Bulletin 19 - January/February 2007

WELCOME to the ARHA e-newsletter, updating you on ARHA news and activities,
and bringing you a selection of general news about population and
development and sexual and reproductive health issues.

New Chair of Parliamentary Group
MP is WA doctor, farmer, science advocate

ONE OF Perth's best-known doctors, Dr Mal Washer, has been elected the new Chair of the Parliamentary Group on Population and Development (PGPD), succeeding Dr Sharman Stone. Dr Washer, who established a large chain of medical centres in Perth, holds the seat of Moore for the Liberal Party.

With PGPD colleagues Senators Claire Moore and Ruth Webber, he represented Australia at "IPCI" - the International Parliamentarians Conference on the Implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action - in Bangkok last month (see December e-newsletter), where he supported moves to increase the percentage of aid budgets that donor nations devote to population and reproductive health programs.

Dr Washer (see bio) played a leading role in the successful campaign to lift the ban on therapeutic stem cell cloning in 2006. He is a strong supporter of science and innovation and the role they play in keeping Australia competitive. He has held the federal seat of Moore in suburban Perth since 1998, and is also Chair of the Joint Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment and Heritage as well as being a member of four other committees and the Chinese Parliamenary Friendship Group.

Dr Stone, who has represented the rural Victorian seat of Murray since 1996, is the Minister for Workforce Participation and has been an active member of the PGPD since 1997. As PGPD Chair from February 2006, she was proactive on many PGPD issues, and led the Parliamentary Roundtables on Sexual and Reproductive Health in August and September last year. She stood down in November due to Ministerial commitments.

Budget support echoed globally
Increased support for UNFPA is world-wide trend

THE AUSTRALIAN Government's decision to increase its financial support for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) during 2006 was part of a world-wide move, recently-released UN figures have shown.

Last year, a record 180 countries contributed $360 million to UNFPA's regular resources, the highest number of donors and the largest total since the organization began its operations in 1969.

The Australian Government increased our annual contribution from $4 million to $4.5 million in the 2006-2007 Federal Budget.

UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Obaid said her agency was thankful for the continuous and growing support from nearly all UN member states.

“Achieving universal access to reproductive health is vital for poverty eradication, and it requires partnerships and efforts from governments and the civil society,” Ms. Obaid said. “Seeing so many different countries supporting our work is heart-warming, and I hope this support will continue to grow in the years to come.”

The number of UNFPA donor countries has steadily increased over the last few years, from 69 in 1999, to 172 in 2005, to last year’s record. The top six donors were the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, Japan and Denmark. Australia was 16th of the top 20 donors of regular funds in 2005.

Popularity of vasectomies in NZ
To snip or not to snip?

A STUDY at The University of Auckland is looking at the reasons why New Zealand has one of the highest rates of vasectomies per head of population in the world, and is one of only a few countries where male sterilisation is more frequent than female sterilisation.

The research is investigating why vasectomy is so popular, and the factors that men consider prior to having the procedure.

"Around 18 per cent of men have had the operation, and nearly 25% of married men," says Gareth Terry, the psychology PhD student conducting the research.

"Most men take more than a year to come to a decision, and we are looking at the decisions they make before committing to or deciding against sterilisation." Further info: g.terry@auckland.ac.nz

ARHA to attend UN conference
Commission on Status of Women

AS A non-government organisation (NGO), ARHA has Special Consultative Status with the UN's Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which allows ARHA representatives to attend international conferences convened by the UN.

Of special significance for ARHA’s work are UNGASS (General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS), CPD (Commission on Population and Development) and CSW (Commission on the Status of Women).

The 51st session of CSW will take place from 26 February to 9 March 2007 in New York. In accordance with its multi-year program of work for 2007-2009, the Commission will consider “The elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against the girl child” as its priority theme.

Jenny Goldie, Manager of Policy, will represent ARHA at this meeting. As with other meetings of this kind, it will be a valuable opportunity to work with represent-atives from like-minded organisations from around the world, in ensuring that the ICPD agenda remains a priority for governments.

Antithesis of Christian ideal
Church policy "inhuman" - ARHA view

PUBLIC funding for catholic-controlled hospitals should be withdrawn if the Catholic Church persists with its recently-announced policy of not referring raped women to centres that offer the morning-after contraceptive pill, ARHA has urged.

ARHA Policy Manager Jenny Goldie, in a letter to The Australian on 12 January, said that the policy was inhuman, and seemed the "very antithesis of the Christian ideal of love and compassion".

"No woman who has been raped should have to bear a child conceived in such a way, and no child should grow up knowing his or her father raped the mother," Ms Goldie wrote.

"By all means, let Catholics run hospitals for their own adherents – although heaven help Catholic women who get raped ­– but this current trend of Catholic organisations taking over what were once perfectly good public hospitals must be reversed."

Asia Pacific needs 'green growth'

THE "GROW first, clean up later" economic growth method of meeting human development needs should be replaced by a green growth policy, with better pollution control and more resource-efficient production and consumption patterns, according to the UN's Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), headquartered in Bangkok.

The latest State of the Environment in Asia and the Pacific report prepared by UNESCAP says Asia and the Pacific are living beyond their ecological carrying capacity.

UNESCAP official Rae Kwon Chung said it was encouraging that the Government of China had announced six measures for green growth last May.

"Eco-efficiency should now be adopted as a new criterion for economic development planning for many developing countries in the region," he said.

DOMESTIC NEWS CLIPS  

Catholics given pregnancy role
— The Daily Telegraph, 2 January

THE Catholic Church's welfare arm, Centacare, will provide advice for an information manual to be used by a new government-backed pregnancy counselling service aimed at cutting the abortion rate. But McKesson, the company which has won the counselling contract, says the church will have no role whatsoever in providing direct counselling advice to women wrestling with an unwanted pregnancy. >>>more

Babies "inconvenient"
— The Herald Sun, 6 January

TONY Abbott attributes Australia's high abortion rate to women whose lives are under control but view childbirth as a "terrible inconvenience". The Health Minister said cultural changes were prompting more women to abort pregnancies and called for greater soul-searching by those considering terminations. >>>more

What happened to safe sex?
— The Age, 9 January

IN THE debate about who should deliver pregnancy counselling, pro-life and pro-choice voices are being heard. But we seem to be ignoring a third important voice — pro-prevention. On one hand, Health Minister Tony Abbott is right to be concerned about the number of abortions being performed. But he seems interested only in the "ends", not the "means". Pro-life voices seem to be doggedly against contraception and abortion. >>>>more

Giving pause to the pregnant
— The Australian, 11 January

THOUGH their opinions could not be more divergent on an issue of supreme importance to both of them, Devora Lieberman, the national president of Family Planning Australia, says she can't help feeling sorry for Health Minister Tony Abbott.

"It's a difficult position for the minister. He's a devout Catholic who as health minister ... funds 70,000 to 90,000 abortions a year," says Lieberman. >>>more

Harking back to good old days of backyard abortions
— The Sydney Morning Herald, 13 January

HAVE you ever wondered how young women still manage to fall pregnant accidentally when they have ready access to contraception and sex education? Have you ever concluded that it must be only the sloppy or irresponsible who face the horror of seeing two purple lines emerge from the plastic window of a home pregnancy test? I have cobbled together some statistics to show why this is not so, why young couples who take all the care in the world can still end up with a surprise pregnancy.
>>>more

                                      >>>more domestic news

INTERNATIONAL CLIPS

Reproductive rights without borders: Bush and the global gag
— Campus.Progress.org — 4 January

AMERICAN progressives’ fight for reproductive justice doesn’t begin in Tennessee’s state legislature and end in the South Dakota ballot box. Domestic abortion bans are only one part of the ongoing international battle for reproductive freedom. But while American progressives have built an effective movement around our domestic challenges, they have not focused as much on the global reproductive health effects of American international policies. >>>more

Pregnancy support hotline: close watch will be needed

ARHA CEO Christina Richards has welcomed the announcement that Family Planning Western Australia has been chosen to develop the training manual for the Government's proposed new national pregnancy support telephone hotline, but is disappointed two anti-choice bodies were given a place on an advisory panel.

The Minister for Health and Ageing, Tony Abbott, announced on 2 January that the Government had chosen McKesson Asia Pacific Pty Ltd to provide the telephone counselling service, and that Family Planning WA would develop a training package for counsellors. The Minister also said two Catholic welfare agencies, Centacare and the Caroline Chisholm Society would support McKesson's as well as independent experts in fields of psychiatry, obstetrics and gynaecology.

Ms Richards said the Catholic Church has made its opposition to non-directive counselling clear, as well as its opposition to modern contraception.

"It will be necessary to closely monitor the service to ensure that counsellors are instructed to equally explore all options with women seeking counselling," she said.

AN ARHA fundraising advisory committee is now under development. The committee will be driven by ARHA board member Amanda Lopez. Amanda is brimming with great ideas for building our fundraising and membership capacity and will draw on her contacts in both Sydney and Canberra to assist with fundraising events and campaigns.

ARHA patron, Wendy McCarthy AO, has agreed to act as advisor to the committee. Wendy has a history of distinction in philanthropy and will provide invaluable guidance to the committee.

ARHA in the community

IN 2007 ARHA is focused on reaching out to the community to spread awareness about what we do and the issues that drive us.

Chris Richards, CEO, is attending business groups, networking events and community gatherings to speak about ARHA and to highlight some of the crucial areas in which we work.

Presentation topics include "RU486, What is it and Why is it not Available?",  "Aid and Development, Gender and Women’s Empowerment in the Aid Program", "Women in Crisis and Conflict – Does Anyone Care?", "Men’s Reproductive Health and Rights" and many more.

If you are a member of any business, industry or community networking group that would be interested in hearing about these topics, please feel free to request an ARHA guest speaker. Contact Alex or Naomi on 02 6282 8922.   

A young women's gathering

ARHA is calling for presentations for its planned two-day conference, Let's Talk About Sex, at The Centre, Randwick, in Sydney, from 13–14 July 2007.

"We would love to hear from young people or people working in the field if they would like to contribute a presentation or a short film on sexual and reproductive health issues affecting young people, or just be part of this exciting gathering," said organiser Patti Shih.

Registration is now open, the cost is $40 for students/unwaged and $60 standard/organ-
isations, please email your contact details to ywg@arha.org.au. Further information is at the gathering website Let's Talk About Sex page.  A conference brochure and printable registration form will be available on line 1 February.

SUPPORT ARHA

Support choice, rights, health and freedom
Since ARHA's creation in 1995, we have been entirely funded by international grant-making agencies. However, the time has come for ARHA to seek public support from within Australia and internationally.

There are several ways you can support ARHA in its work to protect and promote reproductive health.

Become an ARHA member
By becoming a member of ARHA you will be demonstrating your support for the work that we do and your commitment to reproductive rights and health.As an ARHA member you will have the benefit of:

• monthly members-only e-bulletins
• priority invitations to our seminars and events
• mail outs on the latest information on reproductive health and population issues
• an annual advance copy of the UNPFA's State of the World Population Report
• opportunity to contribute to our campaigns
• access to our library.

You can Join online or phone us for a membership application form on (02) 62828922

Donate
If you would like to donate to ARHA, it is now easier than ever, simply visit our online donation page or call us on
02 6282 8922.

Volunteer
ARHA volunteers offer support in many different ways.

• We have pro bono legal support and would be grateful for any other professional support that members can offer.
• We need volunteers to assist with planning and coordination of fundraising and public relations activities.
• We need office support for busy periods.

If you are interested in volunteering your services to ARHA then please call Naomi Lee on 02 6282 8922.

INTERNATIONAL CLIPS (cont.)

Bush's pick a reminder of what's not quite right
— Chicago Tribune, 7 January

FROM the beginning of his presidency, George W. Bush has done his best to undermine a woman's right to adulthood. His latest effort has been to appoint Eric Keroack to head the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Population Affairs. Keroack has some unusual beliefs about women and sex: Women who have sex outside marriage, he says, use up their "bonding" hormone, oxytocin, and are unable to form lasting relationships. >>>more

Philippines birth rate falls slowly
— Agence France-Presse, 9 January

THE Philippines population is expected to reach 88.1 million people by the end of 2007, with the government attempting to bring down the birth rate and alleviate poverty, officials said Tuesday.
Officials in the largely impoverished country said people were having more children than
they could afford to support.   >>>more

Managed birth rate to rein in Vietnam's population explosion
— Vietnam Bridge, 10 January

NGUYEN Thien Truong, chairman of the Viet Nam Family Planning Association, spoke to Gia dinh & Xa hoi (Family & Society) about efforts to control population growth. >>>more

China's population to increase by 200 million in 30 years: report
People's Daily Online — 11 January

CHINA'S population will increase by 200 million in the next thirty years, according to a report published on Thursday. The report by the State Population and Family Planning Commission paints a clear picture of China's population situation and outlines plans to resolve current population issues. >>>more

New UN chief sets her priorities
— New York times — 15 January

DR. MARGARET F. C. Chan took office yesterday as the World Health Organization’s director general, saying her two chief goals are to improve the health of Africans and of women throughout the world. Women face risks during pregnancy and childbirth that make them particularly vulnerable to health problems, said Dr. Chan, 59, a former Hong Kong health chief. On the positive side, they can be powerful agents of change for better health. >>>more

China aims to transform itself with competitive human capital
—  The Hindu News Update Service, 23 January

CHINA hopes to transform itself from the world's most populous country into a nation abundant with competitive human capital under a new national strategy for population development. "How China can transform itself from a country with a large population to a human resources power is now a tough but pertinent question," Vice Minister of the National Population and Family Planning Commission, Dr. Zhao Baige said. >>>more

Roe v. Wade marks 34 years of sensible reproductive health policies
— Seattle PI.com, 19 January

EACH year as Jan. 22 approaches, I reflect on the previous year's impact on women's rights and health. Monday is the 34th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision. Many Americans know Roe v. Wade legalized abortion nationwide. >>>more

>>>More International News

The Australian Reproductive Health Alliance (ARHA)
www.arha.org.au
Our mission is to promote public support for enhanced reproductive and sexual health in Australia and internationally, and promote the advancement of the status of women and girls.