past media summaries

January 1-15, 2010

PUSH JOURNAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS JANUARY 1 – 15, 2010

TOP STORIES

Clinton Marks U.S. Commitment to Health, Rights in Foreign Policy: Multiple media outlets reported and published op-eds editorials, and blogs January 7-15 on two speeches by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton voicing the United States’ renewed commitments to health and economic development in U.S. foreign policy. As she commemorated the fifteenth anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), which established reproductive health and rights as priorities for economic development, Clinton declared, “In the Obama Administration, we are convinced of the value of investing in women and girls, and we understand there is a direct line between a woman’s reproductive health and her ability to lead a productive, fulfilling life.” Read: Post-Standard, The Hill, State Department, IPS, Huffington Post, Voice of America

UNFPA Sends Supplies to Pregnant Women After Haiti Earthquake: Xinhua (China) reported January 15 on efforts by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, to provide reproductive health supplies, particularly to pregnant women, in Haiti following the devastating January 12 earthquake. Read: Xinhua

OTHER NOTEWORTHY ARTICLES AND OPINIONS BY SUBJECT

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Meeting Focuses on Reproductive Health In Asia/Pacific: The Jakarta Post reported January 13 that UNFPA and the Asian Forum of Parliamentarians on Population and Development (AFPPD) met in Bali, Indonesia, to address reproductive health problems in the region, particularly the high levels of maternal mortality in several countries, including Indonesia. The conference also addressed the role of the media in raising reproductive health issues in public discussion. Read: Jakarta Post (a) Jakarta Post (b)

Defense in Murder Trial Worries Reproductive Rights Advocates: The Guardian reported January 13 and CNN reported January 11 that jury selection was delayed in the trial of Scott Roeder, who is charged with the murder of Dr. George Tiller. The judge in the trial indicated that he would consider allowing the jury to convict Roeder, who has never disputed his guilt, of voluntary manslaughter on the grounds that he honestly believed that his actions were justifiable. "This is absolutely insane," said Charlotte Taft, director of the Abortion Care Network, which represents about 70 independent clinics. "This ruling opens the door to the potential of more violence, by suggesting that there might be justification for what is in reality cold-blooded murder." Read: CNN

Difficult Year for Reproductive Rights Advocates: The Washington Post reported on developments in the ongoing struggle over women’s access to safe and legal abortion in the United States, including the May 2009 murder of Dr. George Tiller, an abortion provider in Kansas, efforts to establish “personhood” amendments, and the passage of the Stupak Amendment, which would restrict women’s access to abortion services under proposed health care reform. Read: Washington Post

Fighting FGM/C in Africa: The New Times (Rwanda) published a column by Frank Kanyesigye on January 8 discussing the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting in Africa, and calling for the elimination of the practice. “Fighting against female genital mutilation is a mandate not only because it's a disgusting act but because it's deliberated onto girls and women and destroys their basic right to live,” wrote Mr. Kanyesigye. Read: The New Times

Opinion Writer Calls for Debate On Abortion Restrictions in Nigeria: The New Vision published an opinion by Irene Nabusoba January 5, calling for open debate on the country’s abortion laws. Nabusoba argued that the country’s ban on most abortions makes women vulnerable to incompetent providers and subject to unnecessary risks, but the procedure “is already legal going by provisions of the penal code to 'save the life and health of a mother.' Hence, who will start the abortion debate if our legislators avoid it in fear of controversy? At least I have.” Read: The New Vision

South Korea Confronts Open Secret of Abortion: The New York Times reported January 5 on growing pressure on South Korean doctors surrounding illegal abortions. The procedure is common, but, in most cases, illegal. The combined influence of Christian doctors opposed to the procedure on religious grounds and government officials concerned with the country’s low fertility rate are creating new public pressure on doctors too stop providing abortion services, and a potential revision of the country’s Mother and Child Health Law. Read: The New York Times

Access to Reproductive Health Care Saves Lives in Guinea-Bissau: Xinhua (China) reported December 30 that UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, has found that its work is helping to save lives. With 98 out of 114 health centers in Guinea-Bissau now offering family planning services, around 10 percent of women use contraception which -- while low -- is an improvement, said Antonieta Martins, UNFPA adviser to the Ministry of Health. Read: Xinhua

Use of Emergency Contraceptives Increases in India: The Washington Post reported January 2 on the increased use of the “I-pill,” the contraceptive marketed in the United States as Plan,” which can prevent pregnancy up to 72 hours after unprotected intercourse. The pill is widely available in India, and, unlike previous public discussions involving contraception, has drawn concern over overuse from health care providers, but little public opposition from politically conservative groups. "In India, it's almost like girls are gulping I-pills," said Yash Bala, a gynecologist outside New Delhi. "The biggest problem with this is that girls are not concerned about whether their partner uses a condom." Read: Washington Post

Abortion Provision Continues to Jeopardize Health Reform Efforts: Multiple media outlets reported and published op-eds, editorials and blogs January 1-15 on the Congressional debate over health care reform as key provisions regarding abortion funding and the creation of a publicly funded insurance option remained in flux. Articles focused on the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits the use of federal funds for abortion services. Reproductive rights advocate Frances Kissling argued, “Not concentrating on overturning Hyde was arguably the worst decision the mainstream choice movement made.” Read: RHRealityCheck.org, Washington Post,  Bellingham Herald, Huffington Post, The New York Times, Morning Call, Alternet

Women’s Equality

Spain Calls for EU-Wide System to Track, Prevent Gender Violence: The Guardian (UK)reported January 8 that as Spain took the presidency of the European Union, it began a campaign to coordinate laws, enforcement, and crime statistics on gender and sexual violence, particularly intimate partner violence, throughout the European Union. New measures would include the establishment of a restraining order that would apply throughout the EU, special police units charged with combating gender-based violence and a system to track statistics on gender-based violence throughout the EU. Read: The Guardian

Women Play Critical Role in Addressing Climate Change: The Jakarta Post (Indonesia) published an op-ed by Lynda K. Wardhani, a PhD candidate at the Australian Demographic and Social Research Institute at Australian National University, highlighting the findings of UNFPA’s 2009 State of the World Population Report, which focused on the interconnections of climate change, gender relations, population dynamics and women’s lives. Read: The Jakarta Post

--
 
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.

past media summaries