past media summaries

July 1-15, 2010

PUSH JOURNAL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS July 1-15, 2010

TOP STORIES

World Population Day Celebrated: Multiple media outlets reported and published op-eds July 8-12 on commemorations of World Population Day around the world. World Population Day is celebrated every year and highlights a different theme chosen by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. This year, the theme “Everyone Counts” drew attention to the role that censuses play in informing government policies. Read: Daily Observer, Business Recorder, Xinhua, The New Vision, IPS

“UN Women” Agency Receives Final Approval: McClatchy reported July 8 and IPS reported July 1 that the UN granted final approval to a measure to consolidate four of its agencies that address gender issues into a single body, to be known as UN Women. Read: McClatchy and IPS

OTHER NOTEWORTHY ARTICLES AND OPINIONS BY SUBJECT

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Cash to Reduce Maternal Deaths: The Washington Post reported July 15 on a government effort to reduce maternal deaths in rural India by improving the quality of care for women during labor and increasing the number of women delivering in health facilities. Community health workers known as Ashas provide cash incentives and educate women and families on the benefits of delivering in health facilities. Read: Washington Post

Editorial Supports Thai Bill to Support Teen Mothers: The Nation published an opinion piece by Tulsathit Taptim July 14 in support of a bill to provide financial support for teen mothers to finish their schooling. Read: The Nation

Rapid Population Growth Stresses Uganda’s Environment: The New Vision reported July 7 that Uganda’s rapid population growth and urbanization are two of the dynamics that place stress on the health and well-being of the country’s citizens and environment. Read: The New Vision

Advocates Call for Over-the-Counter Birth Control: Newsweek reported July 7 that a group of U.S. women’s health researchers and advocates want oral contraceptives to be available without a prescription. The Oral Contraceptive Over-the-Counter Working Group plans to submit a proposal for lifting the prescription requirement to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by the end of the year. Read: Newsweek
Health Care Reform Assists Pregnant Women: CNN published a blog July 2 by Dan Gilgoff on an initiative to provide $25 million in federal funds for states’ assistance to pregnant women and adolescent parents. The Department of Health and Human Services announced, “The Pregnancy Assistance Fund is a competitive grant program established by the Affordable Care Act to assist women who have decided to carry their pregnancies to term and those who are parenting." Read: CNN

Philippine Reproductive Health Bill Could be Revived: The Philippine Inquirer reported July 7 on a bill that would require the government to support numerous reproductive health actions, including scientifically-based education on family planning, provision of contraceptives and treatment for all reproductive health-related conditions. Read: The Philippine Inquirer

Sex Workers No Problem During World Cup: NPR reported July 7 that expected increases in the number of voluntary sex workers in South Africa and the incidence of sex trafficking did not materialize as expected during the World Cup games. Read: NPR

Health Insurers May Provide Contraceptives at No Cost: The Washington Post reported July 6 that as the United States’ recently-approved health care reform legislation goes into effect, contraceptives may be classified as preventive services and provided at no cost. Read: Washington Post

FGM/C Persists in Iraq: The Guardian (UK) reported July 5 that numerous studies have found female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) still common among Kurdish communities in Northern Iraq. Despite two decades of campaigns against the practice, 23 percent of girls under the age of 13 and 45 percent of girls 14 to 18 have undergone it. Read: The Guardian

Pregnancy Simulator Could Help Midwives Save Lifes: The Washington Post reported July 6 on a low-cost pregnancy-simulation device that will soon be mass-produced by Laerdal Medical to assist in training midwives to recognize and respond to complications during labor and childbirth. Read: Washington Post

Study Finds 35-Minute Intervention Helps Sex Workers Avoid STIs: Asian News International reported July 2 that researchers in California and Mexico have found that sex workers participating in a program called Safe Woman/Mujer Segura substantially reduced their risk of contracting STIs, including HIV/AIDS, following as little as one 35-minute intervention. Read: Asian News International

Improving Maternal Health in Uganda Despite Shortage of Beds: Africa News reported July 2 on the situation at a rural health facility, where a shortage of beds means that women often have to sleep in shifts after giving birth. Efforts are underway to improve access to family planning and maternal health services and install solar panels and other equipment at the clinic, which is served by bicycle taxi. Read: Africa News

Scientists Test Pill to Prevent HIV and Pregnancy: The Herald Sun (Australia) reported July 1 on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation announcement that it would fund researchers testing a contraceptive that also protects against HIV/AIDS. Guiying Nie of the Prince Henry Institute of Medical Research said the drug, which could come in either pill or gel form, would work by blocking the PC6 enzyme, which plays a role in both pregnancy and HIV transmission.

Judge Hears Challenge to Nebraska’s Extreme Abortion Restrictions: CNBC reported June 30 that a federal judge was set to hear a legal challenge to a Nebraska law requiring women to undergo mental health screenings as a prerequisite for obtaining an abortion. Read: CNBC

Australia State Targets Unnecessary C-Sections: The Sydney Morning Herald reported July 1 that the Australian state of New South Wales launched a five-year campaign to reduce the high rate of caesarean sections. Read: The Sydney Morning Herald

In Uganda, Fidelity Again Fights HIV/AIDS: IRIN reported June 30 on opinions of Uganda’s renewed effort to fight HIV/AIDS by promoting sexual fidelity. Read: IRIN

Women’s Equality

Columnist Spotlights Human Trafficking: The New York Times published a column by Nicholas Kristof July 15 calling on Americans to address the issue of human trafficking inside the United States. He praised the Swedish model of anti-trafficking law, which prosecutes men who purchase sex and treats the women selling it as “victims who merit social services.” Read: The New York Times

Op-Ed Condemns Taliban Violence Against Women: The Wall Street Journal published an op-ed July 15 by Rachel Reid, a researcher with Human Rights Watch, on the recent murder of an Afghan woman for refusing to quit her job following threats from the Taliban. Reid argued, “The U.S. should make clear that if reintegration and reconciliation results in less freedom for Afghan women and girls, American taxpayers will not foot the bill.” Read: The Wall Street Journal

In Rural Kenya, Rainy Season is Also FGM/C Season: The Nation reported July 12 that during the rainy months of April through June, many girls avoid female genital mutilation/cutting and being forced into marriage by fleeing to a center run by Anglican missionaries. Read: The Nation

Gender Equality Commission Created in Zambia: IPS reported July 12 that Zambia’s National Constitution Conference (NCC) adopted a clause that would create a commission to monitor measures to promote gender equality and repeal discriminatory laws. Read: IPS

Gender-Based Violence Persists in Congo: The Mail and Guardian (Canada) reported June 18 on the continuing pervasive sexual and gender-based violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and its impact on children. Read: The Mail and Guardian

UN Officials Debate Culture and Women’s Empowerment: UN News Centre reported June 30 that the heads of UNFPA, UNESCO and the Global Fund for Women held a public debate on the role of culture in women’s empowerment. Read: UN News Centre

Sexual Violence Against Girls Persists in Senegal: VoA reported June 29 on a study by UNICEF and University of Ziguinchor finding that in the face of persistent taboos and fear of social stigma, families in Southern Senegal rarely report sexual violence against girls. Read: VoA

past media summaries