UN Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs,
with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
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| UN Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) |
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AFPPD INFORMATION SERVICE Issue #4 June 1997 Dear Friend, The secretariat of AFPPD is pleased to update you regarding the progress of our work following from February 1997 to May 1997. *** The Secretariat received Mr. Sisodia, Chairman of the Indian Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development Foundation. He briefed us regarding the situation of the Indian Parliamentarians Center and its work. He also said that the newly constituted Parliamentarians Committee on Population and Development ,overseen by Mrs. Urmilaben Patel, is working effectively. *** Mr. Shin Sakurai, Chairman of AFPPD, and Mr. Shiv Khare, Executive Director, attended the 1st Conference of African and Arab Parliamentarians on Population and Development (FAAPPD) in Cape Town, South Africa. Mr. Shin Sakurai made a major speech and offered to organize an Afro-Asian Conference of Parliamentarians on Population and Development to be held in Asia. Mr. Kusumoto of APDA accompanied Mr. Sakurai. A special issue of the AFPPD Newsletter (May 1997) covered this meeting has been published. If you would like to receive this newsletter please contact the AFPPD Secretariat. *** Dr. Nafis Sadik, Executive Director of UNFPA, was in Bangkok to deliver a keynote address at the General Session of ESCAP. She met His Majesty the King of Thailand, H.R.H. Princess Sirindhorn and Hon. Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh. Prof. Dr. Prasop Ratanakorn, Secretary General, and Mr. Shiv Khare, Executive Director, also met with her. *** Mrs. Chultem Otgonbayar and Ms. Rinchin Nerangerel, both members of parliament from Mongolia; with Mr. V.T. Palan of IPPF (London) visited Thailand to observe Family Planning Programs. Mr. Shiv Khare, Executive Director AFPPD, hosted a luncheon for them and discussed the program of reactivating a National Parliamentarians Committee on Population and Development in Mongolia. *** Philippines Legislative Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) is now reorganized. Ms. Laticia Ramos Shahani and Mrs. Teresa Aquino-Oreta are co-chairs of the organization. Mr. Roberto M. Ador has been confirmed as the Executive Director. The PLCPD will soon announce its future programs. The population bill in the Philippine parliament is facing some rough weather and needs support from all sides. *** The AFPPD affiliate in China will organize a National Parliamentarians Seminar on Water Resources and Population in the last part of September 1997 in Beijing. *** Vietnam Association of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (VAPPD) organized a National Parliament Seminar on Water Resource and Population on 9-10 June 1997. Prof. Dr. Prasop Ratanakorn, Secretary General, and Mr. Shiv Khare, Executive Director, spoke at the meeting. Mr. Eric Palstra of UNFPA also addressed the conference. 50 parliamentarians and state legislators debated for two days on the relationship between safe water and population. In their declaration, parliamentarians specifically mentioned the shortage of water in Vietnam, and called for ways to conserve this precious resource. It was also noted that pollution is creating several problems, particularly unsafe drinking water. *** The AFPPD affiliate in Korea organized an Asian Parliamentarians Conference on Environment and Development on 5-7 June 1997 in Seoul. The meeting was held in connection with international Environment Day celebrations. Around 9 countries attended the meeting. *** Hon. Speaker of the parliament of Pakistan, Mr.Liahi Buksh Soomro, and UNFPA Representative in Pakistan, Mr. Nesim Tumkaya, has informed AFPPD that a Pakistan Parliamentarians Group on Population and Development (PPGPD) will soon be reconstituted. The new election in Pakistan has necessitated the recorgnization of the committee. Ms. Tamina Ayub is a full time officer for the group which is supported by UNFPA. Mr. Shin Sakurai, Chairman AFPPD, will visit Pakistan on 25-26 June 1997. *** IAPPD (India) plans to organize a National Seminar on Water Resource and Population in the last week of July 1997 with the support of AFPPD. *** The partnership in Development South-South Cooperation, and AFPPD are working together closely. The study tour of 10 Australia and 5 New Zealand parliamentarians to Vietnam and Thailand is just the beginning of this cooperation. Rockefeller Foundation is providing support to AFPPD to organize the visit. *** APDA (Tokyo), in cooperation with AFPPD, will organize a visit of 5 Australian Parliamentarians to Japan. And, hopefully, Japanese parliamentarians may soon be able to visit Pakistan. *** A Nepalese parliamentarians delegation will visit Thailand on 16-19. June 1997. ***** A note for all friends, If you come across any parliamentarians activities either in Population or any other field. Please inform us at-- Fax: (662) 246 8827 E-mail: skhare@mozart.inet.co.th