could be in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  

Advise the UNAIDS Secretariat on New HIV/AIDS policy

CrowdOutAIDS.org, a new UNAIDS collaborative project - by and for young people - uses online and offline tools to connect young people inside and outside the AIDS response, to share knowledge and experiences for concrete action. The aim is to work together with young people for stronger and more effective action on AIDS.  Access more information and sign up here.

EU Report calls for Empowerment of Developing Country People and Democratic Institutions in the run-up to HLF4

The European Parliament unanimously adopted  a promising report on aid effectiveness demanding more ambitious reforms than those proposed by the European Commission, in the run-up to the Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness (HLF4), taking place in Busan, Republic of Korea, in 29 November to 1 December. Calling for further progress to empower developing country’s people and democratic institutions and emphasises that donors’ procurement practices need to be reformed to boost aid’s economic impact and drive inclusive growth, the report also stresses the need to strengthen the role of parliaments and civil society organisations in development planning, execution, and cooperation. Read the Report here.

Deadline for Statement submissions to the Commission on the Status of Women

Written statements to the Commission of the Status of Women (CSW) may be submitted by NGOs holding consultative status with the Economic and Social Council on the thematic issues considered by CSW in accordance with Council resolution 1996/31.   The deadlines for submission are - for individual organizations: 14 November 2011; for joint written statements: 21 November 2011; and for NGOs on the roster or joint statements that include NGOs on the Roster: 7 November 2011.   Access more information here.

Resources on World’s Abortion Laws now available

The World's Abortion Laws has been published by the Center for Reproductive Rights since 1998, to visually compare the legal status of induced abortion in different countries - and to advocate for greater progress in ensuring access to safe and legal abortion services for women worldwide.  This year there are additional resources which track the progress since initial publication, while identifying the challenges that must still be overcome. Access the Resources here