HIV / AIDS UN Special Session – Joint Parliamentary Statement on the Impact of HIV / AIDS on Sub-Saharan Africa
26/06/2001
A Joint Statement, adopted by all regional parliamentary networks covering Asia, Africa, the Americas, the Arab World and Europe (AFPPD, IAPG, FAAPPD & IEPFPD), emphasises the useful role that parliamentarians can play in combating HIV/AIDS. Parliamentarians from every country and region of the world have some specific roles to play in the fight against HIV/AIDS at the National, Regional and Sub-Regional as well as Global levels. Here are some examples where the involvement of Parliamentarians can make a difference:
1. Through the enactment of appropriate legislation, Parliamentarians can work to ensure that the Human Rights of people infected with HIV/AIDS are respected. 2. The national budget of each country is presented to Parliament by its Government. Parliamentarians can help to increase national budgetary allocations for HIV/AIDS programmes and activities, both in a domestic and development context. 3. Parliamentarians may also provide the necessary high-level follow-up mechanism for their country’s progress in addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
For more information, contact: Neil Datta at ndatta@ippfen.org
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European governments must do more to combat domestic slavery urged the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly
26/06/2001
Over four million women are estimated to fall victim to trafficking each year, many of them becoming domestic workers for diplomats who are shielded from prosecution by the 1961 Vienna Convention.
Launch of Publication in Portuguese Parliament “Sexual and Reproductive Health in a Development Context”
06/06/2001
The Portuguese FPA and the Parliamentary Commission for Parity, Equal Opportunities and Family launched a publication entitled “Sexual and Reproductive Health in a Development Context”.
The publication contains the presentations done in the Colloquium with the same name held in May 2000 in the Portuguese Parliament. These presentations were done by several Portuguese MP’s, by the IEPFPD President – Marjatta Vehkaoja, by Dilys Cossey from IPPF-EN, by Alphonse MacDonald- UNFPA, by Antero Veiga - IPPF Africa, by Manuela Sampaio and Duarte Vilar from APF, and others. The Preface is signed by the President of Portuguese Parliament, Mr António Almeida Santos. “Sexual and Reproductive Health in a Development Context” is issued in the context of the project “Portuguese Initiative with Parliamentarians”, held by the Portuguese APF with the support of IPPF-EN.
The French Parliament on Wednesday voted into law a revision of the country's abortion law, extending the period in which a woman can have an abortion from 10 to 12 weeks. The new law also eases constraints on pregnant minors seeking an abortion, abandoning parental consent but stipulating that an adult of the person's choice be part of the process. The law, which passed with almost no debate, also gives minors access to contraceptives without parental consent. In addition, it makes hampering abortions a legal offence. France made abortions legal in 1975. However, the 10-week limit left up to 5,000 women a year seeking abortions in other countries.
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Prohibiting female genital mutilation measures proposed by Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly
23/05/2001
During the Parliamentary Assembly spring meetings in Istanbul, the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men adopted a report on female genital mutilation, a practice which appears to increase in Council of Europe member states. The Committee is of the opinion that these practices should be regarded as inhuman and degrading treatment within the meaning of Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights and recalls that it is a matter of urgency to make a distinction between the need to tolerate and protect minority cultures and turning a blind eye to customs that amount to torture. For a copy of the full Report in English or French, visit www.coe.stars.int or contact Neil Datta at: ndatta@ippfen.org
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Meeting of the Irish All-Party Parliamentary Group on Population and Development
22/05/2001
On 22 May, the newly formed Irish All-Party Group on Population and Development met under the Chair of Senator Many Henry. Present at the meeting were all five members of the all-party group who heard presentations from Stirling Scruggs, UNFPA, Neil Datta, IEPFPD and Tony O’Brien, IFPA on the future priorities for population and development in Ireland.
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‘Emergency Contraception: The Untold Secret’ featured in Inter-American Parliamentary Group on Population and Development quarterly newsletter “Parliamentary Dialogue”
21/05/2001
‘Emergency Contraception: The Untold Secret’ is the main feature in Inter-American Parliamentary Group on Population and Development quarterly newsletter “Parliamentary Dialogue”. Copies in English or Spanish may be obtained at gcarino@ippfwhr.org.
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IEPFPD Panel Discussion on HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa, organised with UNFPA and IPPF
17/05/2001
The symposium on the effects of HIV/AIDS on development will be held during the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, in Brussels. The organizers aim to focus attention on the damage of AIDS to many countries' development efforts. Speakers included Marjatta Vehkaoja, Member of Parliament of Finland and Chair of the Inter-European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development, Moustapha Ka, Senegalese Member of Parliament (MP), President of the Forum of Afro-Arab Parliamentarians on Population and Development, Youssouf Sangaré, Burkina Faso MP; and Elisabeth Hlavac, Austrian MP as well as Thoraya Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA; Eddy Boutmans, Secretary of State for Development Cooperation, Belgium; Lieve Fransen of the European Commission; Miss Universe 1999 Mpule Kwelagobe, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador for Botswana and spokesperson Face to Face Campaign; Goedele Liekens, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador for Belgium, Face to Face Campaign spokesperson and popular Belgian television presenter.
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Belgian and African Parliamentarians hold informal discussions on Development Cooperation
15/05/2001
Members of the Belgian Parliaments working towards the creation of an all-party group in Belgium met in the Belgian Parliament on 15 May with Mr Moustapha Kâ, Chair of the Forum of African and Arab Parliamentarians on Population and Development and Mr Youssouf Sangaré, MP Burkina Faso. An informal exchange of views between the Belgian and African parliamentarians permitted also a presentation of Belgium’s development cooperation policy and discussions on the possibilities for future collaboration. A member of the Belgian Parliament will be participating in the IEPFPD’s international visit to Burkina Faso and Mali scheduled to take place later in July 2001.
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Parliamentary Hearing on Female Genital Mutilation “A ‘harmless’ traditional Practice for Women?”
08/05/2001
The Austrian Family Planning Association held a briefing on “Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) a ‘harmless’ traditional practice or a deeply damaging for women?” on 8 May 2001 in the Austrian Parliament.
The WHO definition of Female Genital Mutilation comprise all procedures involving partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs. According to UNICEF, two million women and girls suffer mutilation of their genitals every year. Worldwide, well over 135 million women are affected by FGM. In some African countries, over 90% of the women are circumcised. Due to migration movements from these areas, FGM has also been observed in Europe, Australia and North America. This event is part of the Face to Face Campaign, financially supported by UNFPA.
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