February
Communities abandoning Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting
On the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C), 6 February, a new report from the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme for the Acceleration of the Abandonment of FGM/C was issued showing that almost 2,000 communities across Africa gave up practicing FGM/C during 2011.
It is estimated around 8,000 girls a day are at risk of FGM/C, mainly in Africa, but also in some places in Asia and the Middle East.
Next Women Deliver - save the date!
The next Women Deliver will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from 28 - 30 May 2013.
The conference promises to be the biggest yet, with 5,000 participants expected from around the globe.
Registration opens already on 1 June this year - check out www.womendeliver.org for more details and dates.
January
Worldwide abortion rate stalled
A new study from the Guttmacher Institute and the World Health Organisation on the trends of induced abortion worldwide from 1995 to 2008, has found the global abortion rate has stalled following a period of decline.
The study, Induced Abortion: Incidence and Trends Worldwide from 1995 to 2008, by Gilda Sedgh et al., found that the number of abortions per 1,000 women between 15 - 44 years dropped from 35 - 29 between 1995 and 2003, but stagnated in 2008 at 28 per 1,000.
Read more about the study here.
Former head of IPPF receives British New Year's Honour
Dr. Gill Greer, former head of one of the world's largest organisations - the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in the British New Year's Honours List.
A tireless sexual and reproductive health and rights advocate, Dr. Greer also served as the Executive Director of New Zealand Family Planning for 8 years before joining IPPF.
Read an interview with Dr. Greer in our November 2010 issue of Interaction here.
December
Low condom usage in premarital relationships in India
According to a new study, Condom Use Before Marriage and Its Correlates: Evidence from India, only 7% of young women and 27% of young men in India who had had premarital sexual relationships say they ever used condoms in those relationships.
The study, by K.G. Santhya, Rajib Acharya and Shireen J. Jejeebhoy of the Population Council, New Delhi surveyed 2,408 married and unmarried young women and men between the ages of 15-24 who reported having had premarital sex.
Read about the study here.
US Secretary overrides FDA decision to make emergency contraception available over the counter
The Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in the United States took the unprecedented step to immediately overrule the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) decision on 7. December to make the one-step emergency contraception, Plan B, available over the counter for all women.
After reviewing evidence by the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, the FDA commissioner Margaret Hamburg decided Plan B should be made available as a nonprescription drug, alongside condoms and pregnancy tests.
Sebelius decided to override this decision, stating that the decision was to avoid 11-year olds obtaining the medication without guidance from a health care professional. Read more here.
World AIDS Day
1. December marked World AIDS Day and this year's theme was 'Getting to Zero' - Zero new HIV infections. Zero Discrimination. Zero AIDS-related deaths. The 'Getting to Zero' campaign will run until 2015 with 10 goals to be attained, including reducing sexual transmission of HIV by half, including among young people, men who have sex with men and transmission in the context of sex work, and universal access to antiretroviral therapy for people living with HIV who are eligible for treatment. Read more here.
November
Fewer people dying of AIDS - UNAIDS report
A new report from UNAIDS says more people than ever are living with HIV, but AIDS-related deaths and new infections are dropping and are currently at the lowest levels since the peak of the epidemic. The number of deaths has dropped from 2.2 million a year in the mid-2000s to 1.8 million at the end of 2010, with 6.6 million people in low and middle income countries now on antiretroviral drugs. The 2011 World AIDS Days report was launched on 21 November and can be accessed here.
16 Days campaign kicks off
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence commenced on 25th November and will continue until 10th December. The theme this year is 'From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let's challenge militarism and end violence against women'. The 16 Days Campaign symbolically links violence against women and human rights by starting on the International Day for the Elimination of all forms of Violence against Women and ending on International Human Rights Day, to highlight that violence against women is a violation of human rights.
Britain to fund contraceptive supplies to save women's lives
At the International Conference on Family Planning being held in Senegal, Britain's Development Minister Stephen O'Brien announced that Britain would be providing new funding to UNFPA for contraceptive supplies, which will prevent more than 2 million unintended pregnancies and avert nearly 220,000 unsafe abortions in developing countries. Read more here.
International Conference on Family Planning
The Bill and Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Ministry of Health and Prevention in Senegal are co-hosting the second International Conference on Family Planning: Research and Best Practices in Dakar Senegal from 29 November - 2 December.
With over 2300 participants, the global conference brings together researchers, policy makers, parliamentarians and programme managers to share research, best practices and progress on national strategies for family planning.
New report from Women Deliver on delivering cervical cancer prevention
On 23. November Women Deliver releseased a new report, “Delivering Cervical Cancer Prevention in the Developing World” highlighting exciting new partnerships and innovations in cervical cancer prevention and treatment. The report comes at the same time as an announcement from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations (GAVI) that they will provide HPV vaccines for 2 million girls in nine countries by 2015.
Study on the health benefits of taking oral contraceptive pills
A recent study by the Guttmacher Institute, “Beyond Birth Control: The Overlooked Benefits of Oral Contraceptive Pills,” by Rachel K. Jones, found that 58% of oral contraceptive pill users in the United States use the pill - at least in part - for other purposes than pregnancy prevention, and 14% take oral contraceptive pills exclusively for noncontraceptive purposes.
The study highlights the other health benefits associated with taking oral contraceptive pills, such as reducing menstrual cramps and pain, preventing migraines and treating acne, and shows why oral contraceptive pills should be readily available to women.
Two-thirds of abortions in India are unsafe
Despite abortion services in India being free of charge in government-run Primary Health Centres, it is estimated nearly two-thirds of abortions in the country are carried out outside the authorised health services according to the World Health Organisation.
The head of the abortion committee at the Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India Dr Kurtkoti says this is because there is a lack of legal providers, with only 250-300 Primary Health Centres offering abortion services throughout the country. Read more here.
IPPF ESEAOR newest member of APA
The International Planned Parenthood Federation East and South East Asia & Ocenia Region (IPPF ESEAOR) is the newest supporting member of the Asia Pacific Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (APA), of which Family Planning International is also a member.
The APA brings together nongovernmental organisations, donors and other stakeholders with common goals to build a strong network to ensure everyone’s right to health is fully achieved through the promotion and inclusion of sexual and reproductive health and rights in development agendas.
Abortion laws around the world
The Centre for Reproductive Rights has launched a new online map to visually compare the legal status of abortion in different countries around the world. Legal restrictions on abortion often result in high levels of unsafe abortions. The map is intended as an advocacy tool for greater progress in ensuring safe and legal access to abortion services around the world. View the map here.
October
World marks 7 billion
On 31 October the world marked the world population reaching 7 billion. The United Nations used the opportunity to call on world leaders to meet the challenges that come with a growing population. “I am one of 7 billion. You are also one of 7 billion. Together, we can be 7 billion strong – by working in solidarity for a better world for all,” said the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon.
Study suggests injectable contraceptive increases risk of HIV infection
A large study involving 3,800 couples in seven African countries recently published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases has found that a popular injectable contraceptive for women can double the risk of them becoming infected with HIV. Also, when an HIV-positive woman uses it, her male partner is twice more likely to become infected with HIV than if the woman used no contraception.
The injectable hormonal contraception is the most popular contraceptive among women in eastern and southern Africa. The shot is given every three months and it does not require a doctor to administer it. The World Health Organisation is currently reviewing the research and re-evaluating their recommendations on the use of this contraceptive.
September
Young Singaporeans usage and knowledge of contraception poor
To mark World Contraception Day this year, Bayer Healthcare conducted a survey among young people in nine Asia-Pacific countries about contraception. The survey results show that young Singaporeans report the highest rate of unprotected sex, with eight in ten respondents reporting not using contraception with a new partner.
The results also illustrated the respondents’ lack of general knowledge about contraception, with one in four believing at least one myth about how to avoid pregnancy, such as showering after sex and rinsing the genital area with Coca-Cola. Read more here.
Women and climate change - new documentary from Population Action International
Population Action International has released a documentary on how climate change is affecting women in developing countries. The documentary, Weathering Change, follows women in Ethiopia, Peru and Nepal, and highlights how family planning and educating girls among other things is so important in helping people adapt to climate change.
World Contraception Day
World Contraception Day was celebrated on 26. September with the motto 'Live your life. Know your rights. Learn about contraception.' The day was aimed at encouraging young people to 'exercise their right to search for accurate, unbiased information about contraception to prevent an unplanned pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection (STI).' Read more about World Contraception Day here.
Women leaders call for more women's political participation across the world
Women make up less than 10 percent of world leaders. Globally less than one in five members of parliament is a woman. The 30 percent critical mass mark for women’s representation in parliament has been reached or exceeded in only 28 countries. At a high-level event during the 66th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, women political leaders strongly called for increasing women’s political participation and decision-making across the world.
Stressing that women’s participation is fundamental to democracy and essential to the achievement of sustainable development and peace in all contexts — during peace, through conflict and post-conflict, and during political transitions — the leaders signed on to a joint statement with concrete recommendations on ways to advance women’s political participation.
New World Bank flagship report highlights importance of gender equality
The World Bank released its new flagship report The World Development Report 2012: Gender Equality and Development this month highlighting that not only is gender equality the right thing to do, it is also smart economics. The report states that efforts have been made to narrow gender gaps, but disparities still remain all over the world. “We need to achieve gender equality,” said World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick. “Over the past five years, the World Bank Group has provided $65 billion to support girls’ education, women’s health, and women’s access to credit, land, agricultural services, jobs, and infrastructure. This has been important work, but it has not been enough or central enough to what we do. Going forward, the World Bank Group will mainstream our gender work and find other ways to move the agenda forward to capture the full potential of half the world’s population.”
Australia to support 26 million women in developing countries through microfinance
At the APEC Women and the Economy Summit in San Francisco, Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd committed $2.2 million to help women start and expand their own small businesses. 'This money will help microfinance institutions provide loans to more than 26 million women by the end of 2013. That's 26 million women who will be able to establish their own business, send their children to school and improve their standard of living' Mr Rudd said.
Australia and US strengthen joint development cooperation
Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, and the United States Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton strengthened joint development cooperation between the two countries in September, by announcing a combined package of $18.1 million that will support development projects in countries which both Australia and the United States are engaged. For example, Australia will support US-led maternal and child health initiatives in Tanzania which will assist 6.2 million children receive de-worming tablets, 6.7 million children receive the measles vaccine, 7.1 million children to receive Vitamin A and 8 million children to receive the polio vaccine.
Australia appoints Global Ambassador for Women and Girls
The Australian Government has appointed their first Global Ambassador for Women and Girls, career diplomat Penny Williams. Prime Minister Guillard said that in the role, Ms Williams will ensure the needs of women and girls are properly represented in Australia's overseas development program and in foreign policy more broadly. Women and girls make up two thirds of the one billion people in the world who lack basic literacy skills, with almost 35 million girls world-wide not getting even basic primary-level education. Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said that the evidence shows that aid spending is more effective when women are central to our investment.
Female Genital Mutilation now illegal in Kenya
In an important move for women’s rights, Kenya recently followed in the footsteps of at least 17 other African countries by passing a law making female genital mutilation (FGM) illegal. It is now illegal to practice or procure it – even to take somebody abroad to undergo the procedure. Unfortunately FGM is still widely practised in nine African countries, namely Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Sudan, despite African Union opposition.
July 2011
New surgery-free vasectomy underway
An Indian engineer has devised a new contraceptive method that could be the most revolutionary contraceptive technology since the birth control pill. It is a surgery-free, injectable and reversible vasectomy called RISUG (reversible inhibition of sperm under guidance) could be available as early as next year.
http://www.ippf.org/en/News/Intl+news/India+advances+injectable+vasectomy+for+men.htm
New strain of Gonorrhoea resistant to antibiotics
A new strain of the sexually transmissible infection gonorrhoea, called H014, has been found to be resistant to cephalosporin-class antibiotics. The strain is very successful at mutating and developing resistance to drugs used to treat it. There is grave concern that as a result, the disease will spread rapidly and become a global threat to public health unless effective treatment is found soon.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14078098
World Population Day – a world of 7 billion
World Population Day was celebrated on 11 July and UNFPA used the occasion to launch a new campaign focussed on the world population reaching 7 billion in October. The 7 Billion Actions campaign is an advocacy effort that will run through to 31 October, promoting dialogue on what it means to live in a world of 7 billion. “As more and more people share our planet, new challenges will arise. Solving existing challenges while protecting the human rights of all will become increasingly more urgent” said UNFPA Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin.
http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/news/pid/7999
June 2011
New report launched on State of World’s Midwifery
On 20 June, UNFPA launched a new report called The State of the World’s Midwifery 2011. The report surveyed 58 developing countries and states that up to 3.6 million deaths could be avoided each year in these countries if midwifery services are upgraded by 2015. “The report points to an urgent need to train more health workers with midwifery skills and ensure equitable access to their life-saving services in communities to improve the health of women and children,” said Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of UNFPA.
http://www.unfpa.org/public/home/news/pid/7859