Where We Work
| Estimated Population | 839 324 | | Population Growth Rate | 0.636% (2008) | | Population Density | 46 people per square km |
Source: UNFPA[i]
[i] United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). (2009). Asia and the Pacific at a Glance. New York, USA: UNFPA
Fiji has participated in and endorsed International Conferences and Reservations on the International Conference on Population & Development (ICPD) Programme of Action (PoA). These are: ICPD (1994)[i], Beijing Platform for Action (1995)[ii], Con and Millennium Development Goals (MDG) (2000)[iii]. Fiji records an MMR of 35.3 per 100 000 live births[iv] and a contraceptive prevalence rate of 44% (modern methods).[v] Abortion is a criminal offence in most of the region with penalties ranging from two years to life imprisonment for women who are convicted or those who perform the procedure. Abortion is allowed under certain conditions such as when continiuing with the pregnancy would pose a threat to the woman’s life.[vi] Young people get information about sex from their peers. For male adolescents, the information comes in the form of pornographic material which misinforms them about a lot of things to do with sex and STIs. According to some women’s rights activists, this also adds to the way they engage with women, perpetrating violence against women. Young women are especially vulnerable because they do not get information, are not aware of themselves and their bodies, and are disempowered so they not really able to negotiate safe sex or whether they want to have sex.[vii] Studies show 30 – 70% of women experience domestic violence, and factors such as the low status of women, cultural/religious beliefs and inadequate laws all add to the challenge of eliminating violence against women and girls.[viii] The conflict situation and civil and political unrest are another challenge in Fiji. Fiji has a history of military coups. This not only exacerbates domestic violence and sexual assaults but in times of civil unrest acts of violence against women often go unreported.[ix] Most SRHR work in Fiji currently focuses on the issues of HIV/AIDs & STI awareness and prevention as well as adolescent reproductive health.
[iv] United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). (2009). Asia and the Pacific at a Glance. New York, USA: UNFPA [v] United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). (2009). Asia and the Pacific at a Glance. New York, USA: UNFPA [vi] Khan, N. (2009). SRHR in the Pacific areas for NGO engagement. [Powerpoint presentation] Presented at The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. [vii] Khan, N. (2009). SRHR in the Pacific areas for NGO engagement. [Powerpoint presentation] Presented at The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. [viii] Khan, N. (2009). SRHR in the Pacific areas for NGO engagement. [Powerpoint presentation] Presented at The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. [ix] Khan, N. (2009). SRHR in the Pacific areas for NGO engagement. [Powerpoint presentation] Presented at The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) Programme Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 03 June 2010 15:27 |
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| Estimated Population | 228.5 million | | Population Growth Rate | 1.36 % per annum | | Population Density | 123 people per square km |
Source: UNFPA[i]
[i] United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). (2009). Asia and the Pacific at a Glance. New York, USA: UNFPA Indonesia has participated in and endorsed International Conferences and Reservations on the International Conference on Population & Development (ICPD) Programme of Action (PoA). These are: ICPD (1994), Beijing Platform for Action (1995) and Millennium Development Goals (MDG) (2000).[1] As far as legally-binding international documents are concerned, Indonesia has placed reservations on article 29 (1) of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and ratified in 1984 through Law Number 7/1984.[2] Indonesia’s MMR in 2005 continues to be high – 420 - in South-East Asia and in Asia as a whole. Complications from unsafe abortions cause 15% of maternal deaths, and from this 15%, “750,000 to one million abortions each year in Indonesia, 89% were among married women and 11% were among single women. It is estimated that 70% of women who have had an abortion were trying to abort using traditional herbs (jamu), traditional massage, or an object, or sought an abortion from a traditional healer (dukun) before coming to the clinic. This is a cause for concern because these attempts can be life threatening and dangerous for women’s health.”[3] The maternal mortality ratio reflects women’s access to functional referral systems and quality care at all levels of the health system and some of the major contributions of this increasing maternal mortality rate (in West Java according to a study) are bleeding, infection and eclampsia and unhygienic conditions at delivery that contribute to postpartum infection. But more than these medical factors, Javanese culture promotes various postpartum practices that are supposed to be beneficial to mothers but in reality are extremely dangerous. Inserting herbs into the vagina ante - or post partum; the traditional healer inserting the hand into the vagina during birth and into the uterus after birth to extract the placenta; and the mother sitting for hours after birth with her back to a pole and her legs stretched out in front, with weights on either side of the feet to prevent movement are some of these dangerous practices. Difficult births were often seen as progressing too slowly while, paradoxically, the symptoms were too fast to manage. Traditional healers generally see time as a potentially healing rather than a potentially threatening factor in case management.[4] Basic health interventions are not reaching the poor. The proportion of pregnant women who delivered with a trained attendant is 21% among the poorest women and 89% among the wealthiest.[5]
[1] Thanenthiran, S; Racherla S.J. (2009). Annex of Tables. Reclaiming & Redefining Rights – ICPD+15: Status of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Asia (p.45). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW). [2] Thanenthiran, S; Racherla S.J. (2009). Reclaiming & Redefining Rights – ICPD+15: Status of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Asia. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW). [3] The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW). (2006). Rights and Realities: Monitoring Reports on the Status of Indonesian Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: ARROW. [4] The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW). (2006). Rights and Realities: Monitoring Reports on the Status of Indonesian Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: ARROW. [5] The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW). (2006). Rights and Realities: Monitoring Reports on the Status of Indonesian Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: ARROW. ARROW's Work in Indonesia ARROW's critical Cross-Country Indicators on Indonesia ARROW's Monitoring Reports on Indonesia ARROW's Resources on Indonesia |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 03 June 2010 14:11 |
| Estimated Population | 1.321 billion | | Population Growth Rate | 10.517% per annum | | Population Density | 133 people per square km |
Source: UNFPA[i]
[i] United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). (2009). Asia and the Pacific at a Glance. New York, USA: UNFPA Malaysia has participated in and endorsed International Conferences and Reservations on the International Conference on Population & Development (ICPD) Programme of Action (PoA). These are: ICPD (1994), Beijing Platform for Action (1995) and Millennium Development Goals (MDG) (2000).[i] Although having reduced its MMR drastically in earlier years, Malaysia now demonstrates a steady increase in the MMR. In 2005, Malaysia recorded a MMR of 62 per 100 000 live births compared to 2000 and 1995 (41 and 39 respectively.)[ii] Despite economic growth and high increases in women’s education, Malaysia has a low Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) of any modern method (29.8) which could be a contributing factor to the MMR.[iii] A study done by the Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM) and the Federation of Reproductive Health Association Malaysia (FRHAM) showed that the reasons behind a low CPR is fear of side effects, male spouse’s opposition to contraceptive use, lack of recognition of young and/or unmarried people’s need for sexuality education and family planning services, and a continued low policy priority on family planning.[iv] In Malaysia, religious fundamentalism is increasingly becoming a barrier for the sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and adolescents. “Moral policing” of Muslims for Syariah law offences such as close sexual proximity of unmarried couples and dressing “inappropriately” or in opposite sex clothes, has increased since the International Conference of Population and Development (ICPD). Sex and sexuality are still taboo subjects and are perceived by society ad the government to be the rights of married heterosexual couples only, although it is accepted as a norm that men, especially Muslim men, have more sexual rights than women.[v] Although there is an increase in Malaysia’s MMR, it is more difficult to openly address issues such as gender relations, religious interpretations and morality, the body and sexuality than that of maternal mortality. “Sexuality, gender, culture and religion provides the complexity in all the SRHR issues and thus need to be addressed comprehensively as the cross cutting issues.”[vi] Although women’s rights have had greater progress due to the effective gender equality and violence against women advocacy work of women NGOs and discriminative laws continue to be reformed including the constitution itself, marital rape and sexual harassment \ are not yet offences despite NGO advocacy. In fact, Muslim family law has retrogressed with polygamous marriages being easier to be approved now than in 1994. All forms of violence against women have continued to increase, especially rape and incest.[vii] Among the main barriers to progress in SRHR and women’s rights are lack of strong government acceptance of human rights; the lack of governmental and UN accountability mechanisms for implementation of laws, policies and plans, agreements; and the limited role government asks NGOs to play.[viii]
[i] Thanenthiran, S; Racherla S.J. (2009). Annex of Tables. Reclaiming & Redefining Rights – ICPD+15: Status of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Asia (p.45). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW). [ii] World Health Organisation (WHO). (2007). Maternal mortality in 2005 : estimates developed by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, and the World Bank. Geneva, Switzerland : WHO [iii] United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division. (2007). World Contraceptive Use 2007. New York, USA: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division [iv] Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM); Federation of Reproductive Health Association Malaysia (FRHAM). (2009). Increasing Access to the Reproductive Right to Contraceptive Information and Services, SRHR Education for Youth and Legal Abortion (Unpublished). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) [v] Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM); Federation of Reproductive Health Association Malaysia (FRHAM). (2009). Increasing Access to the Reproductive Right to Contraceptive Information and Services, SRHR Education for Youth and Legal Abortion (Unpublished). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) [vi] Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM); Federation of Reproductive Health Association Malaysia (FRHAM). (2009). Increasing Access to the Reproductive Right to Contraceptive Information and Services, SRHR Education for Youth and Legal Abortion (Unpublished). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) [vii] Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM); Federation of Reproductive Health Association Malaysia (FRHAM). (2009). Increasing Access to the Reproductive Right to Contraceptive Information and Services, SRHR Education for Youth and Legal Abortion (Unpublished). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) [viii] Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM); Federation of Reproductive Health Association Malaysia (FRHAM). (2009). Increasing Access to the Reproductive Right to Contraceptive Information and Services, SRHR Education for Youth and Legal Abortion (Unpublished). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) ARROW's Work in Malaysia ARROW's Monitoring Reports on Malaysia ARROW's critical Cross-Country Indicators on Malaysia ARROW's Resources on Malaysia |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 03 June 2010 14:21 |
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| Estimated Population | 85.2 million | | Population Growth Rate | 1.17% per annum | | Population Density | 257 people per square km |
[i] United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). (2009). Asia and the Pacific at a Glance. New York, USA: UNFPA
Vietnam has participated in and endorsed International Conferences and Reservations on the International Conference on Population & Development (ICPD) Programme of Action (PoA). These are: ICPD (1994), Beijing Platform for Action (1995) and Millennium Development Goals (MDG) (2000).[i] It is one of the few countries in Asia that has legalised abortion and menstrual regulation on all grounds. It records a MMR of 150 per 100 000 live births, an increase from past years.[ii] Like Thailand, Vietnam has a high Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) of 78.5% (any method)[iii], yet MMR is high. This situation needs further investigation to identify the affected groups and to ensure strategic interventions. ARROW’s partners in Vietnam have also focused on the issue of unmet need for contraception for young and unmarried women, including adolescents, leading to a rise of unintended pregnancies.[iv] In the country report submitted to the CEDAW committee, trafficking in women, exploitation of the ‘prostitution’ of women, sexually transmitted diseases and infections remain pressing issues in Vietnam. Another pressing issue is the quality of healthcare services, which is poor and difficult to access, especially for women living in rural and mountainous areas. It is interesting to note (according to UNFPA’s Asia and the Pacific at a Glance) that although the average maternal mortality rate in Vietnam is 150 per 100 000 live births, it is more than double in mountainous and rural areas of the country (400 per 100 000 live births). About 80% of these ethnic women are delivering at home with no assistance from a trained health professional. [v] A Safe Motherhood Master Plan (2003-2010) is currently being implemented in Vietnam as well as other countries in the Asia and the Pacific.
[i] Thanenthiran, S; Racherla S.J. (2009). Annex of Tables. Reclaiming & Redefining Rights – ICPD+15: Status of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Asia (p.45). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW). [ii] World Health Organisation (WHO). (2007). Maternal mortality in 2005 : estimates developed by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, and the World Bank. Geneva, Switzerland : WHO [iii] Committee for Population, Family and Children Vietnam; ORC Macro.( 2003). Vietnam Demographic and Health Survey 2002. Vietnam: Committee for Population, Family and Children Vietnam]; ORC Macro. [iv] Family Health Research & Development Centre (FHRD), Research Centre for Gender, Family and Development (CGFED), Institute for Reproductive Health and Family Health (RaFH). (2009). Abortion in Vietnam: A Review of Policies and Practices : Country Case Study (Unpublished). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW). [v] United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). (2009). Asia and the Pacific at a Glance. New York, USA: UNFPA
ARROW's Work in Vietnam ARROW's critical Cross-Country Indicators on Vietnam ARROW's Monitoring Reports on Vietnam ARROW's Resources on Vietnam |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 03 June 2010 15:07 |
| Estimated Population | 88.57 million | | Population Growth Rate | 2.04% per annum | | Population Density | 295 people per square km |
Source: UNFPA[i]
[i] United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). (2009). Asia and the Pacific at a Glance. New York, USA: UNFPA
The Philippines has participated in and endorsed International Conferences and Reservations on the International Conference on Population & Development (ICPD) Programme of Action (PoA). These are: ICPD (1994), Beijing Platform for Action (1995) and Millennium Development Goals (MDG) (2000).[i] The Philippines recorded a MMR of 230 in 2005.[ii] Although there is an average Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) of 48.9% (any method)[iii], the MMR continues to increase. A lack of access to emergency obstetric care (EMOC), skilled birth attendance, and contraception as well as post-abortion care for women (especially women in rural areas and for young people)[iv],[v] are issues that have been identified by ARROW country partners, that are contributing factors for the high MMR. This high MMR is despite the fact that the Philippines has a “high coverage of antenatal care of at least four visits…This observation that that antenatal care has poor predictive value has been known for a long time. In a letter published in the Lancet in 1934, F Neon Reynolds pointed out that more than 80% of maternal deaths were due to complications for which no antenatal screening was possible: puerperal sepsis, postpartum haemorrhage, and shock.” [vi] While the Government reports progress in reaching ICPD goals, particularly through policies and programmes developed since 1994, ARROW’s partner in the Philippines Likhaan’s report, based on in-depth interviews with poor women of Metro Manila states otherwise. There is a strong possibility that the maternal mortality rate (MMR) has been significantly underestimated by field reports. An assessment of emergency obstetrical care (EmOC) points to its inaccessibility even in urban centres where hospitals abound. Although abortion continues to be illegal in the Philippines, continues to be pervasive and attended by life-threatening complications and is largely ignored.[vii] In the shadow report submitted to the CEDAW committee report critiques the government strongly for not recognizing the reproductive rights of its women citizens as “nearly half a million induced abortions are estimated to occur each year, with thousands dying from complications. Still, government continues to over privilege natural family planning (NFP), strengthening religious prejudices against those who opt to choose artificial contraceptive methods.”[viii] According to the report, the government does not prioritise basic health services, instead these services have had the biggest budget cuts in the national budget, leading to many rural health centers closing down or being barely operational and qualified health professional joining the migrant labour force in an increasing number.
Although more than 20 years have passed since the Philippines ratified CEDAW, yet the country still has no national legislation on the reproductive rights of the Filipino women, instead the report states that the government “continues to pay no heed to the sexual and reproductive health realities of Filipino women and in so doing, gravely neglects a continuing concern of the Women’s Convention that the many extensive forms of discrimination foisted upon women are made on the basis of their sex and function in procreation.”[ix] Other causes of concern are the conservative Catholic church as well as fundamentalist Christian and Muslim groups that get in the way of achieving the recommendations of CEDAW.
[i] Thanenthiran, S; Racherla S.J. (2009). Annex of Tables. Reclaiming & Redefining Rights – ICPD+15: Status of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Asia (p.45). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW). [ii] World Health Organisation (WHO). (2007). Maternal mortality in 2005 : estimates developed by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, and the World Bank. Geneva, Switzerland : WHO [iii] National Statistics Office (NSO) Philippines; ORC Macro. (2004). Philippines Demographic and Health Survey 2003. Philippines: National Statistics Office (NSO) Philippines; ORC Macro [iv] Likhaan Center for Women’s Health. (2009). Identifying barriers to the timely access of critical safe motherhood services among poor women living in the National Capital region and in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARRMM): Country Case Study (Unpublished). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW). [v] ReproCen. (2009). Case Study on Contraceptive Behaviour of Filipino Youth in Metro Manila communities: Country Case Study (Unpublished). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW). [vi] Thanenthiran, S; Racherla S.J. (2009). Reproductive Health and Reproductive Rights: Prevention of Maternal Deaths. Reclaiming & Redefining Rights – ICPD+15: Status of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Asia. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW). [vii] Likhaan Center for Women’s Health. (2009). Identifying barriers to the timely access of critical safe motherhood services among poor women living in the National Capital region and in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARRMM): Country Case Study (Unpublished). Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW). [viii] Women’s Legal Bureau Inc. (2006). Philippine NGOs Shadow Report to the 36th Session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Philippines: Women’s Legal Bureau Inc. [ix] Women’s Legal Bureau Inc. (2006). Philippine NGOs Shadow Report to the 36th Session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Philippines: Women’s Legal Bureau Inc.
ARROW's Work in the Philippines ARROW's critical Cross-Country Indicators on Philippines ARROW's Monitoring Reports on the Philippines ARROW's Resources on Philippines |
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Last Updated on Thursday, 03 June 2010 14:43 |
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