past media summaries

October 1-15, 2009

PUSH JOURNAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS OCTOBER 1-15, 2009

TOP STORIES

Abortion Central To Reform Debate: Multiple media outlets reported and published op-eds, blogs and editorials October 1-15 on the continuing struggle over health care reform and the role of abortion politics in the debate. The Senate Finance Committee voted down a ban on subsidies to private plans that cover abortion services and the U.S. Catholic Bishops Conference renewed its call for a ban on public funding for abortion. USA Today reported that other components of the reform debate also have implications for women’s health, such as a ban on insurance companies charging women more for the same policies as men and a requirement that companies provide maternity coverage as part of their basic plans. “Advocates say the provisions would correct longstanding inequities and offer more coverage to women at lower costs,” the story said. Read: Scripps Howard, CNN, TIME, USA Today, Boston Globe, US News, The New York Times

Guttmacher Institute Reports on Global Abortion Trends: The Hill published a blog and The Guardian (UK) reported October 14, and the Associated Press reported October 13, on a finding by the Guttmacher Institute that increased contraceptive use has led to a decline in global abortions, but unsafe abortions continue to kill 70,000 women every year. In her blog, Guttmacher’s Director of Government Affairs Susan Cohen wrote, “The report provides new proof that abortion legality has much more to do with safety than incidence. Abortion rates correspond mostly to the rates of unintended pregnancy, which in turn correspond closely to rates of contraceptive use.” She urged the U.S. to lead in efforts to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Read: The Hill, The Guardian and Associated Press

UN General Assembly Commemorates ICPD 15th Anniversary: The Associated Press reported October 12 that the UN General Assembly commemorated the 15th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development, held in Cairo, Egypt, in 1994. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said the conference "grappled with some of the most sensitive issues of our day" and had endorsed gender equality; universal education, especially for girls; economic empowerment for women; and women’s right to choose if and when to become pregnant. Read: Associated Press

Conference Spotlights Dangers of Pregnancy, Childbirth: IPS reported October 5 and 9 and the Associated Press reported October 7 on the World Congress of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics in South Africa. Save the Children, the Gates Foundation and Johns Hopkins University reported there that more than two million mothers and babies die every year from complications of pregnancy and childbirth. Read: IPS, Associated Press, IPS

UN Leaders Urge Investment In Women: Xinhua reported October 9 and the Pakistan Times reported October 7 on remarks by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon urging governments around the world to increase investments in women’s and girls’ education and health. “Maintaining national commitments to children and women and enhancing social protection will not only help to ensure a more rapid recovery from the crisis but will also build a foundation for equitable growth and sustained progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),” Ban said. Monday Developments published a similar op-ed by UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid on October 5. Read: Xinhua, Pakistan Times and Monday Developments

OTHER NOTEWORTHY ARTICLES AND OPINIONS BY SUBJECT

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

“Last Chance” To Get MDG Funding Right: IPS reported October 14 that Jeffrey Sachs, special advisor to the U.N. secretary-general on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), warned a panel discussion on the MDGs that lack of progress is “a matter of implementation and scale-up of what we plan to do." He said, "This is our last chance to get this right." Read: IPS

India Reconsiders Phase-out of Traditional Birth Attendants: IPS reported October 13 that, facing persistent high rates of maternal mortality and a shortage in resources needed to train and employ enough skilled birth attendants, India is reconsidering its planned phase-out of untrained traditional birth attendants, in an effort to meet the Millennium Development Goal for maternal health. Read: IPS

UNFPA Advocates Investments in Latin American Youth: IPS published an interview October 12 with Marcela Suazo, regional director of UNFPA for Latin America and the Caribbean. She discussed the region’s progress on reproductive health issues since the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, and the importance of increasing investments in young people even during the recession, to sustain social gains. Read: IPS

In Cambodia, Alarming Maternal Deaths Require Mix of Solutions: IPS reported October 12 on Cambodia’s efforts to combat maternal mortality and other issues targeted by the MDGs, noting that a recent conference in Phnom Penh indicated that it would likely attain only three of the eight goals by 2015. Read: IPS

Abortion Opponents Discuss Tactics: The New York Times reported October 11 on anti-abortion “street activists” and their reasons for using tactics seen as harassment by many, and their marginalization by mainstream opponents to abortion rights. Read: The New York Times

Recession Drives Up Women’s Need For Medicaid: Women’s eNews reported October 8 that more women are seeking health care from Medicaid as a result of the recession, prompting women’s health advocates to underscore the need for a publicly-funded option in proposed health care reform. Read: Women’s eNews

Most Maternal Deaths Are From Treatable Causes: The Mark (Canada) published an op-ed October 8 by Member of Parliament Keith Martin, arguing that, with most maternal mortality due to treatable causes, the international community must increase efforts to improve maternal health. Read: The Mark

Dan Rather Discusses Women’s Rights With Half The Sky Authors: Dan Rather Reports featured a discussion October 6 between journalist Dan Rather and Half the Sky authors Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn. Their book explores women’s rights and health around the world.

In Abortion Rights Fight, Words Matter: Newsweek published a commentary by Sarah Kliff reflecting on the power of language choice in her reporting on abortion issues. “In conversations about abortion, no word is just a word. The titles ‘abortionist’ and ’abortion doctor,’ for example, have markedly different connotations. They have the power to end a discussion (among people with dissimilar views) or push it forward (among people who agree) in ways that, it turns out, are not always easy to foresee.” Read: Newsweek

Abortion Opponents Push For “Fetal Rights:” The Chicago Tribune reported October 4 that abortion opponents are campaigning in 30 states for legislation to grant full “personhood” status to fertilized eggs. Read: Chicago Tribune

UN To Appoint Special Representative on Sexual Violence: The Chattanooga Times Free Press published an op-ed by Woodrow Wilson School of Foreign Service President Steven W. Barnes on October 11 and Voice of America reported October 1 on the UN Security Council’s approval of a resolution to address sexual violence, in part by establishing the position of Special Representative on Sexual Violence. Read: Voice of America

Pew Poll Shows Mixed American Attitudes on Abortion: U.S. News published a blog by Jodie Allen October 6 and the Washington Post published a column by Jon Cohen October 1 interpreting a recent Pew poll that seemed to indicate a shift in favor of more restrictions on abortion rights. Read: U.S. News and Washington Post

Series Evaluates Maternal Health Situation In Ethiopia: The Huffington Post published a five-part series by World Editor Hanna Ingber Win September 29–October 3 on her trip to Ethiopia, sponsored by UNFPA, to report on maternal health in the country. Read: Huffington Post (Part 5 – October 3) Huffington Post (Part 4- October 2) Huffington Post (Part 3 - October 1), Huffington Post (Part 2 – September 30), Huffington Post (Part 1 – September 29)

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past media summaries