JOICFP NEWS NO. 237 MARCH 1994
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- JOICFP NEWS NO. 237 MARCH 1994
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NO. 237 March 1994
ISSN 0911-0755
ANO-
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owards a Global Partnership
Eminent Persons’ Meeting in
Tokyo outlines action in Tokyo
Declaration ahead of ICPD
.
“The International Conference on
Population and Development (ICPD) is the last
opportunity for the international community in
this century to consider progress so far and to
decide what needs to be done in the area of
population to achieve sustained economic
growth and sustainable development,” said Dr.
Nafis Sadik, executive director, UNFPA. A
keynote speaker at the Meeting of Eminent
Persons on Population and Development in
Tokyo on January 26, Sadik said that the ICPD
“will allow us to ensure that individuals are at
the center of all our activities and decisions.”
Sadik, who is also the secretary general of the
ICPD to be held in Cairo, Egypt, in September,
called for deeper commitment and further
assistance to the population field.
The meeting, held on January 26 and IT in
preparation for the ICPD, produced the Tokyo
Declaration titled “Towards a Global
Partnership in Population and Development.”
Chaired by Dr. Taro Nakayama, former foreign
minister of Japan, the meeting was held over
two days and included keynote speeches and
four discussion sessions led by eminent persons
concerned with population and development.
The meeting was held under the auspices of
UNFPA, the UN University and the Japan
Nafis Sadik speaks.
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Eminent Persons on T § K A
Population and Development
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Japanese Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa welcomes participants to the Meeting of
Eminent Persons on Population and Development in Tokyo.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and was attended
by approximately 200 people.
Addressing the participants and audience
with a welcome speech, Japanese Prime
Minister Morihiro Hosokawa expressed his
appreciation for the efforts made by UNFPA
and IPPF in the population field. "Japan is
determined to further strengthen its efforts in
the field of population in continuous
cooperation with other countries by taking a
comprehensive approach that includes not only
direct cooperation in population and FP efforts,
but also cooperation for the provision of basic
health and medical care to mothers and
children, and for the empowerment of women,”
he said.
The level of Japan’s official development
assistance (ODA) was one of the issues
mentioned in a keynote speech by Robert
1
McNamara, former president, World Bank.
"Japan is devoting a lower percentage of GNP
to ODA to developing countries than other
OECD nations, excluding the U.S.,” said
McNamara. "In relation to GNP in 1992,
Japan contributed 0.30% compared to 0.48%
for the others.” He added that while Japan’s
ODA as a percentage of GNP will continue to
fall far below most other OECD countries, its
income per capita is 21% greater.
Unable to attend the conference, Prime
Minister of Norway Gro Harlem Brundtland
sent a keynote speech in which she explained
that the journey toward sustainable societies is
a transition from quantity to quality. “In
Cairo, we must deal with population as an
issue of human development,” she said. “Our
agenda must include education for all,
enhancement of the status of women,
NGOs
improved public health and ensured universal
access to FP services before the end of the
century.” Brundtland added, “The future lies
not in arming but in educating a healthy
population.”
The discussion sessions, chaired by Dr.
Fred Sai, president, IPPF, began with a lead-off
speech by Paul Ehrlich, Bing Professor of
Population Studies, Stanford University, who
provided a
description of
sustainable
development and
reminded the
audience of the
earth’s rapidly
depleting resources,
leremia Tabai,
secretary general,
the South Pacific
Robert McNamara
Forum, also led a
discussion by
outlining the effects of internal and
international migration. In her lead-off speech,
prominent Indian economist Devaki Jain noted
that women’s issues within population
discourse fall into two streams: one that sees
woman as a subject and a second that sees
woman as an object. “Focusing on women is
quite different from listening to women,” she
said.
The second day was mainly taken up with
discussions on the Tokyo Declaration. A
comprehensive document, the declaration
includes recommendations on the areas of
Population and Sustainable Development;
Women’s Role in Decision Making;
Reproductive Health and FP; Population
Distribution and Migration; and South-South
Cooperation. In the second section, the
declaration spells out clear goals in the
population and development field and outlines
action to be taken to achieve these goals.
In its call to action, the declaration urges
developing countries to increase their
investment in health, education and other
aspects of social development. It goes further
to call on developed countries to provide
assistance specially earmarked for social
development in developing countries burdened
by debt and structural adjustment programs and
to raise awareness and mobilize public support
for such assistance. “We encourage the
international community to suggest ways and
means of stimulating sustained economic
growth which will be consistent with efforts
towards sustainable development,” the
declaration states.
A Voice for the
People
Two non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) joined hands to organize a conference
in Tokyo on January 15 aimed at voicing the
opinions of ordinary citizens on the issues of
environment, population and women
ahead of the Meeting of Eminent
Persons on Population and
Development on January 26 and 27.
Dubbed the “Ordinary Persons’
Meeting on Environment, Population
and Women,” the meeting produced a
declaration with a series of concrete
proposals for action for the eminent
persons’ meeting.
The declaration produced at the
meeting includes specific proposals for
action for the Japanese government, which
participants agreed had been slow to
respond to needs of women in the field of
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reproductive health and reproductive rights.
Among these proposals is a call to respect
women’s reproductive health and reproductive
rights in implementing population policies and
abolish the Japanese criminal abortion law and
Eugenic Protection Law and replace them with
laws that protect women’s reproductive health
and reproductive rights. The declaration also
urges the government to integrate the opinions
of citizens’ groups, particularly the opinions of
The panel discussion in progress.
women, in its report to present at the
International Conference on Population and
• • • Development (ICPD), to be held in Cairo in
e September. It further urges the government to
Gearing NGOs for ICPD • send members of women’s NGOs to the
• preparatory meeting in New York and to the
Non-governmental organizations
• ICPD. The final version of the declaration was
(NGOs) are being encouraged to take an • handed to the ICPD Secretariat in Tokyo on
active part in the UN International
• January 31.
Conference on Population and
Attended by 300 people, the meeting was
Development (ICPD) to be held in Cairo, e organized by the People’s Forum 2001, Japan,
Egypt, in September, according to Jyoti • „„
.v.ulvu
an xNGO concerned with environment-related
Shankar Singh, director, Technical and
e issues, and the newly formed Japan’s Network
Evaluation Division, UNFPA, who
• for Women and Health, Cairo ’94. Professor
provided a briefing for NGOs on January *j Hiroko Hara, Ochanomizu College, an active
31 in Tokyo. Offering a general overview • member of the women’s network took part in
of the
conference
and the
preparatory
.......
. .. ...............
eminent
persons’ meeting.
activities that have been conducted over •
In a message to the meeting, Dr. Nafis
the last three years, Singh briefly
• Sadik, executive director, UNFPA, assured the
explained the draft program of action of • participants that women’s health and women’s
the conference and the major goals
• rights will be critical issues in the discussions at
proposed by the document.
Cairo.
Noting the active part already played e
Providing an outline of the ICPD for
by NGOs in the .preparatory
meetings and e• participants, Catherine S. Pierce, chief, Women,
.
in contributions to the document, Singh e Population and Development Branch, Technical
said that 4,000-6,000 representatives from • and Evaluation Division, UNFPA, noted that
NGOs are expected to attend the ICPD.
• emphasis is being placed on women for the
He added that some NGO representatives • conference. “The 1994 conference seeks to
will be able to participate in the
• ensure that all population and development
conference itself as observers and
• policies will be grounded in the principle of
emphasized that the NGO Forum will be •j gender equality and, that such policies will
held concurrently as an opportunity for
• promote the empowerment of women and
NGOs to network among themselves.
• eliminate gender disparities in opportunities
e e e and choices,” she said.
2
JOICFP NEWS, March 1994
Opinions
Basics of FP Promotion
Joseph Van Arendonk, deputy executive
director, UNFPA, spoke to JOICFP NEWS on
January 14. Below is an outline of his
interview.
Based on experience, UNFPA has identified
the critical points of success for a family
planning (FP) program. First and foremost is
the commitment of the political leadership of a
country. This political commitment should be
very public and consistent over time. Second,
services must be readily available and of very
good quality. Specifically, the clinics should be
clean and the workers well-trained —
especially in the area of counseling.
Third, services must be accessible. This
means that people have to be informed that the
service is there and be informed of the
importance of making the visit. Also, in a
physical sense, services should not be available
far from where people live.
Fourth, women should have the ability to
decide for themselves about their fertility.
However, FP should be a common decision in
Women on the
Agenda
Reproductive health and reproductive rights
for women was one of the key issues discussed
at the first Symposium on Women and Health,
held in Tokyo on January 14. Catherine Pierce,
chief, Women, Population and Development
Branch, Technical Evaluation Division,
UNFPA, paved the way for an active panel
discussion by first clarifying the concept of
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Catherine Pierce (second from left) speaks
during the panel discussion.
JOICFP NEWS, March 1994
so far as possible and therefore education for
men is extremely important.
Another important element to success is to
have proper service statistics built into the FP
program, so that you know what the problem is
when people drop out. This also provides a
continuous evaluation of your program.
Of course, there are other aspects of
management such as good supervision and
control. You also have to take care that your
logistics work properly.
The ICPD (International Conference on
Population and Development) will be an
extremely important opportunity for the world
to reflect on population policy at the global or
national level and to give it the proper priority
in terms of sustainable development over time.
Although the Earth Summit made sustainable
development the objective for the year 2000
and beyond, we have to realize that this goal is
only viable if it is linked with an appropriate
population policy.
It will be important at Cairo to see what has
reproductive health and reproductive rights for
the mostly Japanese audience of 100 people.
Noting that the concept is not well understood,
Pierce stressed that it is vital to listen to
women’s voices to ensure that family planning
(FP) programs are effectively promoted from a
reproductive health and reproductive rights
point of view. Pierce also provided the
audience with a brief introduction to the UN
International Conference on Population and
Development (ICPD) to be held in Cairo,
Egypt, in September.
The symposium was the first to be
organized by the Japan’s Network for Women
and Health, Cairo ’94, a newly formed Japanese
non-governmental organization (NGO). The
NGO, comprised of about 200 members, was
formed with the aim of ensuring that the voices
of Japanese women are heard at Cairo. The
network had provided an outline of its aims
prior to the January 14 meeting at a press
conference held on January 10 in Tokyo.
Joining Pierce as a panelist at the January
14 meeting was Yayoi Aoki, social
commentator and activist. Aoki noted that
while Japanese women are encouraged to have
more children to raise the present total fertility
3
to be done by
individual
governments
and individuals
in terms of
population, and
what govern
ments at
national and
international
Joseph
Arendonk
levels have to
make available
in order to realize
that process. I hope Cairo will try to identify
where we are at this moment, where we want to
be in the middle of next century, and what this
will imply in terms of resources.
In population, we can still see the same
kinds of challenges we saw 25 years ago. This
is because once you introduce contraception,
the issue of the role of women immediately
follows. If you make contraceptives available,
you are going to change the relationship
between men and women. You are also going
to change the whole concept of family, and by
doing that, you are bringing about changes in
the fabric of society.
rate of 1.50, women in developing countries are
pressured to have fewer children to lower
birthrates. She stated, however, that the only
way to tackle population problems is from the
viewpoint of women’s reproductive health and
reproductive rights.
Meanwhile, Akiko Nagaoki, member,
Women’s Coaliton for Anti-Eugenic Protection
Law (Soshiren) argued that while women of
developing countries are usually the target of
population control policy, the basic cause of
problems related to population is the mass
consumption and mass production pattern of the
developed world.
The fourth panelist, Akiko Domoto,
member, House of Councilors, called for
women to be the main topic at Cairo to ensure
that they are not the object of population
policies, but are actively involved in finding
solutions to population problems. The
parliamentarian added that people need to
change their value systems to embrace the
notion of a borderless world. This concept, she
said, should be the starting point for the next
century. The two goals of “revival of
humanity” and reproductive health and rights
should be the axes of change, she added.
Regional Project
aluable Lessons
in Program
Sustainability
Insights into community-based healthcare
in Japan left a strong impression on the 14
participants of the 2nd Regional Technical
Committee Meeting on Sustainable
Community-based Family Planning/Maternal
and Child Health (FP/MCH) Project with
Special Focus on Women. During a field trip to
Oami Shirasato Town in Chiba Prefecture, the
participants observed some of the health
services conducted by government healthcare
personnel in cooperation with community
volunteers. The close relationship between the
public health nurses and community people has
enabled the local government to smoothly
implement healthcare services on a more costeffective basis, the participants learned.
The meeting, held January 18-22, was
attended by representatives from the four
countries of Bangladesh, Laos, Nepal and the
Philippines where the UNFPA-supported
Sustainable Community-based FP/MCH Project
with Special Focus on Women is being
executed by JOICFP. They were joined by
participants from China, where the IPPFassisted Integrated Project is being executed by
JOICFP, and Vietnam, where UNFPA has a
country program. The participants were
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Participants observe MCH guidance activities in Chiba Prefecture.
representatives of government organizations
(GOs) and non-govenmental organizations
(NGOs) implementing the respective projects in
each country.
During the meeting, participants reviewed
project implementation in 1993 and shared
experiences. To enhance implementation, they
also discussed each country’s strategies, work
plan, operation, management and monitoring
and evaluation scheme for the project for 1994.
Participants were introduced to community
based FP/MCH
promotion in Japan in
the postwar years by
JOICFP Deputy
Executive Director
Yasuo Kon and gained
insights into the
successful production
and sale of I EC
materials by the Japan
Family Planning
Association, a selfreliant NGO.
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During discussions,
it was noted that the
projects had been
successfully focused on
women and had
produced practical,
comprehensive
strategies to promote
the project locally.
Problematic areas in the
local nutrition volunteer prepares a meal as participants look on.
4
projects were also highlighted in a set of
recommendations produced at the meeting.
Among these was a call to conduct needs
assessments in communities; place emphasis on
motivation and training of women, particularly
by promoting literacy; place stress on
preventive health activities; establish steering
committees at all levels and strengthen
collaboration among these and the GOs and
NGOs; place emphasis on male involvement;
encourage positive relationships between the
service providers and community; and promote
the sharing of experiences and technical
exchange at the regional level.
The field trip to Oami Shirasato Town took
the participants to Japan’s coast on the Pacific
Ocean. Despite the town’s urban setting, the
team noted that the community spirit was still
thriving among the people. During
observations of MCH and infant and child
development counseling, the participants spoke
with women working as health and nutrition
promotion volunteers who serve as a pipeline
between the people and the municipal
government.
Participants noted that the volunteers were
mostly drawn from the older generation and
were passing on their knowledge to the younger
people with children. For the team, this
smooth coordination between the town’s
different generations offered a good model for
the effective utilization of available human
resources and for promoting program
sustainability.
JOICFP NEWS, March 1994
Views
F our Perspectives of Family Planning
Four participants of the 2nd Regional
Technical Committee Meeting on Sustainable
Community-based FP/MCH Project with
Special Focus on Women spoke to JOICFP
NEWS on January 22 about the situation
regarding health and women in their countries.
Below are highlights of the interviews.
Daisy Faller, provincial family
planning coordinator, Batangas
Province, the Philippines
Two municipalities in Batangas have been
initially selected for the project and we have
already finished the pre-implementation stage.
This project is aimed at enlightening Philippine
women. Since 85%
of the people are
Roman Catholic,
we have to do many
things to convince
I
the women about
the more effective
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methods of
contraception
including the IUD, pills and sterilization.
This meeting has been very productive for
me. The issue of sustainability is a very crucial
one for the Philippines and I have learned a
great deal about how to seek sustainability
through the promotion of a community-based
project. Before I left to come to Japan, I was
talking to the mayors of the two project
municipalities who said that they would help us
in our efforts.
Shamima Hasan, deputy
director, Family Planning
Association of Bangladesh
The integrated approach to healthcare is
important since piecemeal activities do not
yield results quickly. For example, parasite
control activities for children will in a very
short time improve
the health of
children. Then
people start to
consider other
issues such as the
health of the
mother. But if you
only provide FP and
neglect other health issues, women will lose
interest.
We have different strategies to achieve
JOICFP NEWS, March 1994
sustainability. One is the use of steering
committees to involve the community and use
local resources, people and facilities. These
committees are also one of the most important
steps to involve women in the project. Our
society is a male-dominated one, so when we
set up these all-women committees, we call a
meeting and involve the men in the selection of
the members of the steering committee. Since
the men are involved, they cannot object. Each
committee has 15 women who are all voluntary
members. One of these members is elected
each year as a convenor, which means that one
person cannot dominate and everyone gets a
chance to develop her skills. In this way, if the
project continues for 10 years, we will have 10
very well-trained women who can disseminate
their know-how.
Dr. Do Trong Hieu, director,
Department ofMCH/FP,
Ministry of Health, Vietnam
The obstacles to FP promotion in Vietnam
are primarily a shortage of funds to provide a
choice of contraceptive methods and a lack of
trained staff and IEC materials. There is also
an urgent need for research and follow-up
monitoring and supervision.
The FP program chiefly focuses on women.
Very recently men’s involvement is being
encouraged, but acceptance of male methods of
contraception is still low. The condom, for
example, is not popular in Vietnam and
vasectomy was only
recently made
available. For every
10 women
sterilized, there are
only three men who
undergo
vasectomies.
Although male
sterilization is much easier, women are still the
focus of sterilization.
According to the demographic and health
survey, more than 60% of women do not want
more children because they already have two or
three children or more. Women in Vietnam now
also want to get married later because they want
more independence, especially economically.
This is a new idea because in some places
women used to get married as young as 10
years old. Now the average age of marriage is
24-25 years and in some places it is 27 years.
5
The problem of lower reproductive tract
infections for women is acute in rural areas.
The major cause of this is unhygienic
conditions due to the poor water supply, a
major problem in Vietnam.
The government has increased its
commitment to FP and sharply increased its
funds. For example, in 1991 the budget for FP
was about 30 billion dong, but in 1994 it will be
210 billion dong. However, in 1994 we will
have about 17.5 million women of reproductive
age. This means each woman will receive only
about US$1 for FP, which buys about four or
five condoms.
Dr. Phonethep Pholsena,
director, Birth Spacing Project,
and director, Institute of Mother
and Child Health, Laos
The birth spacing project is important
because it is essential that we improve the
health of women and children in Laos, which is
a priority of the government. At present, the
infant mortality rate is about 123 per 1,000 live
births and the
maternal mortality
rate is about 653
per 100,000 live
births.
The total
fertility rate is about
6.9. In rural areas,
the people are poor
and the women work hard while having
children almost every year. Under the
government’s birth spacing policy, the aim is to
decrease the number of children to four; space
pregnancies by at least two years; promote later
marriage up to 18 years for women; and
discourage pregnancy after the age of 35.
The birth spacing project focuses on one
municipality of Vientiane. Our institute staff
conducted a baseline survey and found that the
need for contraceptives is very high. Some
86% of married women of reproductive age
have unmet needs, while 23.6% are
contraceptive users.
The survey also found that women’s
knowledge of contraceptives is poor. About
53% do not have proper knowledge of the
menstrual cycle. Due to this lack of
knowledge, they tend to opt for tubal ligation.
Therefore, they need to have knowledge of
other contraceptive methods.
In the News
Improving Services &
Promoting Sustainability
A delegation from Taicang County in China
was introduced to practical ways to develop
fee-charging systems for healthcare services
while in Japan from January 24 - February 2.
Headed by Duanmu Yiwen, vice president,
Family Planning Association of Taicang City,
the seven-member team learned various
strategies used by Japanese non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) to seek self-reliance
through the provision of quality services on a
fee-charged basis.
The delegation was in Japan to gain know
how which can be applied to the Taicang
Integrated Project (IP) Center. It included IP
center personnel, city education and health
officials and a project officer of the National IP
Steering Committee. The mission was also
partly joined by Dr. Huang Boashan, director,
International Relations Department, State
Family Planning Commission.
Established in 1992, the IP Center is
operated by the Family Planning Association of
A Solid Base
for Services
Large, metal shipping containers are
finding new uses as clinics and storage facilities
in African countries where the Integrated
Project (IP) is being promoted. Initially used to
ship reconditioned bicycles and materials
donated through the Municipal Coordinating
Committee for Overseas Bicycle Assistance
(MCCOBA), the sturdy containers were
donated to the IP areas in Ghana and Tanzania
Taicang City and has been
conducting training activities and
providing a range of services
including FP, healthcare, MCH care
and IEC. The center recently
launched parasite control (PC)
activities with an eye to expanding
preventive healthcare to people of all
ages on a fee-charged basis.
A PC examination center will be
established this spring to initially provide mass
fee-charged PC activities to school students.
Prior to this, a training seminar will be held in
coordination with the health and education
bureaus of Taicang City to teach personnel
mass examination and treatment techniques.
In Japan, the Chinese were particularly
impressed with the strategies employed by the
Tokyo Health Service Association and the
Japan Family Planning Association, both large
self-reliant organizations. During a field trip to
Shizuoka, the team was also introduced to the
by the Japan Bicycle Promotion Institute, which
has also contributed to the costs of shipping
bicycles from Japan. The institute agreed to
purchase and donate the containers after
learning about the need for secure storage and
clinic facilities in these countries.
The bicycle donation scheme, which was
launched in 1988, has expanded dramatically
under MCCOBA to provide support to 24
developing countries. The 15 current members
of MCCOBA include 14 local Japanese
governments and JOICFP. Since the scheme
was started, the donation activities have
expanded to include such items as stationery,
weighing scales and toys, which are stored in
the spaces between the bicycles. It was the
inclusion of such items in the donations that
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A container is renovated in Ghana.
made the use of shipping containers necessary
since bicycles can be shipped abroad without
containers.
The containers, which have an average
internal height of 2.3m, width of 5.9m and
length of 2.3m, have been converted into clinics
in Ghana and solid warehouses in Tanzania. In
Tanzania, for example, project staff have
hooked up electricity and installed an air
conditioner in one of the new warehouses to
6
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fl
The visitors leam mass parasite examination
techniques.
activities of the Shizuoka Health Service
Association, an NGO that provides
comprehensive preventive healthcare services.
The team returned to China armed with
new strategies for an NGO to seek self-reliance
by providing better quality services. If
effective, the activities of the IP center will
serve as a positive model for the 18 other areas
in 16 provinces of China where the IP is being
implemented. The center will also play a solid
role to train personnel from other areas of
China and from other developing countries.
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maintain the quality of contraceptives and
essential drugs. The container has also been
painted, roofed and had windows and a door
added for convenience.
The bicycle donation scheme received a
welcome boost recently when the Japanese
government revised the Bicycle Law. Under
the revised law, local governments are
encouraged to use bicycles collected from
public property to support international
cooperation activities.
JOICFP NEWS, March 1994
Japan
A Show of
Support
Women Lawmakers on Track for
ICPD
The heads of UNFPA and IPPF met with
top parliamentarians involved in the field of
population and development at a luncheon
meeting hosted by the Japan Parliamentarians
Federation for Population (JPFP) on January 27
in Tokyo. During the meeting, Dr. Nafis Sadik,
executive director, UNFPA, and Dr. Fred Sai,
president, IPPF, spoke with seven members of
the JPFP about the role of parliamentarians in
the International Conference on Population and
Development (ICPD) to be held in Cairo,
Egypt, in September.
Despite the timing of the meeting, which
coincided with the passage of an important
political reform law in the Diet (parliament),
leading members of the JPFP turned out in
force to meet the heads of the world’s two
largest bodies concerned with population
issues. Headed by Dr. Taro Nakayama,
chairman, JPFP, and former foreign minister,
the Japanese parliamentarians included JPFP
Senior Vice Chairman Michihiko Kano; Vice
Chairman Shogo Abe; and Executive Director
Shin Sakurai. Minister of the Self Defense
Forces Kazuo Aichi also attended.
In discussions with Sadik and Sai, the
legislators expressed JPFP’s support for the
ICPD and outlined the efforts being made by
the federation. As part of these, JPFP is trying
to stimulate parliamentarians from other
countries ahead of the conference.
The discussions also focused on ways to
revitalize the support of African
parliamentarians for population and
development issues. Noting the strong political
commitment in Asia, Sadik expressed a hope
that exchanges between Asian and African
parliamentarians could be stepped up in the
future for the benefit of both parties.
Women parliamentarians demonstrated
expressed their disappointment with the
their strong support for population and
Japanese government’s failure to recognize the
development issues on January 28 by taking
concept of women’s reproductive health and
time out of an important parliamentary session
reproductive rights. Noting the lack of
to attend a
meeting with Dr.
Nafis Sadik,
executive
director,
UNFPA. The
meeting, which
coinicided with
the passage of a
critical political
reform bill, was
attended by nine
of the 13 women
members of the
Japan
Parliamentarians
Sadik (center front) joins legislators in Tokyo.
Federation for
Population
(JPFP). Among
them was Wakako Hironaka, minister of the
understanding and neglect of women’s health
Environmental Agency, and JPFP member.
and rights in Japan, the parliamentarians
The meeting provided Sadik with a positive commented that efforts are needed to expand
opportunity to introduce the UN International
perceptions of FP within the government and
Conference on Population and Development
among the Japanese public beyond the current
(ICPD) to be held in Cairo, Egypt, in
limited concept of maternal and child health.
September, and provide an outline of
Japan’s international role in the field of
background papers to be submitted at the
population and development was another major
conference. In particular, Sadik focused on the topic of discussion at the meeting. One
areas of gender equality and empowerment of
suggestion made by the parliamentarians was to
women; the family, its roles, composition and
expand Japan’s contribution from that of
structure; reproductive rights, reproductive
funding to include the provision of materials
health and family planning (FP); and
that are needed in developing countries to
international migration, which are among the
support population programs.
topics covered in the Cairo Document.
Encouraging the active contribution of the
During the meeting, the parliamentarians
women parliamentarians to the ICPD, Sadik
also reminded the participants of the upcoming
World Conference for Women, which will be
held in Beijing in September 1995. Sadik
Kunii Awarded
stressed that both meetings will have important
meaning for women and urged the legislators to
JOICFP Chairman Chojiro Kunii was honored with the Takemi Memorial Award on
take initiative to ensure that the outcomes are
December 18 for his work within Japan and abroad. In selecting Kunii for the prize, the
equitable for both women and men.
Takemi Memorial Foundation recognized Kunii’s efforts to promote family planning (FP),
Commenting on her expectations as the
parasite control (PC) and preventive health in postwar Japan, and his contributions to
secretary general of the ICPD, Sadik expressed
developing countries through the promotion of the Integrated Project (IP). Kunii was the
her hope that a global meeting of
third person to receive the prize which was created in memory of the late Dr. Taro Takemi,
parliamentarians would be held ahead of the
who served as the president of the Japan Medical Association from 1957 - 1982 and the
conference. She encouraged the legislators to
president of the World Medical Association from 1975 - 1976.
do their utmost to make this meeting a reality.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••a
JOICFP NEWS, March 1994
7
VOICE OF VOICES
By Chojiro Kunii
A Base in China
After considerable discussion with our
Chinese colleagues, we are making headway in
establishing a base in China to support the
exchange of Integrated Project (IP) experiences.
This means that we will be strengthening the
model areas of the IP, which have been
effectively applying the postwar experiences of
Japan. At present, there are 18 areas in 16
provinces that are benefiting from the very
practical program incorporating comprehensive
preventive health and family planning (FP)
DIARY
activities.
In the 50 years since the end of the war,
Japan has tried to build a society where people
can enjoy a safe and peaceful life. However, it
is only recently that Japan’s achievements in
the population and FP fields have become
worthy of international attention.
Japan made it through the desperate
postwar years to become the nation it is now
thanks to the hard work of its people. The
farming people who were poor and had to rely
on traditional farming methods made
remarkable efforts during the postwar years,
while the industrial sector developed at an
unprecedented pace.
We now feel it is our turn to share our
°o -----------------------'
- Hillary Salmons, volunteer, and Deborah ,>
Koehler, researcher, Ashoka Foundation,
j
visited JOICFP on Nov. 5, 1993, to
exchange information on AIDS prevention. O
- Anne Donohue, editor, Radio
o
O
Broadcasting of the Christian Science
o
Monitor, visited JOICFP on Nov. 9 to
o
collect information on FP in Japan.
o
- Satish Mehra, chief, East & Southeast
o
Asia Branch, Asia & Pacific Division,
o
UNFPA, visited JOICFP on Nov. 18 to
o
exchange information about UNFPAc
assisted Asian regional programs.
()
- Professor Gary Chamberlain, Theology
& Religious Studies, Seattle University,
0
visited JOICFP on Nov. 19 to exchange
o
information.
o
- JOICFP Program Officer Kiyoko Ikegami
was in Thailand and Kenya from Nov. 4-20 (>
as a member of an evaluation mission of
O
bilateral FP projects conducted through
o
JICA.
o
- Nine participants from five countries
attended a JICA-entrusted one-day seminar o
(J
on FP at JOICFP on Nov. 22.
- JOICFP Program Officer Ryoko Nishida o
was in the Philippines from Nov. 21 - 27 to o
°
discuss the UNFPA-assisted regional project
O
with UNFPA and government officials.
- Dr. Zhang Fubao, chief, and Dr. Zhong
Hebao. chief doctor, Medical Section,
Health Department, Shanghai Baoshan
General Iron & Steel Works visited JOICFP
on Nov. 29 to exchange information on the
IP in China.
- Paul White, minister counselor for
development cooperation, U.S. Embassy in
Japan, visited JOICFP on Dec. 2 to
exchange information.
- Nineteen healthcare and IEC experts from
15 countries in the Asia and Oceania region
were in Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture from
Nov. 29 - Dec. 4 to take part in the IEC
Workshop for the Production of Video Script
on Women’s Health.
- Richard Frank, president, Population
Services International, visited JOICFP on
Dec. 10 to exchange information.
- JOICFP representatives joined the NGO
Forum on Population and Environment
organized by Timothy Wirth, counselor,
U.S. State Department, on Dec. 10.
- JOICFP Program Officer Ryoichi Suzuki
and staff member Tetsuo Kato were in Brazil
from Dec. 6 -16 to monitor the IP in Sao
Paulo.
experiences with China and to assist these
people in their development. We would like the
Chinese people to be able to improve the
quality of their lives, just as we did in Japan.
Fortunately, our histories and traditions are
quite similar, and our approach to development
is very alike. Personally, I was influenced in
my youth by many aspects of Chinese culture
and philosphy.
China is now free from political strife and it
is proceeding full speed towards development.
We have high expectations of the spirit and
determination of the Chinese people, and
sincerely hope that we can make amends for the
problems that we caused them in the past.
China was previously referred to as the
“sleeping lion.” The U.S. and Europe first
roused this lion from its long sleep and,
unfortunately, Japan also joined their ranks
during that regretful phase in China’s history. It
is now the time for Japan to assist in China’s
development.
JOICJ-'P ‘Documentary Series
____ A New Documentary Film_____
Maria
33 mins., Color; English, Spanish, Japanese
wMMi
Our latest documentary film features two Morias
from Guatemala — a country over 50 percent of
whose population is comprised of indigenous oeople.
Nana Mario, a traditional birth attendant and faith
healer who still follows the Mayan tradition closely, strives
to protect the health and decrease the burden of the
women in her village. City-dweller Maria Teresa wishes
Io gel closer to indigenous women like Nana Maria.
This touching film outlines the awakenea women
trying to protect themselves through action.
Distributed by
Sakura Motion Picture Co., Ltd.
Yoyogi Center Bldg., 57-1 Yoyogi l-chome
Shibuya-ku. Tokyo 151, Japan
Tel 81-3-332D631 l/Fax 813-3320-7666
Telex: J34799 ITCINBTH
16mm • VTR (Beta, VHS/NTSC, PAL, SECAM)
JOICFP NEWS is a monthly newsletter published by
the Japanese Organization for International
Cooperation in Family Planning, Inc. (JOICFP).
JOICFP Film Awarded
JOICFP’s documentary film Maria was selected as one of Japan’s top 10 films of 1993 by
Kinema Junpo magazine. Kinema Junpo is the oldest and most prestigious film magazine in
Japan. Maria, which is available in English, Japanese and Spanish, concerns the lives of two
women who join hands in a Guatemalan village to improve the health and way of life of the
people, particularly the community women. The film is distributed by Sakura Motion Picture
Co., Ltd.
8
JOICFP NEWS welcomes your comments,
suggestions and contributions. Please mail to:
JOICFP NEWS
Hoken Kaikan Bekkan
1-1, Ichigaya Sadohara-cho
Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162 Japan
Phone: 81-3-3268-5875
Facsimile: 81-3-3235-7090
JOICFP NEWS, March 1994
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