ARHA E-Newsletter

ARHA's campaign helped in achieving the positive outcome in the Repeal of Ministerial Responsibility for Approval of RU486 Bill. Please read our press release.

You can read the various speeches made in the Lower House on the second reading of the Bill here.

Minority View Confirmed

The final outcome of the RU486 vote confirmed the results of the previous Newspoll commissioned by ARHA in which we found that 68% of Australians supported the use of RU486 under the supervision of a qualified medical practitioner.

The result also reaffirms that those opposing abortion/ RU486 are part of a vocal, well funded minority, as various Australian public opinion polls illustrated. These polls are summarised in the ARHA flyer What Do Australians Think About Abortion?

Senators Kerry Nettle, Judith Troeth, Claire Moore, Fiona Nash with Get Up representative and Dr Leslie Cannold presenting the RU486 Get Up petition prior to the Senate vote.

New Academic Reproductive Health E-Network

ARHA and GenderHealth at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) are establishing a new academic e-network called Asia Pacific Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (APSRHM). It is designed to be a platform for academics and health professionals to post notices of conferences, calls for papers, seminars and events on Sexual & Reproductive Health in the Asia-Pacific region.

Ultimately the E-network aims to increase Australia's presence and expertise at major international conferences as well as provide a vehicle for academics to learn of the work currently being undertaken in the region on sexual and reproductive health in a range of development settings.

If anyone is interested in joining this new e-network please email apsrhm@arha.org.au

Women's Organisations Receiving Less Funding

As Women's E-news reported this month many small women's organisations have been losing funding over the past five years.

The article stated that between 1999 and 2003 less than 1% of total annual ODA given by members of the OECD went to projects that had gender equality as a primary goal.

The article also quoted an Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) study, 'Addressing Financial Stability: Key Challenges and Opportunities for Transnational Women’s Rights Organizations,' which also found declining support for women's rights programs.

Of special note, the study found that geographic proximity to funders was key to accessing funds. Groups that are not based in the U.S. or Europe were finding it increasingly difficult to find money for reproductive and sexual rights and health issues not related to HIV.

International Women's Day was observed on the 8 March. Read ARHA's press release.


Bulletin 11 March 2006 Welcome to the ARHA e-newsletter, providing updates on ARHA news and activities, as well as the latest news on population & development and sexual & reproductive health.
Dear All, ARHA's campaign helped in achieving the positive outcome in the Repeal of Ministerial Responsibility for Approval of RU486 Bill. Please read our press release. You can read the various speeches made in the Lower House on the second reading of the Bill here. Minority View Confirmed The final outcome of the RU486 vote confirmed the results of the previous Newspoll commissioned by ARHA in which we found that 68% of Australians supported the use of RU486 under the supervision of a qualified medical practitioner. The result also reaffirms that those opposing abortion/ RU486 are part of a vocal, well funded minority, as various Australian public opinion polls illustrated. These polls are summarised in the ARHA flyer What Do Australians Think About Abortion? Senators Kerry Nettle, Judith Troeth, Claire Moore, Fiona Nash with Get Up representative and Dr Leslie Cannold presenting the RU486 Get Up petition prior to the Senate vote. New Academic Reproductive Health E-Network ARHA and GenderHealth at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) are establishing a new academic e-network called Asia Pacific Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (APSRHM). It is designed to be a platform for academics and health professionals to post notices of conferences, calls for papers, seminars and events on Sexual & Reproductive Health in the Asia-Pacific region. Ultimately the E-network aims to increase Australia's presence and expertise at major international conferences as well as provide a vehicle for academics to learn of the work currently being undertaken in the region on sexual and reproductive health in a range of development settings. If anyone is interested in joining this new e-network please email apsrhm@arha.org.au Women's Organisations Receiving Less Funding As Women's E-news reported this month many small women's organisations have been losing funding over the past five years. The article stated that between 1999 and 2003 less than 1% of total annual ODA given by members of the OECD went to projects that had gender equality as a primary goal. The article also quoted an Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) study, 'Addressing Financial Stability: Key Challenges and Opportunities for Transnational Women’s Rights Organizations,' which also found declining support for women's rights programs. Of special note, the study found that geographic proximity to funders was key to accessing funds. Groups that are not based in the U.S. or Europe were finding it increasingly difficult to find money for reproductive and sexual rights and health issues not related to HIV. INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY (IWD) International Women's Day was observed on the 8 March. Read ARHA's press release. Other IWD statements and press releases: UNFPA statement Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director International Partnership for Microbicides Statement CEO, Dr. Zeda Rosenberg Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Statement Director-General UPCOMING INTERNATIONAL EVENTS Commission on Human Rights (CHR) 15 March - 23 April Commission on Population and Development (CPD) 3-7 April DOMESTIC NEWS Time to Aid Poorer Women's Struggle Sydney Morning Herald — Stephanie Peatling — March 9 WOMEN politicians have a responsibility to do more to help their counterparts in developing countries, the newly appointed Minister for Women, Julie Bishop, has said. While women in countries such as Australia still faced challenges, Ms Bishop said she wanted to draw more attention to women in developing countries. "That's where we have more of a role to play," she said in a speech to mark International Women's Day yesterday... Women Need Counseling, Not Coercion The Age — By Leslie Cannold — March 6, 2006 ANYONE who followed the debate on RU486, and understood the complex politics surrounding it, knew it was coming: a quid pro quo for the Health Minister to soften the blow of losing his powers to deny Australian women access to RU486... Decriminalising Abortion an Option The Australian — AAP — 4 March A VICTORIAN Labor government would consider decriminalising abortion, but Premier Steve Bracks has moved to shut down debate on the issue until after the next state election. State Labor MP Carolyn Hirsh had been considering introducing a private members bill this year to remove abortion from the Crimes Act, but she backed down after pressure from the Premier...	DIRECTOR OF IPPF TO VISIT Dr Steve Sinding, the Director General of International Planned Parenthood Foundation, will be in Canberra and Sydney on the 27-29 March. SH&FPA and ARHA are co-hosting his visit which includes a meeting with The Hon. Teresa Gambaro MP, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Dr Sharman Stone chairperson of the Parliamentary Group on Population and Development (PGPD), the NSW state PGPD, the Director-General of AUSAID and UNIFEM. There will also be an NGO forum "Where’s the Sex in the MDGs? Linking Sexual & Reproductive Health, HIV & Poverty" on March 28 held at ANU, for further details click here. All are welcome to attend. AWARD WINNERS Congratulations to one of ARHA's patrons, Marie Coleman, who was awarded the Women's Award by the ACT State government on International Women's Day for a significant and sustained contribution in advocating for women’s rights. Her contributions have included the establishment of Women’s History Month and the Australian Reproductive Health Alliance. Congratulations also goes to Professor Jock Findlay AM, an ARHA member, who was awarded the UK Society for Reproduction and Fertility Distinguished Scientist Award for 2006. Professor Findlay is the only Australian to have won this award which honours his contribution to reproduction and fertility research. COMISSION oN tHE STATUS oF WOMEN (CSW) 27 February -10 March 2006 The 50th session of the Commission on the Status of Women agreed on the following two conclusions: Enhanced participation of women in development Equal participation of women and men in decision-making processes at all levels CSW News: No Tool For Development More Effective Than Empowerment Of Women No Economic Growth Without Women's Rights, UN Says UN Women's Meet Targets AIDS, Armed Conflict Statement on CSW by UNFPA INTERNATIONAL NEWS Women Senators Switch Aid Focus to Health March 18 — SMH AUSTRALIA'S aid program must be overhauled and more funding given to health care, say the four women senators behind the RU486 debate. Sex education and reproductive rights should be emphasised, they say. The existing aid program is too narrowly focused on security and governance in neighbouring countries such as East Timor and Papua New Guinea, according to a submission sent to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer... PNG Catholics Object to Condom Call March 14 — AAP Papua New Guinea's Catholic Church says a government minister's call for churches to fully support condom use to combat HIV/AIDS is asking them to ignore their beliefs. Lands Minister Dr Puka Temu, who is assisting the prime minister on HIV/AIDS, told an HIV prevention summit in Port Moresby last week that church groups should put aside their "religious and moral biases" and give 100 per cent support to condom use. But Bishop Francesco Sarego, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference in PNG, said Temu was asking those in the churches to act against their consciences... Shame and Pain Torment Fistula Sufferers March 3 — Inter Press Service — Italy UNITED NATIONS - Obstetric fistula is a preventable and treatable injury caused by several days of obstructed labour, without timely medical intervention. But the consequences of the pervasive disability are life shattering -- the baby usually dies, and the woman is left with chronic incontinence... A Vaginal Gel May Help Prevent AIDS - New Study February 11— United Press International A drug given orally to treat HIV is also safe if used as vaginal gel and could prevent the sexual transmission of HIV, says a U.S. study. Researchers at the Miriam Hospital and Brown Medical School found the microbicide vaginal gel tenofovir produced mild or no side effects in both HIV positive and HIV negative women... DONATE TO ARHA Please visit our new online donation page. Your contributions will help us continue our work. JOIN ARHA Now you can join online... Becoming a member of ARHA will enable you to be kept up to date with current issues concerning Reproductive Health and Development in Australian and Internationally. You will have the benefit of: Monthly e-bulletins Invitations to our events Access to our library Mail outs on the latest information on S&RH and population issues Opportunity to contribute to our Campaigns Join Now