Editorial

The month of April was one of commotion, self-realization, unity and a re-strengthening of our goals and missions. In the face of adversity and misrepresentation; Rutgers WPF and its implementing partners displayed integration, perseverance and determination for their causes. A string of media coverage; with rather negative connotations was initiated about our LSBE programme where gross misrepresentation and false information had been employed in certain print media in Karachi. Rutgers WPF participated in the Commission of Population and Development 2011 at the UN from April 11-15 as member of the official delegation. The good news is that this stirred a debate, about SRHR education and the need for LSBE in schools for children. Rather be held down by such an incident, our team and our implementing partners took this as an opportunity and brought the attention to the programme by highlighting its positive outcomes. We are also happy to report that at many social online platforms where the articles published about the LSBE programme, there was a majority that was supporting it and rooting for it.

For further insight into this month’s activities please read on!

Newsletter Team

Editorial Team:
Sana Yousuf

Technical Contributors:
Qadeer Baig

Design & Layout:
Kashif Muneer
Aasia Niazi
Important Links

WPF in Media
WPF Publications
WPF Headquarters

RutgersWPF Pakistan News

CPD 44th session: Theme: Fertility, reproductive health and development

The Commission on Population and Development met from April 11 to 15, 2011 and discussed the theme ‘Fertility, Reproductive Health and Development’ . As a result of successful lobbying by Rutgers WPF, Shirkat Gah and Rehnuma FPAP, an official technical delegation of six members headed by the Secretary, Planning and Development, Government of Pakistan and included CEO, NATPOW (Iftikhar Durrani), CEO Shirkat Gah (Khawar Mumtaz), Director Advocacy and Communications Rehnuma FPAP (Nabila Mallick) , Representative of Youth Coalition from Pakistan (Nida Mushtaq) and CR, Rutgers WPF, Pakistan (Qadeer Baig).

Women, girls, and young people 's rights, and sexual and reproductive rights and health were harshly attacked by a few organized opponents at this meeting, just as they were at the CSW (Commission on the Status of Women) earlier this year. The theme for the next year’s CPD 2012 is ‘Adolescents and Youth’. Besides, presentations and oral statements by the Governments and NGOs the major result of the CPD 2011 was an outcome document debated by member country UN missions. The zero draft of the CPD outcome document released by the CPD was quite strong to begin with, capturing the importance of recognizing women’s sexual and reproductive rights and choices for greater health and development outcomes.

From the start of the negotiations, the EU and G77 (who almost always negotiate in blocks) decided to split and take individual positions. Two alliances formed in support of ICPD objectives – the ‘likeminded’ countries and LatAm countries. Together with New Zealand, South Africa, the US, Zambia, and on some occasions, Ghana, Ireland and Italy, they defended language on women’s human rights, young people’s participation in program and policy development, adolescent sexual and reproductive health services, and protection of sexual and reproductive rights. The likeminded group proposed language on ‘sexual and reproductive health and rights’ in five operational paragraphs but these were not agreed upon in the end. Although they spoke very strongly in favor of SRHR, they lacked strategy for progressing the policy discourse, and was not able to be as strongly coordinated as the opposition was.

When the CPD facilitator’s text was presented on the last day of the CPD meeting, it contained new language, as agreed upon during the negotiations, on demographic transition, development, fertility and reproductive health, elderly persons and late pregnancy, and agreed language from past resolutions. In response, The Holy See spoke strongly against sexual and reproductive health and rights issues; Iran and Pakistan demanded the insertion of a paragraph on sovereignty; the Arab group supported Iran and Pakistan; and Belarus demanded the insertion of a paragraph on trafficking. The likeminded group did not have a clear position or strategy; they sought to bring attention back to the theme of the session and call for consensus. Disappointingly, the US devoted its energy to denounce the language on foreign occupation and did not speak up in support of sexual and reproductive health and rights issues at all. Finally, after negotiations in a working group, the resolution was adopted, with additional language on trafficking, sovereignty, and crisis situations.

The Pakistan’s delegation tried to play an active role as following:

  • Developing Linkages with SRHR Organizations from across the World
  • Good representation in CPD and side events by USAID, & IPPF
  • Contributed to negotiations process by frequent meetings with Pakistan Mission at UN and government delegates
  • Input to Pakistan Statement to the CPD and Pakistan Comments on ‘Population and Education’
  • Participated in SRHR NGOs’ Strategic Planning’, daily morning reviews and de-brief
  • Qadeer Baig presented oral statement on behalf of WPF at CPD Plenary
  • Nida Mushtaq spoke on Networking Dinner with donors and govts
  • Sadaf Nasimm Rehnuma FPAP presented a case study of ‘Swara’ at IPPF event in the plenary – ‘Putting the Girls First’
  • Khawar Mumtaz spoke at high profile USAID and UN Foundation luncheon
There is a need to sensitize representatives from various govt. ministries and the ministry of Foreign Affairs about the population and development issue particularly Sexual and reproductive health and right.

Meeting with Secretary Population Welfare Department-Punjab

We, at Rutgers WPF understand that for any initiative to be successful in its entirety there is a need for a strong and consistent public-private partnership. Keeping this in mind, Programme Manager SRHR-E & Project Coordinator (EGTC) had a meeting with the new Secretary of the Population Welfare Department in Lahore. The main objective of the meeting was the brief the him about the project Empowering Girls-Transforming Communities and to further explore the possibilities of public-private partnership.

The secretary was briefed about the project alongside the LSBE programme and its outreach. In addition, the LSBE curriculum was also shared with him, and his feedback was sought on it. The team at PWD was very interested in the curriculum and programme details and came up with many insightful suggestions for its expansion. This included contacting the education department, devising a parents-inclusive strategy for an appropriate curriculum and its integration at national level. The meeting was highly fruitful and the support extended from everyone was very encouraging. It was decided that the core group will review the curriculum and extend its support where ever possible and needed for the smooth running of the programme.

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Education

Core Group Meeting of Population Welfare Department Punjab and NGOs

The Punjab Core group meeting of Population Welfare Department Punjab and NGOs under the umbrella of the David & Lucile Packard Foundation was held on the 20th April 2011 in Lahore. The meeting was attended by representatives of Population Welfare Department Punjab, Rutgers WPF, The David & Lucile Packard Foundation, Shirkat Gah, FPAP, MSS, Bargad, Green Star & NRSP. Core group members updated each other on activities since the last meeting. Regarding the LSBE core group, after the 18th amendment there are still uncertainties on the role of the provincial education department. FPAP shared that it had held meetings with the Ministry of Education and that the Ministry was willing to discuss LSBE further. The core group on LSBE (Rutgers WPF, Aahung, and FPAP) will be taking this advocacy agenda forward during this quarter. Also during the meeting, implementation issues faced by Bargad, implementing partner of Rutgers WPF for the project, Empowering Girls- Transforming Communities, were discussed and feedback on the implementation strategy and advocacy sought from the group. The group was very supportive and agreed to give continuous support where and when needed.

Policy Advocacy

Second NADPF Provincial Consultation held in Quetta, Balochistan

RutgersWPF, Pakistan and Plan Pakistan in partnership with PIDS organized a second provincial consultation with adolescents and Civil Society Organisations on the National Adolescent Development Policy Framework (NADPF) in Quetta on 29th April 2011 (Friday).

The Consultative meeting started with an introductory session and after the participant’s introduction Dr. Irfan Ahmed, Senior Health Advisor, Plan Pakistan introduced the initiative and briefed the participants about the National Adolescent Development policy Framework. Ms. Nazoora Ali, Programme Manager Policy Advocacy shared the process of the initiative from federal to provincial level after the 18th Amendment which guarantees provincial autonomy to the provinces with regard to social sector. She also shared the TORs of the Provincial working group which were finalized in consultation with the participants.

Country Representative Rutgers WPF, Mr. Qadeer Baig facilitated the last session of the discussion and feedback on this joint initiative of Rutgers WPF and Plan Pakistan. He rightfully emphasized the role of the CSOs to take forward the initiative, especially those who were present at the consultation and have influence at field level. Mr. Baber Shah Kahn, CEO, PIDS assured the support of PIDS to take forward the process at the Provincial level. Overall, the consultation proved to be highly productive and geared a lot of support for the adolescent programme.

Provincial Conference on Sexual Reproductive Health & Rights of Youth

Ms. Nazoora Ali, Programme Manager Rutgers WPF participated in the Provincial Conference on Sexual and Reproductive Health & Rights of Youth as one of the panelist on 27th April 2011 organized by Sahil at Lahore.

She spoke about ‘SRHR as a basic Human Rights and the identification of Gaps in Policies in relation with SRHR of Youth’. She highlighted the need for the recognition of SRHR as a basic human right; as Pakistan has signed many international treaties (i.e. CEDAW, CRC) and other International human rights instruments (i.e. ICPD, MDGs) which exhibit clear & direct linkages with the status of SRHR of youth. As a result of international agreements and activism from non-governmental organizations over the past two decades, new approaches are emerging which recognize sexual and reproductive health and rights as human rights as well as being central to health and well-being.

Making a sound case by referring to the ICPD and the words of our ex-Prime Minister Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto (Shaheed), she drew a strong line of argument for the promise of SRHR policies to be implemented in Pakistan. And yet there still exists a major gap in the political commitment in this field.

She reiterated that Rutgers WPF recognizes that national policies influence the lives of population in the developing countries and are prerequisite to ensure the equal participation of women in the development process. Thus, the conference served as a great platform for advocating for SRHR and its integral role in a populations development.

Institutional Strengthening

Pre-testing of research study tool (Questionnaire) for the Safe District project

The pre-testing of research study tool (Questionnaire) for the Safe District project was conducted by the Programme Manager and Officer, Institutional Strengthening, in a semi-urban area; the Muslim Colony situated in Noorpur shah Islamabad. Four interviews were conducted with three currently married and one widowed women. The key objectives of pretesting were to gauge the average time required to complete one questionnaire, to assess the language of the questionnaire and the general sequence of the tool. The overall aim was to determine the response to the questionnaire of the respondents. The feedback gathered from the pre-testing was later discussed at a meeting and was mutually agreed that it was highly useful; thus it was duly incorporated.

Partnerships & Sustainability

Rights-driven Institutionalization of Sexual and Reproductive Health in Pakistan-Hamara Kal

The P&S programme with support from the Knowledge Management team was busy in analyzing the negative coverage of the LSBE programme by couple of local newspapers and strategizing an appropriate response in consultation with partners. This was an opportune time to revisit all contacts at government and civil society level to reinforce the project goals. In this respect, meetings were held with the members of the DPSC Karachi EDO Education Matiari, Karachi and other media experts to get advice on how to appropriately deal with this situation.

These were very positive and a lot of support was shown by the partners and education department in Karachi as well as Matiari. The main of the meetings was to initiate a healthy dialogue on LSBE and its value to the adolescents. CR, Pakistan participated in a TV programme on “Education” at the Express News (Urdu) to emphasize on the need of the LSBE.

Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation

Baseline Survey

April again was a busy month for PME department due to the baseline survey conducted under the United for Body Rights (UFBR) programme (MFS-II). As a continuation of the baseline survey workshop held at Rutgers WPF office in last week of March, Rutgers WPF team remained actively engaged in finalization of baseline tools including the most technical; KAP questionnaire. The most important aspect of tools finalization was tailoring it in a culturally apposite manner and translation in to local language for assessing the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of young people and available SRH services in the two target districts of Quetta and Multan.

Following a data collection plan developed in consultation with the external consultant and Implementing Partners (IPs) in both districts, trainings were carried out for data collection team, facilitated by an external consultant and PME department of Rutgers WPF. In addition, two team members of Rutgers WPF (from PME & P&S) also facilitated FGDs and power mapping exercises in UFBR programme targeted districts. A self administered Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) survey was carried out with young people in public schools of both districts. After analyzing the data, the consultant has submitted the first draft of the Baseline Report which will be shared with the HQ after being reviewed by the Rutgers WPF, P team.

Mid-Term Evaluation of Rights Driven Institutionalization of SRHR in Pakistan

Parallel with the UFBR baseline, the PME department was also planning for the Mid-Term Evaluation of Rights Driven Institutionalization (RDI) of SRHR in Pakistan (HAMARA KAL), a project of Rutgers WPF funded by the European Commission (EC). Initial discussions on ToRs and work plan were held with the Rutgers WPF Head Quarter’s team comprised of Ms. Sanderjin and Ms. Pauline during their visit to Pakistan. PME department finalized the concept note and defining methodologies for mid-term evaluation, a two months extensive exercise planned for May and June this year.

Expressions

Mother child week: Saving women from maternal mortality

By Sehrish Wasif

ISLAMABAD: There is a need to recognise maternal death and illness as a pressing human rights issue on national level in Pakistan. The country has fallen short of implementing its resolution with the United Nation Human Rights Council on the issue, passed in 2009, The Express Tribune has learnt.

The objective of the resolution is to consider maternal death and morbidity as a human rights issue in order to protect the lives of women and decrease maternal mortality and morbidity rate.

The National Programme for Family Planning and Primary Health Care, Ministry of Health in collaboration with UNICEF has started off Mother and Child Week. According to Ministry of Health, every year Pakistan witnesses preventable deaths of 432,000 children under-five and 20,000 mothers due to causes related to pregnancy and child birth. Among the under-five deaths, two-thirds are in the first 28 days, are largely due to pneumonia which is 13 per cent and diarrhoea 11 percent or about 70,000. To address these issues, the week has been observed twice a year, since 2007 ; in April and October, focusing on two major fatal diseases of children, diarrhoea and pneumonia.

The activities during the week include public awareness at village and union council level, supplemented by immunisation and deworming for children, tetanus toxoid vaccination for pregnant mothers, refresher trainings for health workers, and strengthened public health systems to administer Oral Re-hydration Salts.

However, according to health experts, these initiatives by government would be of no use without educating mothers, strengthening health systems, providing clean environment and most of all proper transport and smooth roads for pregnant women.

Talking to The Express Tribune, the Head of Paediatric Department of Islamabad Medical and Dental College, Prof Mumtaz Hassan, said educating mothers could help the government to reduce the maternal and infant death toll to a great extent.

A senior gynaecologist at Benazir Bhutto Hospital, who wished not to be named, said sometimes pregnant women from rural areas come to the hospital with serious complications, caused by the untrained traditional birth attendants.

Some have miscarriages due to bumpy rides on dilapidated road and the poor transport system. She said the capacity and number of lady health workers is insufficient.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Country Director of Rutgers World Population Foundation, Qadeer Baig said the resolution has been approved by the Balochistan and Sind assemblies and they (the assemblies) are demanding National Assembly to pass it as well.

Baig said to attain resources, there is a need to legislate and formulate a policy on federal level for the implementation of the resolution.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2011.
For online edition visit the link: http://tribune.com.pk/story/157600/mother-child-week-saving-women-from-maternal-mortality/

As of 1 January 2011, Rutgers Nisso Groep and World Population Foundation (WPF) have merged under the new name Rutgers WPF. By joining forces we can continue to dedicate ourselves to people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights, both in the Netherlands and abroad. For every human being, regardless of gender, (cultural) background or sexual orientation.

For more details visit www.rutgerswpfpak.org