It is regrettable that in these four other papers
there is scant mention of  the human rights, gender,  population and reproductive health issues that affect developing nations; issues that were well articulated in the HIV paper. The Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Bruce Bilson chaired information sessions
in Melbourne , Brisbane , Sydney and Perth  
prior to the analytical papers being released. No meetings are scheduled for Hobart , Adelaide or Darwin . 

ARHA will attend the NGO consultation session on 19 October in Canberra . If ARHA members would like to contribute please ring Matt at ARHA to discuss your participation.

ARHA will continue its advocacy efforts to ensure that the linkages between HIV and SRH as articulated in the HIV/AIDs analytical paper are carried into the final paper presented to the Minister in December 2005. ARHA will also work towards greater recognition of the benefits of incorporating population, gender and human rights issues into existing papers. 

On the domestic front eminent medical practitioners, NGOs (see our press release under domestic news)  and Senators  have been calling for the ban of Mifepristone also known as RU486  to be lifted. Once again women’s reproductive rights and options were used as a political football in 1996 when Senator Harradine bargained off his vote for Telstra in exchange for a ban on this drug. Mifespristone has many uses including as an effective treatment for some brain tumours, breast cancers, bowel and fibroid tumours.It is also a safe alternative to surgical abortion (effective only up to 7 weeks) – an alternative women in this country unlike NZ , UK , US, and 30 other countries are unable to access.Many women experiencing an unwanted pregnancy would much rather undergo a supervised termination of pregnancy which they can manage largely at home than a surgical procedure in a clinic much later on in the pregnancy. Currently they have no choice. If you feel strongly that Australian women should have the same rights and options as women in other countries, contact your member of parliament and let them know your views or write a letter to your favourite newspaper.  UNFPA

Dr Thoraya Obaid, Executive Director of UNFPA sent her deepest appreciation to NGOs like us for achievements in promoting the MDGs and their linkages to the ICPD Program of Action —a combined world wide effort which influenced the processes leading up to the world summit and the outcome of the summit itself.

Dr Obaid asked NGOs and civil society to remain vigilant in following up on the results of the summit in particular in ensuring that Reproductive Health is reflected in national development strategies for implementing the MDGs. 

She pledged "We will continue to promote universal access to reproductive health and seek to decrease the number of unplanned pregnancies, unsafe births, and young people with HIV/AIDS and ensure that every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect".