past media summaries

December 16-31, 2009

PUSH JOURNAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS December 16 - 31, 2009

TOP STORIES

Senate Restricts Abortion Restrictions in Health Care Reform Bill:  Multiple media outlets reported and published blogs, op-eds, editorials and columns December 16-31 on the role of abortion in the ongoing health care reform debate. The Senate passed legislation December 24 that would require health insurance companies receiving federal subsidies to charge separate premiums for abortion services and allowing states to enact more stringent regulations. The Catholic Health Association, which represents Catholic hospitals around the country, voiced support for the bill in an apparent split with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which opposed it in favor of the House’s stricter version. Many abortion rights supporters, including the Planned Parenthood Association of America, opposed both Senate and House versions.Read: Bangor Daily News, The New York Times (December 26), Boston Globe, Washington Post, Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, US News, ABC, The New York Times (December 16), The Hilland Detroit Free Press 

Spending Bill Funds Sexuality Education, Family Planning: The Washington Post reported December 27 and RHRealityCheck.org published a blog December 16 by Rachel Larris reporting that the 2010 Omnibus Appropriations bill passed by Congress withdraws federal funding for abstinence-only sexuality education in the United States and direct funds to evidence-based programs instead. However, abstinence-only advocates continued to lobby for funds to be included in health care reform legislation. The spending bill also increased funding for family planning programs abroad, reinstated U.S. funding for UNFPA, and reversed a ban on the use of public funds for abortion services in the District of Columbia. Read: Washington Post and RHRealityCheck.org

OTHER NOTEWORTHY ARTICLES AND OPINIONS BY SUBJECT

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Lawmaker Sees Impending End to Practice of FGM/C In Uganda: The New Vision published an interview December 19 with Kinkizi East MP Dr. Chris Baryomunsi, who sponsored a recently approved ban on female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) in Uganda. Dr. Baryomunsi declared, “The law was demanded by the communities where FGM is practised and, therefore, implementation and enforcement will be easy since the communities appreciate the law.” Read: The New Vision

Editorial Urges Japan To Address Climate/Population Link: The Japan Times published an editorial December 19 urging the Japanese government to consider the 2009 State of the World Population report by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, which “stresses the importance of empowering people - especially women, who must adapt to the changes caused by climate change and to the policies developed to mitigate climate change.” Read: The Japan Times  

Oklahoma Abortion Registry Delayed: NPR reported December 18 that abortion rights supporters in Oklahoma filed a court challenge to a new state regulation requiring health care providers to collect detailed personal information on women seeking abortions, for publication on a state government Web site. Read: NPR

ABC Details Results of Sexual Health Knowledge Survey: ABC’s Good Morning America featured, on December 15, a group discussion with young people and an ABC medical correspondent on young people’s sexual health knowledge and ways parents can discuss sexuality and reproductive health issues with their children. The discussion noted a recent report finding that many young people have low levels of knowledge and contraceptive use.

Women’s Equality

Child Marriage Ban Faces Opposition in Yemen: The Washington Times reported December 24 that Yemen’s Parliament passed a bill setting a minimum age for marriage, but it has been blocked by conservative religious leaders. Read: Washington Times

In South Sudan, Women Reinforce Patriarchal Norms: IPS reported December 17 that women in South Sudan face entrenched barriers to claiming equal rights with men. "Sadly, women are not helpless victims of these circumstances, but active agents in perpetuating this culture. Even where the stability of the home lies squarely on the woman, she still perceives herself as inadequate for roles traditionally deemed suited for men," said Flora Iliha Matia, vice-chairperson of the Women's Union of Torit County in Eastern Equatoria state. Read: IPS

past media summaries