MEDIA
SUMMARY
MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS SEPTEMBER
16-30, 2009
TOP STORIES
Family Planning Access Linked
to Climate Change: Multiple media outlets reported and published editorials
and blogs September 15-30 on the relationship of climate change to rapid population
growth and the high unmet need for family planning. In an editorial, The Lancet
argued, "The sexual and reproductive health and rights community should challenge
the global architecture of climate change and its technology focus, and shift
the discussion to a more human-based, rights-based adaptation approach. Such a
strategy would better serve the range of issues pivotal to improving the health
of women worldwide." Read: The Lancet, New Scientist, RHRealityCheck.org,
AFP, The New York Times(Sept. 15), Bloomberg
Health Care Reform and Reproductive
Health: Multiple media outlets reported and published editorials, op-eds and
blogs September 14-30 on the issue of reproductive health services in proposed
health care reform legislation. Abortion rights opponents demanded that abortion
services be banned in federal subsidies to insurance plans. Women's health advocates
argued that this would hinder access to care for low- and middle-income women.
Writing in the Huffington Post, Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) defended an amendment to
preserve the status quo: "By adhering to current law, which prohibits Federal
funds from being used to cover abortions other than in the case of rape, incest
or a threat to the life of the woman, we have found a way to move forward in our
efforts to protect and provide health insurance for millions of Americans, without
being sidetracked by re-debating the issue of abortion." Read: National Review
(via NPR), The New York Times, The Nation, Huffington Post (Sept. 25), Capital
Times, Charleston Gazette, Associated Press, Women's eNews, US News, Huffington
Post(Sept. 16), Desert Sun
Study Finds Recession Affects Family Planning:
The Washington Post reported and RHRealityCheck.org published a blog September
23 on a Guttmacher Institute study finding that economic concerns are shaping
many women's family planning decisions. Guttmacher President and CEO Sharon Camp
said, "The recession has put many women-including middle-class women who
are having trouble making ends meet-in an untenable situation. They want to avoid
unintended pregnancy more than ever, but at the same time are having difficulty
affording the out-of-pocket costs of prescription contraception." Read: RHRealityCheck.org
and Washington Post
New Financial Commitment to Combat Maternal Morality
in Several Countries: IRIN reported September 24 that, following 12 months
of work by a task force chaired by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and World
Bank President Robert Zoellick, a US$5.3 billion creative financing package will
provide free health care services in Malawi, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nepal
and Burundi as part of an effort to combat maternal mortality. The scheme includes
a pledge by the online travel industry to raise $3.2 billion through voluntary
booking fees. Brown termed health service user fees "bad development advice
and bad development policy." He said charging the poor even a few cents for
health services "became a death sentence for millions." Read: IRIN
OTHER
NOTEWORTHY ARTICLES AND OPINIONS BY SUBJECT
Sexual and
Reproductive Health and Rights
Spain Approves Abortion Law Reforms:
AFP reported September 27 that a proposal passed by Spain's cabinet will reform
the country's abortion law, granting women 16 and older the right to undergo the
procedure for any reason until 16 weeks gestation and until 22 weeks in the case
of fetal defects or threat to the woman's health. Read: AFP
Lack of Access
and Misinformation Result in Unsafe Abortion in Philippines: IPS reported
September 30 that restrictions and misinformation on modern contraceptives, combined
with criminal penalties for providers and women seeking abortions, contribute
to a high number of unsafe abortions in the Philippines. Read: IPS
Briefing
Spotlights Maternal Mortality in Pakistan: In its "Citizen Journalism"
section, The Washington Times published onSeptember 24 a report on a briefing
sponsored by the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues, Women's Policy Inc.,
and the Global Health Technologies Coalition on factors influencing Pakistan's
high maternal mortality. Read: The Washington Times
U.S. Abortion Rights
Opponents Push To Redefine "Personhood": The Los Angeles Times reported
September 28 that abortion rights opponents are renewing efforts in 30 states
to pass laws that would grant "personhood" rights and status to fertilized
eggs, effectively outlawing abortion. Read: The Los Angeles Times
UN
Urges Greater Investment in Maternal, Child Health in Asia-Pacific: Voice
of America reported September 16 on a two-day forum in Bangkok on the region's
progress toward goals of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development
(ICPD) Programme of Action. Read: Voice of America
Reproductive Health
Goals Spotlighted by NGO Forum: RHRealityCheck.org published a blog by Kimberly
Whipkey of The Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE) on September 18, noting
that "Achieving comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care for all
people was a rallying point at the NGO Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Health
and Development" in Berlin. Read: RHRealityCheck.org
Media Projects
Focus on Maternal Health: The Guardian (UK) published a column by Madeleine
Bunting discussing maternal health and marking the end of a three-year newspaper
project documenting development efforts in Uganda. The New York Times published
a photo essay by Marco Vernaschi September 23 documenting women's childbirth experiences
in Guinea-Bissau's only hospital; Vernaschi hopes to expand the essay into a campaign
to draw attention to maternal health around the world. Read: The Guardian and
The New York Times
U.S. Conservatives Hit UN Sex Education Guidelines:
NPR reported September 20 that some American conservative groups met draft UNESCO
guidelines on comprehensive sex education with hostility and distortions. Read:
NPR
UAE Campaign Addresses Culture, Insurance: Khaleej Times reported
September 27 on a new campaign in the United Arab Emirates to encourage birth
spacing and use of skilled care during delivery by addressing pervasive beliefs
about family size, and encouraging health insurance plans to provide coverage
for maternal health services. Read: Khaleej Times
HIV/AIDS
Minor
Success of AIDS Vaccine Raises Hope: The Washington Post reported September
25 that a vaccine trial had found an unanticipated small, but statistically significant
protection against HIV/AIDS, raising new hope for developing a more effective
vaccine. Read: Washington Post
Women's Equality
New UN Agency
For Women Will Require New Commitments: The Lancet published an op-ed September
26 by Simone D. McCourtie arguing that the recent UN General Assembly approval
of the merger of four UN agencies on women's issues holds potential for contributing
to women's well-being around the world. But "it needs a clear mission like
that of WHO or UNICEF, serious investment, and strong leadership" to fulfill
this potential. Read: The Lancet
East Timor Struggles for Gender Equality:
Women's eNews reported on September 18 that East Timor has made some progress
toward gender equality, including ratification of CEDAW, the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. But the CEDAW monitoring
committee recently listed policy issues that the government must address to improve
women's standing. Read: Women's eNews
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