The Policy Tracking and Monitoring Unit maintains a database of population and sexual and reproductive health policies in cooperation with UNFPA. This update is a part of policy tracking.

Issue No. 58–September 4th 2012 REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING India lower house passes sexual harassment bill New Zealand: MPs back Pacific sex health India's parliament, which has been deadlocked for days program due to opposition protests, on August 3, used a brief The New Zealand Parliamentarians’ Group on break in the uproar to pass legislation protecting women Population and Development (NZPPD) announced on from sexual harassment at work. The lower house passed August 28 its recommendations to improve the bill before business was again abandoned for the day adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights as lawmakers from the main opposition Bharatiya Janata in the Pacific, calling for stronger collaboration Party (BJP) shouted, stood in the well of the assembly and between Pacific parliamentarians and sexual and waved their papers. Women's rights activists say sexual reproductive health stakeholders to push for sexual harassment is a rampant problem in India, where an and reproductive health and rights on national increasing number of women are joining the workforce. agendas. The recommendations are based on findings The legislation, which must still be passed by the upper of an Open Hearing held by NZPPD on June 11 to house before becoming law, specifically includes address the poor reproductive health of adolescents protection for female domestic staff, one of the most in the Pacific. Individuals and organizations working vulnerable work groups in India. in the field of adolescent sexual and reproductive www.nydailynews.com health and rights presented to the parliamentarians the significant barriers adolescents faced in realizing GENDER ISSUES their full sexual and reproductive health and rights. Vietnam faces serious gender imbalance Key parliamentarians from Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Vietnam is currently facing a huge gender imbalance with Tuvalu, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu sat alongside a rise in the number of boy children being born, because the NZPPD members to hear the submissions and of family traditional preferences of follow up on lineage. discuss further action with the NZPPD. Despite improved healthcare conditions for both women www.voxy.co.nz and children, Vietnam is seriously concerned with a rapid increase in male children. The country's national average Indonesia: RI to strengthen public-private health sex ratio at birth is 110.6 males to 100 females, compared partnership with a biologically standard figure of 105. This gender The Health Ministry said that it would strengthen the imbalance takes place just because men in Vietnam have partnership between the public and private sector to to traditionally carry on the family lineage, inherit homes deliver better health services for women and and land, care for elderly parents and oversee funerals children. and ancestor worship rituals. Vietnam banned fetal sex Deputy Health Minister Ali Ghufron Mukti said that selection in 2003, but the practice continues, especially in the initiative would be of great significance, given private clinics. Within the next 20 years, the number of that the high rate of maternal deaths during Vietnamese males will be about four million more than deliveries and the high burden of infectious diseases females. Hence, the country needs to adopt effective appeared to be common challenges faced by Asia- measures to control this imbalance, or the consequences Pacific countries, including Indonesia. “Saving will be detrimental. women’s and children’s lives and improving welfare www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn are the responsibility of all of us. This requires partnerships involving all stakeholders, including PNG’s O’Neill admits violence against women remains both the public and private sector,” said Ali Ghufron a huge problem in his opening address for the 2012 Asia-Pacific Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister is pledging to do Development Summit on Monday. more to combat his country’s high levels of violence www.thejakartapost.com against women. Australia has announced a 330 million US dollar initiative to help women in the Pacific, including GENDER EMPOWERMENT supporting gender equality in parliaments, economic New Zealand passes 1st stage of gay marriage law opportunities, and to improve safety for women. Papua New Zealand lawmakers on August 29 New Guinea elected three women in its recent elections, overwhelmingly cast a first vote in favor of a gay but Peter O’Neill acknowledges that violence against marriage bill that was given impetus by President women remains a huge problem. “I think more needs to Barack Obama's public support of the issue. The 80 to be done, we are as government taking that responsibility 40 vote in front of a packed and cheering public seriously, we are working together with many of the NGO gallery was the first of three votes Parliament must groups in the country to ensure that there is awareness hold before the bill can become law, a process that among families, in particular the remote communities typically takes several months and allows the public throughout our country.” to weigh in. Only a simple majority was needed to www.solomonstarnews.com ensure a second vote, and the margin is a strong indication that the bill will be passed. Should New Child Bride Practice Rising In Iran, Parliament Seeks Zealand pass the measure into law, it would become To Lower Girl's Legal Marriage Age To 9 the 12th country since 2001 to recognize same-sex Hundreds of girls below the age of 10 are forced into marriage. Some states in the U.S. also recognize such marriage in Iran every year -- and the trend is marriages, but the federal government does not. Polls experiencing a dramatic increase. According to recent indicate about two-thirds of New Zealanders support data released by Iran's Association of Children's Rights, gay marriage. It also has the support of most of the the number of girls married in Iran under the age of 15 country's political leaders. went from 33,383 in 2006 to 43,459 in 2009, a 30 percent www.boston.com increase in three years. In addition, while 449 girls were married in 2009 before reaching the age of 10, as many as Pakistan: Govt taking remarkable steps for 716 girls were married under the age of 10 in 2010, a 59 empowering women: Asma percent spike in one year. These alarming figures were PPP leader Asma Arbab Alamgir on August 29 said accompanied by an official statement from the Iranian that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led parliament's legal affairs committee that the Islamic government had taken remarkable steps for Republic will push to lower the legal marriage for girls to empowering women in the country according to the 9 (even before they reach puberty) from the current 13. vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. Talking The legal affairs committee of parliament told the press to Associated Press of Palistan (APP), Asma Arbab that they regard the law that prohibits girls below the age Alamgir said that the government was paying special of 10 from being married off to be "un-Islamic and illegal," attention to women empowerment. Legislation such referencing Islamic scripture to which describes the as Anti-Women Act, Acid Crime Act, Women in Prophet Muhammad -- the perfect example of all Muslims Distress and Detention Fund / Act and Protection -- marrying a 6-year-old bride, with whom he against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act consummated the marriage when she was only 9 years showed the government's commitment to strengthen old. the women population of the country. To a question, www.ibtimes.com she said that under the vision of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, 10 per cent quota was fixed for women in government jobs and with that the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) was also another unprecedented step to protect and empower women economically. www.brecorder.com

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