DSW’s Executive Director Invited to Speak in German Parliament on Health-Related MDGs
On June 16th, DSW's Executive Director Renate Baehr was invited to the Parliament's Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development to speak as an expert on the health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The session was attended by many Parliamentarians and representatives from civil society organizations. In her speech, Ms. Baehr particularly stressed the importance of health as a cross-cutting issue for the attainment of all MDGs and underlined that the continued unmet need for accessing sexual and reproductive health services was unacceptable. She asked the German government to intensify the engagement in this field in order to advance the attainment of all MDGs.
Euromapping: Tracking Funding and Resources for Population Assistance
Over the past months, DSW has taken stock of the impressive achievements made under the Euromapping project—a joint annual study published in partnership with the European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (EPF). In 2009, the study was funded by the European Union (EU). Published in English, German and French—and in cooperation with seven partner organisations - the project's activities reached more than 1,000 parliamentarians and over 400 NGO representatives in eight EU countries. In addition, our messages were translated into 12 different languages and reached 2.5 million people worldwide. The study, which analyses European expenditures on ICPD-related activities—HIV/AIDS, Family Planning, RH and related research—makes recommendations to EU Member States on how to improve public health in developing countries. More information can be found here.
Project RMA Commended at 11th General Membership Meeting of the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition
On May 27th - 28th, more than 140 participants from around the globe assembled in Kampala for the 11th Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition meeting. In his opening remarks, State Minister for Health, the Hon. James Kakooza, praised the work of the Coalition while also detailing steps currently underway in Uganda to strengthen RH commodity security. Mr. Kakooza acknowledged the work of Project RMA – a joint project of PAI, IPPF and DSW on RH supplies advocacy - specifically the Ugandan IPPF affiliate Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) on RH supplies advocacy. Project RMA came to an end in April 2010, and John Skibiak, Director of the Coalition, used the opportunity to highlight the role of project RMA in supporting the Coalition to become larger, more dynamic, and more diverse. As in previous years, the meeting was preceded by a week’s worth of events, including gatherings of the Coalition’s Executive Committee, and its three working groups. The meeting agenda and all presentations are now available on the Coalitions website.
