past media summaries

September 1-15, 2009

PUSH JOURNAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS SEPTEMBER 1-15, 2009

TOP STORIES

Global NGO Forum Aims to Strengthen Partnerships, Advance Sexual And Reproductive Health: Multiple outlets reported and published interviews and blogs September 2-10 on Global Partners in Action: NGO Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Development, a conference in Berlin, Germany, hosted by the German government and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. The forum of about 400 delegates was preceded by a youth summit, where leaders under 30 called for cultural, legal and political changes to confront stigma and promote reproductive health. During the forum, NGOs called for more funding for women’s health as way to lift families and communities out of poverty. "Funding for the delivery of the programs that came out of (the Cairo conference) has not kept pace with the promises, but nevertheless there have been some dramatic changes and improvements and advances," said Dr. Gill Greer, a conference organizer and director general of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, in an interview. Read: IPS, DAWN(Pakistan), RHRealityCheck.org, Associated Press, AFP(France), The Nation (Pakistan), IPS, RHRealityCheck.org

Reproductive Health and Health Care Reform: Multiple media outlets reported and published blogs and op-eds on reproductive health issues and the ongoing struggle for health care reform September 1-15. In an address to a joint session of Congress, President Barack Obama reiterated the point that federal money would not be used to fund abortions, while abortion rights opponents continued to push for an absolute ban on such use. Concerned that the issue would derail overall reform, Planned Parenthood of America president Cecile Richards wrote, “The truth is that advocates for women's health care, including Planned Parenthood, are focused on achieving affordable, quality health care for all and ensuring that women's broad health needs are met through reform.” Read: U.S. News(September 14), Denver Post, Salon, Baltimore Sun, CNS News, LA Times, U.S. News(September 9), RHRealityCheck.org, RHRealityCheck.organd The American Prospect

U.N. Approves Long-Awaited Women’s Agency: IPS and Reuters reported September 14 that the U.N. General Assembly had voted to establish a specialized agency to address women’s needs and gender issues. The agency, expected to be created in 2010, will be headed by an under-secretary general, the third highest-ranking position in the U.N. system, and will consolidate four existing gender-focused bodies. Read: IPSand Reuters

OTHER NOTEWORTHY ARTICLES AND OPINIONS BY SUBJECT

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Report Links Population Growth and Climate Change: The Washington Post reported September 15 on a report by the London School of Economics, sponsored by the British nonprofit Optimum Population Trust, asserting that expanded use of birth control is essential to curbing climate change. Read: Washington Post

Report Advocates Free Care to Combat Maternal, Infant Mortality: AFP reported September 14 on a study by Oxfam and 62 other non-governmental organizations and health groups of the causes of persistent high rates of maternal and infant mortality around the world. "If free health care had been introduced in 2000 when world leaders promised to reduce child mortality by two-thirds, the lives of more than two million children could have been saved by now," said Jasmine Whitbread, chief executive of Save the Children. Read: AFP

UN Guide On Sexuality Education Draws Conservative Opposition: The New York Times reported September 4 that a draft set of guidelines on sexuality education has drawn fire from conservatives. “In the absence of a vaccine for AIDS, education is the only vaccine we have,” responded Mark Richmond, UNESCO’s global coordinator for HIV and AIDS. Read: The New York Times

Operation Can Mitigate Effects of FGM/C: CNN reported September 2 on a surgical reconstructive technique pioneered by a French doctor, Pierre Foldes, who claims it allows 72 to 75 percent of genital-cutting victims to regain normal sexuality after 18 months. He has performed the procedure on some 3,000 women in France. Read: CNN

Abortion Stigma, Fear Influence Doctors’ Choices: The Washington Post reported September 1 that stigma and fear related to abortion are influencing young doctors’ choices of whether to learn and practice the procedure. The vast majority of providers are now from an older generation that had first-hand experience with the effects of unsafe, illegal abortions. Read: Washington Post

Kenya Project Keeps Tradition Alive Without FGM/C: IRIN reported August 31 that as members of Kenya’s Meru community become aware of the physical risks associated with female genital mutilation/circumcision, the practice is fading. An increasing number of girls participate instead in an alternative rite of passage run by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Meru and Catholic Relief Services. Read: IRIN

Women’s Equality

Obama Administration Pushes Women’s Issues: USA Today reported September 14 on President Barack Obama’s work to promote women’s rights. Feminist Majority Foundation President Eleanor Smeal, a women's rights activist for four decades, said, "In the first six months, we have been brought in more than ever before. … It's very impressive." Read: USA Today

Half The Sky Highlights Women’s Empowerment: Women’s eNews featured an excerpt September 14 andreported September 3 on Half the Sky, a new book by New York Times reporters Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn on the global need for women’s empowerment. The excerpt highlighted the work of 34 Million Friends of UNFPA co-founders Jane Roberts and Lois Abraham. Read: Women’s eNews (September 14) and Women’s eNews (September 3)

G-8 Confers in Rome On Violence Against Women: ANSA reported September 9 on the opening of a meeting of leaders of the world’s eight most developed economies to address violence against women. Read: ANSA

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past media summaries