past media summaries

November 16-30, 2009

PUSH JOURNAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS NOVEMBER 16-30, 2009

TOP STORIES

UNFPA Reports on the State of World Population: Multiple media outletsreported and published op-eds November 18-28 on the 2009 State of World Population Report by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. The report shows that climate change is more than an issue of energy efficiency or industrial carbon emissions, but that it is also an issue of population dynamics, poverty and gender equity. Released in more than 100 world capitals in anticipation of the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, the report shifts the climate change debate from abstractions and technical science to the realities of the ways that individuals and the world’s population influence and are affected by climate change. It also shows the disproportionate impact of climate change on women worldwide. UNFPA Executive Director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid said, "Our future as humanity depends on unleashing the full potential of all human beings, and the full capacity of women, to bring about change." Read: AFP, Christian Science Monitor, AFP, Associated Press, BBC, IPS (a.), IPS (b.), and Radio Australia

Abortion Remains Central To Healthcare Debate: Multiple media outlets reported and published op-eds, editorials and blogs November 16-30 on the persistent struggle over funding for abortion services in healthcare reform legislation. The House of Representatives passed strong restrictions on insurance coverage of abortion and the Senate voted to move a less restrictive version closer to a vote. "At least it will be a fully engaged debate on both sides," said Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, as abortion rights supporters and opponents mobilized around the Senate bill. "It really wasn't, the first time around. It was a midnight deal." Read: Read: The New York Times (November 29), The Oregonian, Wall Street Journal, The New York Times (November 25), Capital Times, The Plain Dealer, The New York Times (November 24), Huffington Post, Associated Press, Ms. Magazine, Washington Post, CNNand Los Angeles Times

International Conference Highlights Research, Best Practices; New U.S. Family Planning Funds: AFP (France), Xinhua (China) and GNA (Ghana) reported November 16-19 on an international family planning conference in Kampala, Uganda, where participants praised the announcement of $12 million in new U.S. funding for family planning in Africa. "I think that what we can see now is the new administration going forward in an integrated way," said Janet Jackson of UNFPA. Read: AFP, Xinhua and GNA

OTHER NOTEWORTHY ARTICLES AND OPINIONS BY SUBJECT

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

UNFPA Highlights Limited Reproductive Health Resources: The Fiji Times reported November 24 on a regional symposium on population and development in Asia and the Pacific, which highlighted adolescents’ lack of access to reproductive health information and services. Read: Fiji Times

Marking 15 Years Since ICPD, “Glass Half Full:” IPS featured an interview November 23 with Purnima Mane, deputy executive director of UNFPA, reflecting on international commitments to women’s rights, including the Programme of Action from the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). “I am dumbfounded that maternal deaths (estimated at 527,000 in 1990) are pretty much the same [now]. I had thought the subject of women was more attractive and would get more attention. Everybody wants to help children, but not their mothers,” said Mane. Read: IPS

In Tanzania, Contraceptive Access Criticized: The Guardian (UK) reported November 22 on the challenges related to cost, method, and social norms facing women in Tanzania who seek contraceptives. It noted the urgent importance of surmounting these barriers to provide reliable contraceptives to women who want them. Read: The Guardian

Guidelines On Pap Tests, Mammograms Draw Criticism: CNN reported November 20 on new guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommending fewer pap tests, which screen for cervical cancer, and the Boston Herald published a column by Margery Eagan on November 19 attacking similar new guidelines on mammograms. In both cases, advisory groups said, later and less frequent screenings for most women could avoid unnecessary and potentially harmful treatments. Read: CNN and Boston Herald

UNICEF State of the World’s Children Underscores Maternal Health: Xinhua (China) reported November 20 on the release of UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children report for 2009. UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman, noting sluggish progress toward MDG 5, which seeks improvement in maternal health, spoke on the important links between maternal and child health. Read: Xinhua

Afghan Family Planning Program Seeks Mullahs’ Support: The New York Times reported November 15 on an effort supported by Marie Stopes International and led by Afghan women community health workers to promote family planning in Afghanistan, where high fertility contributes to one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates. Syed Wasem Massoom, a mullah who led one training, underscored the importance of involving religious leaders: “This is an Islamic country,” he said. “If the clerics support this, no one will oppose it.” Read: The New York Times

Women’s Equality

 Day to End Violence Against Women Marked: The Associated Press reported November 24 on the commemoration of the 10th International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon called for creation of a Network of Men Leaders to act as role models in the global campaign to end the “pandemic" of violence against women. Read: Associated Press

Member of Congress Supports Global Violence Against Women Act: The Boston Globe published an op-ed November 28 by Bill Delahunt, a Massachusetts Democrat and chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Oversight Subcommittee, calling for passage of the Global Violence Against Women Act. He wrote, “As a nation, we need to realize that we can do something about violence against women around the world. Passage of the act will not only save lives, but will improve US security at the same time.” Read: Boston Globe

Guatemala Moves Slowly Against Rapes: The Christian Science Monitor reported November 20 on the Guatemalan government’s slow progress in addressing widespread rapes and other forms of gender-based violence. Patricia Parra, chief of mission for Doctors Without Borders in Guatemala, said, "We’re seeing conflict-level violence against women in what is supposedly a post-conflict country." Read: Christian Science Monitor

Journalists Spotlight Congo Victims Of Gender-Based Violence: NPR featured an interview November 16 with Chouchou Namegabe, a radio journalist who, in the midst of an epidemic of sexual and gender-based violence, has traveled through the most dangerous places in Congo to talk to rape survivors and make their voices heard. Read: NPR

The above summary is produced by the Communications Consortium Media Center, 401 Ninth Street NW, Suite 450, Washington DC 20004, 202.326.8700. Redistribution is encouraged with credit to CCMC.

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past media summaries