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Published on Friday, 10 September 2010 05:01

APA UPDATE #15 September 2010

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

FROM THE SECRETARIAT

Disappointing outcome document at the 63rd UN DPI NGO conference

"Ensuring commitment to MDG 5b – universal access to reproductive health services - will not only save women's lives but also improve the lives of children, families and greater communities," said Sumie Ishii, Chairperson of the Asia Pacific Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. The statement came about as sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and maternal health advocates expressed their disappointment at the UN DPI/NGO Conference outcome document that failed to mention universal access to reproductive health by 2015. The outcome document was the declaration at the UN DPI / NGO Conference "Advance global health – achieve the MDGs" held in Melbourne. In response, a press release led by MSI Australia (APA member) was written and supported by participating NGOs working in the field of SRHR and maternal health.

MEMBER NEWS

FPI NZ to hold Family Planning Sexual and Reproductive Health Conference

Family Planning International New Zealand (FPI NZ) is holding the conference on Clinical Practice, Abortion, Health Promotion and Sexuality Education, and International Development with international and local speakers on 15 - 17 October 2010 in Wellington, New Zealand. For more information, click here.

New report on the integration of HIV and sexual and reproductive health services in the Pacific

To improve primary health care outcomes, regional health stakeholders should increase efforts to appropriately link and/or integrate HIV services with other SRH services in Pacific Island countries. This recommendation is from FPI NZ in cooperation with Population Action International (both APA members) in their latest resource 'Integrating HIV & Sexual and Reproductive Health: a Pacific specific mapping'.

Youth Coalition's statement on the World Youth Conference in Mexico

In a message from the YC Board of Directors, the Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights expressed full support for the work of the Social Forum Committee led by International Coordination Meeting of Youth Organisations and their discontent with the Governments Forum. The YC said that the Governments Forum had very limited high level participation, proceedings were disorganised, and decision-making was undemocratic and lacked transparency. The World Youth Conference was held on 23-27 August 2010. Read the statement.

Read about the Global Maternal Health Conference 2010

The conference held on 30 August to 1 September in Delhi has come to an end. About 700 conference participants shared insights, lessons learned, recommendations and innovative ideas for improving the health of women around the world. APA member Pathfinder International's work was featured in 11 presentations at the conference. Read about the conference sessions here. Blogs on the event may also be found at the Maternal Health Task Force website.

NEWS, RESOURCES and OPPORTUNITIES

1.8 Billion Strong: Young People Drive Development

On the occasion of the UN High-Level Plenary of the General Assembly on the MDGs, the panel discussion will stress on the need to invest in young people, particularly in adolescent girls. It will be held at the New York Helmsley Hotel - Turtle Bay Room, 212 East 42nd Street, New York City on 22 September 2010, 9:00am-10:30am. The panel will feature UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya A. Obaid, Dr. Gill Greer of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), and youth leaders and government representatives. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

Sexual Rights in Action

September 4th was the first World Sexual Health Day - an international celebration of sexual health and sexual rights organized by the World Association for Sexual Health to encourage open and respectful discussion about sex. To mark World Sexual Health Day, IPPF published 'Sexual Rights in Action' – a collection of real life stories from around the world where rights are denied, where there is discrimination, stigma and abuse.

Sharing thematic discussion papers

Asia Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW) together with the UN and other developmental agencies share their paper/position on four key areas of sex workers' rights that must be addressed: migration and mobility, enabling environment, sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender based violence. These papers have been critical input in the organization of the first Asia and the Pacific Regional Consultation on HIV and Sex Work which will take place on 12-15 Oct 2010 in Pattaya, Thailand. Access the documents here.

Join the Campaign to make MDGs Meaningful for Women!

The Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women launched the campaign to capture and highlight alternative information on progress or the lack of it on MDGs 3 & 5. To view alternative information on MDG 3 & 5 progress, visit 'Live & Living MDG 5 Shadow Report in Asia'. To view more of the campaign, click here.

The Second Global Forum on Human Resources for Health

The Forum will provide a platform to review progress made in fulfilling the commitments outlined in the Kampala Declaration and the Agenda for Global Action. It will be an opportunity to further galvanize and accelerate the global movement on Human Resources for Health towards achieving the MDGs and Universal Health Coverage. The forum will be held in Bangkok, Thailand from 25 - 29 January 2011. Read more.