Bulletin 22 - June/July 2007
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Minister for Foreign Affairs may abolish Harradine Guidelines
MPs request meeting to discuss report
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THE MINISTER for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, told media he will "consider" a recommendation from the Parliamentary Group on Population and Development (PGPD) to abolish the AusAID Family Planning Guidelines, which have held back Australia's aid program in the area of sexual and reproductive health for the past ten years. |
As reported on ABC and SBS TV news, the guidelines, a legacy of former Senator Brian Harradine, effectively ban the use of aid funds for some types of contraceptives and for information and services about abortion. Extensive media coverage was given to the launch of a new PGPD report containing the recommendation, and MPs have requested a meeting with him to discuss the report's recommendations. The report said the guidelines were "cruel and illogical" and had the effect of encouraging unsafe abortions, which are responsible for 13 per cent of all maternal deaths globally, many in our region. In an interview with ABC Radio News, the PGPD Chair, Dr Mal Washer, described the government's current aid policy in this area as "total perversity, done for all the wrong reasons and giving all the wrong messages". "It's not what a civilised country should be doing in its aid program," he said. "It's repugnant and an insult to women, and the government should have scrapped the policy long ago. "What is even more ridiculous or more repugnant is that under these guidelines, if you go and have an illegal abortion where there is a 13 per cent chance of death on average, and you happen to survive, we're happy to give you counselling. "Well that's good for those who didn't die but for the 13 per cent, I think counselling dead people is pretty difficult." CONTACT US: If you would like a hard copy of the report, please email to admin@arha.org.au with address details, or phone Sullivan on 6282 8922 |
The world goes to town
Members invited to launch of UN report
ARHA will again host the Australian launch of the annual State of the World Population (SOWP) Report this year, at a public seminar at Parliament House to which all readers are cordially invited. |
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SOWP will be launched at the Parliament House Theatre at 9.30am on Wednesday 27 June, with the seminar on the growth of cities to follow at 10am.
The five speakers at the seminar will include Kath Wellman, Centre for Developing Cities, University of Canberra, Ray Prowse, Manager, Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems, ANU, Tom Snow, Executive Director, Canberra International Airport, Chris Johnson, Executive Director, Cities & Centres, NSW Department of Planning and Paul Tranter, School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences UNSW.
RSVP (acceptances only): Phone 02 6282 8922 or email: admin@arha.org.au
Link to UNFPA SOWP 2007 page
Amnesty adopts abortion policy
Catholic church may quit
AMNESTY International, which previously had no policy on abortion, recently adopted a policy calling for decriminalisation of abortion and access to secure abortions for pregnancies resulting from sexual violence, or that risk the mother's life or health. |
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The policy was adopted as part of AI's campaign to curb violence against women.
A number of Christians, especially Catholics, are expected to resign from AI following the decision, and may establish an alternative human rights organisation.
Amnesty's international director of policy, Widney Brown, said that in armed conflict, in places like the Congo and Darfur, pregnancies were not only unwanted but led to ostracism.
"Women were further stigmatised if they had a child from a combatant from the other side. If a woman is raped and doesn't have access to abortion, that's cruel and degrading treatment."
Amnesty's leaders have accepted that the new policy will offend many members, but hope that their commitment to Amnesty's wider work will keep them in the organisation. Ms Brown said this largely happened with two earlier contentious policies, to oppose the death penalty in the 1960s and advocate for same-sex relationships in the 1980s and 1990s.
ARHA hosts national symposium on 'invisible condom'
Plan to expand awareness of microbicides
On May 10, in partnership with four other organisations, ARHA hosted Australia's first Symposium on microbicides, sometimes known as "invisible condoms" because they have the potential to protect against sexually transmitted infections.
More than 50 delegates representing industry, government, academia and community discussed the importance of micobicides in Australia, and considered proposals to enhance support for and knowledge about them.
The Microbicides Symposium was held with support from the Global Campaign for Microbicides (GCM), AusAID, and Starpharma, an Australian company developing a microbicide gel, Vivagel.]
ARHA is also partnering with the Australian Federation of Aids Organisations (AFAO), the Burnet Institute and the National Centre in HIV pidemiology
and Clinical Research (NCHECR).
Speakers included Dr Andrew Grulich (National Centre for HIV epidemiology and Clinical Research - NCGECR), Dr John Kaldor (NCHECR), Mike Kennedy (Victorian Arts Council), Dr Tony Cunningham (Westmead Millennium Institute), Dr Ian Ramshaw (Australian National University), Dr Jeremy Paull (Starpharma), Dr Gilda Tachedjian (burnet Institute), Susan chong (Global Campaign for Microbicides) and Bridget Haire (AFAO).
Further information available at ARHA website microbicide page, or contact Tom Gosling
Shadow Minister will talk
about sex
Program details finalised for exciting event
Federal Labor MP Tanya Plibersek will open Let's Talk About Sex, ARHA's two-day gathering for young women, at The Centre, Randwick, in in Sydney on July 13. Ms Plibersek, Shadow Minister for Human Services, Housing, Women and Youth, will be one of more than 30 speakers and presenters including Senator Kerry Nettle, Australian Greens spokeswoman, who will present the keynote address. Kerry Brooks, columnist from the Courier Mail, Virgina Haussegger of the ABC and Dr Emma Rush of the Australia Institute will be among other well-known speakers. There will be three open forums, on sex education, media representations of women and sexuality, and policy and reform. |
An important aim of the gathering is to generate better sexual and reproductive health outcomes for young Australians by communicating their voices to federal and state policy-makers.
For more information email ywg@arha.org.au or visit the website www.arha.org.au/ywg
ARHA attends Pacific meeting
ARHA's CEO, Chris Richards, together with Robyn Parker of the NSW Parliament, recently attended a Pacific Parliamentary Meeting in Samoa.
The meeting was targeted at the Speakers of each Pacific Parliament, and its goal was to set up a Secretariat to service Parliamentary Groups on Population and Development in Parliaments in the Pacific.
A draft Constitution was passed, agreement for a Secretariat based at the South Pacific Commission was given, and the commitments made in the Suva Declaration on HIV/AIDS which had been prepared at the previous Pacific Parliamentarians meeting was reaffirmed as one of the priorities for the Parliamentary Groups to start work upon.
There was also agreement that our own Parliamentary Secretariat (PGPD) and NZ would offer mentoring and training for the newly formed Secretariat and that the three Secretariats would work closely together on issues that matter in the Pacific.
High cost of gender inequality
DISCRIMINATION against women is costing billions of dollars in the Asia-Pacific, according to a new UN repot.
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The report, Surging Ahead In Uncertain Times, was launched in April by the UN's Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). |
AUSTRALIAN NEWS CLIPS
'Uncivilised' abortion policy under fire
— ABC News, 30 May 2007
A group of 50 federal politicians from all parties has lashed out at the Federal Government's aid policy. The group, led by Liberal backbencher and GP Mal Washer, is pushing the Government to drop a condition that prevents Australian aid from being spent on abortion advice. >>>more
Abortion ban under fire
— The Sydney Morning Herald, 31 May 2007
A BAN ON aid money going to organisations that give advice on abortions should be dropped because it is leading to the deaths of women and increasing rates of HIV/AIDS, a group of cross party politicians has recommended. >>>more
Farewell to Christina Richards
ARHA's CEO, Christina Richards, who announced her resignation in a special bulletin to members in April, is leaving on 15 June "after a wonderful three years with many highlights personally and professionally for the organisation". The new CEO will commence on 16 July and a further announcement will be made shortly. |
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" For three years as CEO, Chris has redirected ARHA’s energies towards playing a greater advocacy role and this, of course, includes the work with the PGPD. Well done, Chris, we'll miss you and good luck for the future." Tributes were also paid to Chris's work by PGPD Deputy Chairs Lyn Allison and Claire Moore, and by former Chair Sharman Stone. ARHA President Heather Macdonald said that the effective working relationship developed between the Board and Chris over the past three years had achieved huge improvement in governance and administration policies that has created a highly professional body. "Chris has brought credibility and a heightened public profile to the ARHA over the time of her tenure that has better positioned the organisation to become a well respected and significant educational and advocacy body," she said."On behalf of the Board I would like to thank Chris sincerely for her sustained professional commitment to ARHA, for the vision she has shown in remodelling the organization, and to her demonstrated skill and ability as a passionate advocate for promoting reproductive health in both in Australia and the region."
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ARHA Mothers' Day luncheon
ARHA’s Mother’s Day Luncheon at NSW Parliament House was a great occasion and our most successful fundraising event to date. The President’s Dining Room was booked out with a full complement of 30 women, including mothers together with their daughters, to celebrate motherhood and support reproductive rights.
The crucial drawcard was ARHA patron and celebrated Australian feminist Wendy McCarthy AO, as guest speaker. Wendy’s presentation covered issues of motherhood and a recap on the achievements of the women’s movement in Australia but a highlight of the lunch was the heartfelt introduction made by Wendy’s daughter, Sophie McCarthy, which moved everyone in the room and was so fitting for the Mother’s Day theme.
Thanks to Wendy and Sophie McCarthy, along with parliamentary host, The Hon Robyn Parker MLC and Amanda Lopez, chair of ARHA’s fundraising committee, for making the lunch such a success.
SUPPORT
ARHA Our health, our lives, our planet, our future 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.
You can Join online or
phone us for a membership application form on (02) 62828922
If you are interested in volunteering your services to ARHA then please call Naomi Lee on 02 6282 8922. |
AUSTRALIAN NEWS CLIPS (Cont.)
Push to end abortion advice ban
— The Age, 31 May 2007
LIBERAL MP Mal Washer is leading a cross-party push to remove a ban on Australian aid workers giving advice on abortion. >>>more
Australia's cold heart
— The Courier Mail, 28 May 2007
AUSTRALIA will still be one of the least generous donors out of 22 of the world's richest countries by 2010 despite the Prime Minister's promise to boost aid to $4 billion by then, according to the body representing charities that provide overseas assistance. >>>more
Slow start for pregnancy counselling helpline
— ABC News - 17 May 2007
The chairman of the Federal Government's Pregnancy Counselling Advisory Committee says some people may have been put off calling a new helpline because of negative publicity. >>>more
2007-08 Australia's overseas aid program
— Reliefweb, 8 May 2007
The 2007-08 Budget is a watershed for the Government's aid programme and our largest ever investment in reducing poverty in our region. Australia will provide an estimated $3.2 billion in Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 2007-08, an increase over the 2006-07 budget ($3.0 billion). >>>more
Religion hits AIDS fight: Kirby
— The Canberra Times, 18 May 2007
Religion was disempowering the
UN's fight to stop the spread of
AIDS, High Court Justice Michael
Kirby said last night. >>>more
What is so wrong with truthful advertising?
— The Age, 1 May 2007
Pregnancy counselling services that charge a fee are prohibited from engaging in deceptive and misleading advertising. Those that offer free services can advertise them in any way they please in the phone book, on the web, in magazines and on posters placed in doctors' offices. >>>more
>>>more domestic news
INTERNATIONAL CLIPS
New US toolkit released to assess reproductive health care needs of women refugees
— Relief web, 31 May 2007
A new Reproductive Health Assessment Toolkit for Conflict-Affected Women has been developed by the US Centres for Disease Control as a response to the ongoing need for resources that assist health, medical and government officials in assessing the health status and needs of displaced women. >>>more
The expensive failure of Abstinence Education
— Alternet - 31 May 2007
Last month's resignation of Wade Horn, former assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and point man for conservative social policy, came just as support was crumbling and mistrust mounting for a costly and, many would argue, unsuccessful initiative -- abstinence education. >>>more
PNG faces AIDS epidemic
— BBC News, 14 May 2007
Papua New Guinea is on the verge of an Aids epidemic that could wipe out 40% of the adult population within 20 years, according to an Australian report.
>>>more
Ramos Horta looking forward to more aid
— The Sydney Morninger Herald, 21 May 2007
Australia is considering doubling its foreign aid to East Timor, the fledgling nation's new president says. Jose Ramos Horta, who was sworn in as president of the tiny island state, said he understood Australia was considering a massive aid boost, including trades training for hundreds of East Timorese students.
>>>more
Fuse on the 'population bomb' has been relit
— The Christian Science Monitor, 21 May 2007
Prospects for stabilizing the world's soaring population have taken a blow. This development, if not reversed, will have huge economic, environmental, and political impacts on most people alive today. >>>more
Statement at 60th World Health Assembly
— UNFPA announcement, 15 May 2007
Message of Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA >>>more
Rush for children stifles growth in E Timor
— The Telegraph (UK), 13 May 2007
High fertility is pushing an already fragile country deeper into trouble, said Hernando Agudelo, the UNFPA country representative in Dili. “People don’t understand the linkages between population and development. It’s not because you have more people that you are going to have more wealth. What you are making grow is the poorest of the poor.” >>>more
China warns on population growth
— BBC - 7 May 2007
China's top family planning body has warned of a "population rebound" as couples flout one child policy rules. The widening wealth gap could lead to a rise in birth rates, Zhang Weiqing, from the National Population and Family Planning Commission, told state media. >>>more
Youth prefer peer educators: Assifi
— Fiji Times Online, 12 May 2007
STUDIES conducted by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities indicates young people are more comfortable in getting information on unwanted pregnancy and HIV/AIDS from their peers, says Najib Assifi, the UNFPA representative for the Pacific. >>>more
>>>More International News
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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.
