Roundtable Discussions on Sexual and Reproductive Health and the Millennium Development Goals- the way forward

The Parliamentary Group on Population and Development held roundtable discussions on ‘Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the Australian Aid Program- the way forward' in August and September 2006.

The roundtables were held to raise awareness within the Australian Parliament about how improved sexual and reproductive health (SRH) underpins all of the MDGs. They provided an opportunity to discuss with parliamentarians key aspects of current thinking on SRH especially in the Asia Pacific region. This included issues such as family planning, HIV/AIDS, maternal health, SRH in crises and fragile states and safe abortion. At the conclusion of the roundtables, the PGPD Secretariat is preparing a report that may inform the Group’s position on sexual and reproductive health issues in the aid program and outline future priority activities.

The roundtable discussions were held on the following dates in Parliament House:
- Monday 14 August 8:30am-12:30pm: topics for discussion included sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in crises and fragile states, SRH rights, HIV/AIDS, maternal and child health
- Monday 11 September, 8:30am-12:30pm: topics for discussion included integration of HIV and SRH services, HIV/AIDS programs, men's role in reproductive health, family planning.

You can view the program here

A call for written submissions was circulated and the responses are available below.


         Monday 11 September - record of proceedings (draft)

• Department of Foreign Affairs of Denmark- Ms Anne Marie Tyndeskov Voetmann      Presentation
• JTA International- Dr Maxine Whittaker       Submission     Presentation
• Burnet Institute - Dr Wendy Holmes      Submisssion      Presentation
• Oxfam Australia- Bridgette Thorold       Submisssion     Presentation
• Sexual Health and Family Planning Australia - Ms Kelsey Powell      Submisssion     
• Women's Plans Foundation- Mrs Alice Oppen       Submisssion      Presentation
• Australian Reproductive Health Alliance - Ms Jenny Goldie        Submisssion     
• Dr Suzanne Belton, Charles Darwin University     Submisssion      Presentation

        Monday 14 August - record of proceedings

• Guttmacher Institute - Ms Sharon Camp     Presentation
• Marie Stopes International Australia (MSIA)- Sexual and reproductive rights and poverty    Submission
• MSIA - Fragile States and sexual and reproductive health   Submission      Presentation
• MSIA- Sexual and reproductive health in crises     Submission      Presentation
• Dr Anna Whelan, University of New South Wales       Submission    
• Dr Elizabeth Bennett, Key Centre for Women's Health in Society       Submission    
• Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO)- Ms Bridget Haire   Submission    Presentation
• Save the Children Australia- Ms Karen Hill       Submission      Presentation