UN Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs,
with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA)
|
| UN Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) |
|
DISPATCHES -- NEWS FROM UNFPA, THE UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND
NUMBER 6, MARCH 1996
DISPATCHES is a monthly bulletin dedicated to the activities of
the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). It is published in
English, French, and Spanish by the Information and External
Relations Division and is available free of charge from UNFPA
offices worldwide.
The designations employed and presentation of material in
DISPATCHES do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever
on the part of UNFPA concerning the legal status or authority of
any country, territory, city, or area or the determination of its
frontiers or boundaries. Views expressed are the authors' and
sources' own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or
policy of the Fund. All material is checked for accuracy as
received from source; all enquiries should be addressed to the
source/further information address provided at the end of each
item. Material may be freely reproduced; credit and copies of
reproduced material would be appreciated.
We invite colleagues from UNFPA and cooperating organizations to
submit articles about UNFPA-assisted programmes and projects,
accounts of lessons learned from past and ongoing work, and
anecdotes from their country or area of work. These should be
sent to:
DISPATCHES, c/o IERD, UNFPA, 220 East 42nd Street, 23rd floor,
New York, NY 10017, USA. Telephone: (212) 297-5022. Fax: (212)
557-6416. Internet: <aslam@unfpa.org>, <ohaire@unfpa.org>,
<travers@unfpa.org>.
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In this issue:
ICPD implementation: Difficult times ahead
Executive Board decisions
Doctors' responsibilities
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Uganda: FGM breakthrough
Kapchorwa District - UNFPA is spearheading a local initiative to
eliminate female genital excision among the Sabiny people, whose
remote villages cling to mountain slopes on the border with
Kenya.
The community has made national and regional headlines over
the years for its strict adherence to the tradition of excision
as a rite of passage into womanhood. In the early 1990s, attempts
to enforce compliance with international health and human rights
norms created a backlash: Local women who had evaded the custom
embraced the blade as an act of resistance to cultural
interference.
Where outsiders have failed, the community is now
succeeding.
In January, the Chairman of the local Elders' Association
proposed replacing the practice with a symbolic gift-giving while
preserving the singing, dancing, and other traditional
festivities which mark a girl's initiation as a full-fledged
member of the community. Coming as it does from a custodian of
community culture, his proposal has nurtured discussion of how
best to honour cultural values while altering the rituals they
express. The discussion is far from academic: Community members
are tackling the practical details of replacing excision with
some form of gift-giving as well as the essential details of
making sure that the new cultural norm is observed.
Local authorities and media attribute the breakthrough to
REACH, the UNFPA-sponsored Reproductive, Educative, And Community
Health programme, which provides a forum for information and
discussion among local community and political leaders, health
professionals, parents, and adolescents themselves.
REACH seeks to avoid fuelling unnecessary sensitivity about
the issue. Thus, for example, participants coined a new phrase
for FGM: "female genital cutting." The term "female circumcision"
was rejected as a misleading euphemism, but "female genital
mutilation" was thought to imply excessive judgement by outsiders
as well as insensitivity toward individuals who have undergone
excision.
The programme also offers a reproductive health package
including training for traditional birth attendants and
reproductive health and family planning services and peer
education for parents and adolescents.
Sabiny boys undergo circumcision and girls, excision in
December of every even-numbered year. William Cheborion, Chairman
of the Kapchorwa Elders' Association, closed the first REACH
community workshop in January by encouraging community members to
gather this coming December to recognize the season of
initiation. "The occasion of the Sabiny girl becoming a woman
needs celebration," he said, "but when it's time for the cutting,
you just go home."
When others suggested a symbolic, more benign blood-letting
ritual, Cheborion remarked: "There has already been too much
cutting."
As Elaine Eliah, a correspondent for [The East African], a
newspaper circulated in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda noted,
Cheborion's "pleas were perhaps the most significant words
uttered throughout the entire workshop. Never before had a
recommendation for change come from within the Sabiny community
itself, especially from such an esteemed source. With Cheborion's
sanction, and his heartfelt endorsement of a pain-free initiation
for Kapchorwa's girls, the possibility of change feels closer
than ever. As if to second Cheborion's recommendation,
Parliamentarian Peter Kamuron committed to hosting an initiation
party for his two daughters this December. He plans to gift them
each a cow."
-Source/further information from: Francois Farah, Country
Director, UNFPA, 15B Clement Hill Road, P.O. Box 7184, Kampala,
Uganda. Fax: (041) 236645.
==========
ICPD: Difficult times ahead
Washington - Population institutions fear that "devastating"
funding cuts announced by the United States will jeopardize
implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action, and that
increases made by other countries will be insufficient to offset
the loss. They warn that, contrary to the stated intentions of
those wielding the budget axe, the cuts will result in a dramatic
increase in unplanned pregnancies and unsafe abortions.
Stop-gap legislation passed by the US Congress to keep the
US government running during a budget impasse effectively reduces
US funding for family planning and reproductive health programmes
overseas from US$547 million in 1995 to around US$72 million for
this fiscal year.
In addition to limiting spending, the legislation imposes
unprecedented restrictions on USAID. The agency is now barred
from committing any money before 1 July and will only be allowed
to make commitments a month at a time over the following 15
months. USAID officials say the restrictions will complicate
attempts at long-term planning. They add that while they grapple
with as much as a 35 per cent reduction in overall funding, the
resources available to them for population assistance this fiscal
year have effectively been reduced to 14 per cent of the amount
appropriated last year.
"Even allowing for some funds still in the 'pipeline'...the
cut is devastating," said Jeannie Rosoff, president of the Alan
Guttmacher Institute.
Population programmers say the cuts will have a particularly
dramatic effect in developing countries because of the key role
played by USAID and the NGOs it supports worldwide. They say they
fear UNFPA and other major collaborators will not be able to make
up for the loss. They note that many developing countries
themselves and several key donors -- including Denmark, Germany,
Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom -- have made
significant funding increases this year to fulfil their
commitment to ICPD implementation. Nevertheless, "we don't expect
overall funding in the field to recover from this setback," said
Stirling Scruggs, director of UNFPA's Information & External
Relations Division.
The anti-family planning riders attached to the legislation
were "encouraged by the Christian Coalition and anti-abortion
groups," according to George Moffett of the [Christian Science
Monitor].
"What we did is bar access to family planning services to
approximately 17 million couples, most of them living in
unimaginable poverty," said Republican Senator Mark Hatfield, an
opponent of the legislation. "I intend to do what I can to
rectify this situation as soon as possible."
"More than 10 million unintended pregnancies could result
annually," said Population Action International's Sally Ethelston
of the cuts. "That could mean at least 3 million abortions, at
least half a million infant and child deaths, and tens of
thousands of maternal deaths."
The cuts come amid deficit-reduction measures which include
a 30 per cent reduction in overall bilateral US development aid
to countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the
Caribbean.
Sadik's appeal
Speaking on these issues last month in Washington, DC, at
the Conference of religious leaders on Women, Poverty, and
Population, UNFPA Executive Director Nafis Sadik said: "Voices
are heard today advising America to go into isolation, to
interpret national interest in the narrowest possible way. If
these forces can successfully be opposed, America will reaffirm
its own beginnings and enhance its destiny. America will grow in
stature, in moral leadership, and in practical influence in the
world."
In what Yvette Collymore of Inter Press Service termed "one
of her most direct appeals yet to politicians and legislators
here," Dr. Sadik said: "For thirty years, you have led the way to
action in the area of population and development. American
leaders were among the first to state that there is a link
between population and poverty; American women have led the fight
for autonomy and equality. America was the driving force behind
setting up UNFPA; America has historically been the biggest
supporter of population and development programmes, and it was
American leadership above all which drove the Cairo process along
and brought it to a successful conclusion. Now the world looks
again to America for leadership. We look to you to confirm your
support for the United Nations process, to make good the pledges
made in Cairo and Beijing, to maintain your programme of foreign
assistance, and in the area of population and development...not
to turn your backs on the less fortunate people of the world,
among the poorest of whom are women."
- Sources: Executive Director's Statement to the Conference on
Women, Poverty, and Population, Washington, DC, 9 February 1996;
press clippings. Further information from: Information & External
Relations Division, UNFPA, 220 East 42nd Street, New York, NY
10017, USA. Fax: (212) 557-6416.
==========
Reproductive health: Doctors reminded of their responsibilities
Geneva - Obstetricians and gynaecologists are being reminded that
they have a responsibility to protect women's right to
reproductive health.
The reminder comes from the WHO/FIGO (International
Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics) Task Force on Maternal
Health and Safe Motherhood, of which UNFPA is a member.
Inspired by ICPD, the Task Force in September 1994 held a
workshop in Montreal, Canada on "Population and Human Rights:
Responsibilities of OB/GYNs." Since the Beijing women's
conference reaffirmed the reproductive health aspects of the ICPD
Programme of Action, the Task Force last November decided to
reiterate the recommendations of the Montreal workshop and to lay
plans for follow-up regional workshops. These are reportedly
being organized by FIGO.
The Montreal workshop focussed on three main areas:
> women's right to information and education about, and the
means to practise, family planning;
> women's right to make decisions that affect their health
voluntarily and with a choice of options; and
> the link between women's rights and their health.
In their recommendations, summarized by the Task Force,
workshop participants emphasized the following:
> Women have a right to information and education on the
procedures and treatments they might have to undergo and FIGO
should discourage practices that abuse women's rights.
> It is important that adolescents should receive information,
counselling, and services regarding their reproductive health.
> There is a need for obstetricians and gynaecologists to be
trained in communication and counselling skills, whether through
workshops run by national societies or by the inclusion of these
skills in the curricula of medical schools.
> National societies should further the provision of
comprehensive reproductive health services. The interventions of
WHO's Mother-Baby Package were considered to be relevant to this,
with particular focus on emergency obstetric care. Other
important elements included the discouraging of female genital
mutilation, and counselling both on sexuality and for women who
are victims of violence.
Earlier WHO/FIGO workshops included one in Rio de Janeiro in
1988, on "Women's Health and Safe Motherhood" and in Singapore in
1991, on "Women's Perspectives and Participation in Reproductive
Health."
- Sources: WHO/FIGO Task Force; Reproductive Health Branch.
Further information from: Reproductive Health Branch, Technical &
Evaluation Division, UNFPA, 220 East 42nd Street, New York, NY
10017, USA. Fax: (212) 297-4915. A full report of the Montreal
workshop (Document WHO/FHE/FPP/95.112) is available from the
Division of Family Health, WHO, Avenue Appia, CH-1211 Geneva 27,
Switzerland. Reports of the Rio and Singapore workshops are also
available from the same address.
==========
Executive Board: Contraceptive commodity programme passed
New York - UNFPA's Executive Board has approved a global
contraceptive commodity programme to be managed by the Fund. With
an initial capitalization of US$5 million, the programme is to be
an integral component of the Fund's overall work in
"strengthening reproductive health programmes, including family
planning and sexual health," according to Board documents.
In decision 96/03, made on 19 January, the Board emphasized
that activities undertaken as part of the programme "should be
monitored carefully to ensure that they adhere to technical
standards of safety and quality."
Under the terms of the decision, the Fund will have to
report on the programme's implementation annually, "paying
particular attention to the progress in strengthening national
capacities to deal with the logistical aspects of contraceptive
procurement." The Fund must also "engage in further appropriate
collaboration and coordination with other relevant United Nations
entities, in particular, the Inter-Agency Procurement Services
Office and the World Health Organization, active in the fields of
procurement and reproductive health."
The programme grew out of UNFPA's Contraceptive Requirements
and Logistics Management Needs in Developing Countries
initiative. It aims to anticipate demand and facilitate prompt
action to avert disruptions in contraceptive supplies; achieve
economies of scale and lower costs to recipient countries; ensure
the quality of contraceptives provided by the Fund; and build
national capacity in contraceptive procurement and logistics,
with a view to self-reliance.
South-South cooperation
The Board also approved the arrangements outlined in
document DP/FPA/1996/11 to recruit and assign project personnel
to the Secretariat of Partners in Population and Development, an
intergovernmental organization of 10 developing countries. In
decision 96/09, the Board invited the organization to consider
broadening its scope "by actively involving other developing
countries as well as countries with economies in transition" in
its programmes. UNFPA is to report to the Board in 1998 on the
activities and achievements of the initiative, including the
Fund's role in them. At that time, the Board will consider
UNFPA's continued involvement beyond 1998.
Other decisions of note to UNFPA include 96/05, on reporting
to ECOSOC, 96/06, on documentation, and 96/07, on UNDP successor
programming.
The UNFPA Strategy for Resource Allocation is due for
further consideration at this month's session of the Executive
Board.
- Source: "Decisions Adopted by the Executive Board of
UNDP/UNFPA, First Regular Session 1996, (15-19 January 1995, New
York)," Unedited Version, 19 January 1996. Further information
from: Executive Board, UN Liaison, & External Relations Branch,
Information & External Relations Division, UNFPA, 220 East 42nd
Street, New York, NY 10017, USA. Fax: (212) 557-6416.
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DISPATCHES -- NEWS FROM UNFPA, THE UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND
NUMBER 6, MARCH 1996
ENDS.