REGIONAL COMMITTEE
Provisional Agenda item 7.2
Sixty-fifth Session Yogyakarta, Indonesia 5–7 September 2012
SEA/RC65/21 16 July 2012
UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction: Policy and Coordination Committee (PCC): Report on attendance at PCC in 2012 and nomination of a member in place of Thailand whose term expires on 31 December 2012 The Policy and Coordination Committee (PCC) acts as the governing body of the Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction. The last PCC Meeting was held from 21 to 22 June 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland. Its report was presented to the High-Level Preparatory (HLP) Meeting. At present, there are three Member states from the South-East Asia Region (Bhutan, Bangladesh and Thailand) that are members of the PCC Category 2, while India continues to be a member of the PCC Category 1, and Nepal is a member for Category 3 since 2012 for a three year term. Since the term of office of Thailand ends on 31 December 2012, the HLP Meeting was requested to consider electing, one of the Member States of the Region to serve on the PCC for a three-year term of office from 1 January 2013. The attached working paper and report of the PCC were submitted to the HLP Meeting who made the following recommendation: Action by Member States (1) To recommend to the Sixty-fifth Regional Committee the nomination of Maldives from the SEA Region as a member of the PCC in place of Thailand, whose term expires in December 2012.
The Sixty-fifth Session of the Regional Committee is requested to consider and note the report of the PCC Meeting and to make a decision on the recommendation of the HLP Meeting.
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Background 1. The Policy and Coordination Committee (PCC) of the Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction acts as the governing body of the Special Programme and is responsible for its overall policy and strategy. For the purpose of coordinating the interests and responsibilities of the parties cooperating in the Special Programme, it:
reviews and decides upon the planning and execution of the Special Programme; reviews and approves the plan of action and budget for the coming financial period prepared by the Executing Agency and reviewed by the Scientific and Technical Advisory Group (STAG) and the Standing Committee; reviews the proposals of the Standing Committee and approves arrangements for the financing of the Special Programme; reviews the proposed longer-term plans of action and their financial implications; reviews the annual financial statements submitted by the Executing Agency, and the audit report thereon, submitted by the External Auditor of the Executing Agency; reviews periodic reports that will evaluate the progress of the Special Programme towards the achievement of its objectives; reviews and endorses the selection of members of STAG by the Executing Agency in consultation with the Standing Committee, and considers such other matters relating to the Special Programme as may be referred to it by any Cooperating Party.
Composition 2. The PCC consists of members from among the Cooperating Parties as follows (Annex 1): (1) Largest financial contributors (Category 1): 11 government representatives from countries that are the largest financial contributors to the Special Programme, including India. Countries elected by WHO regional committees: 14 Member States elected by the WHO regional committees for three-year terms according to population distribution and regional needs. Three countries representing the South-East Asia Region under this category (Category 2) are Bhutan, Bangladesh and Thailand. In their election, due account is taken of a country's financial and/or technical support to the Special Programme, as well as its interest in the fields of family planning, and research and development in human reproduction and fertility regulation, as demonstrated by national policies and programmes.
(2)
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(3) (4) (5)
Other interested Cooperating Parties (Category 3): two members elected by PCC for three-year terms from the remaining Cooperating Parties. Permanent members: the cosponsors of the Special Programme: UNDP, UNFPA, WHO, The World Bank and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). Observers: other Cooperating Parties may be represented as observers upon approval of the Executing Agency, which is the World Health Organization, after consultation with the Standing Committee. Observers may attend sessions of PCC at their own expense.
Members of PCC in Categories 2 and 3 may be re-elected.
Action to be taken by the Regional Committee Report on the PCC Session 3. The Regional Committee, at its earlier session, recommended that the PCC members elected by it should report to the Regional Committee giving a summary of the deliberation of the last PCC session attended by them.
Membership from the South-East Asia Region under Category 2 4. The following table depicts the membership of PCC from the South-East Asia Region over the past few years. Paragraph of the Memorandum on the Administrative Structure under which elected 2.2.2 2.2.2 2.2.2 2.2.2 2.2.2 2.2.2 2.2.1 2.2.1 2.2.2 2.2.2 2.2.2 2.2.2
Country
Period
Elected by
Bangladesh
1987–1989 1990–1992 2000–2002 2006–2008 2012–2014
Regional Committee Regional Committee Regional Committee Regional Committee Regional Committee Regional Committee PCC PCC Regional Committee Regional Committee Regional Committee Regional Committee
Bhutan India
2011–2013 1988–1989 1990–1991 1993–1995 1996–1998 1999–2001 2002–2004
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Country
Period
Elected by
Paragraph of the Memorandum on the Administrative Structure under which elected 2.2.2 2.2.2 2.2.2 2.2.2 2.2.2 2.2.2 2.2.2 2.2.3 2.2.2 2.2.2 2.2.2 2.2.2 2.2.2 2.2.3 2.2.2 2.2.2 2.2.2 2.2.2
Indonesia
1992–1994 1995–1997 1998–2000 2001–2003 2008–2010
Regional Committee Regional Committee Regional Committee Regional Committee Regional Committee Regional Committee Regional Committee PCC Regional Committee Regional Committee Regional Committee Regional Committee Regional Committee PCC Regional Committee Regional Committee Regional Committee Regional Committee
Myanmar Nepal
2007–2009 1989–1991 2000–2002 2005–2007
Sri Lanka
1988–1990 1994–1996 2004–2006 2009–2011
Thailand
1988–1990 1991–1993 1997–1999 2003–2005 2010–2012
5. At present, the three Member states from the South-East Asia Region that are members of PCC are Bhutan, Bangladesh and Thailand. 6. In selecting a Member State, the Regional Committee may keep in view that due account should be taken of a country's financial and/or technical support to the Special Programme, as well as its interest in the fields of family planning, and research and development in human reproduction and fertility regulation, as demonstrated by the national policies and programmes.
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Annex 1
Category 1 – Largest financial contributors in the previous biennium China Flemish Government, Belgium France India Italy Netherlands Norway Spain Sweden Switzerland United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Category 2 – Countries elected by the WHO Regional Committees Bhutan Ethopia Ghana Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Iraq Japan Mongolia Paraguay Philippines Sri Lanka Thailand Ukraine
Category 3 – Other interested Cooperating Parties Nepal Niger Russian Federation
Category 4 – Permanent members UNDP UNFPA WHO The World Bank IPPF ) ) ) Cosponsors )
REGIONAL COMMITTEE
Provisional Agenda item 7.2
Sixty-fifth Session Yogyakarta, Indonesia 5–7 September 2012
SEA/RC65/21 Inf.Doc. 16 July 2012
UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction: Policy and Coordination Committee (PCC) – Report on attendance at PCC in 2012 and nomination of a member in place of Thailand whose term expires on 31 December 2012 The Twenty-fifth Meeting of the Policy and Coordination Committee of the UNDP/UNFPA/ WHO/World Bank Special Programme for Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction, was held in Geneva, Switzerland on 21-22 June 2012. The attached document is a brief report on the deliberations of the meeting.
SEA/RC65/21 Inf.Doc.
Report of the Twenty-fifth Policy and Coordination Committee (PCC) Meeting UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme for Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction, WHO, Geneva, 21–22 June 2012 Particpants from the South-East Asia Region: Dr Md Abdul Hoque (Bangladesh) Dr Phurb Dorji (Bhutan) Dr Somyos Deerasamee, Dr Somsak Pattarakulwanich, Mrs Paradee Chansmorn and Dr Kittipong Sae-Jeng (Thailand)
At its Twenty-fifth Meeting, held in Geneva, Switzerland, on 21–22 June 2012, the Policy and Coordinating Committee (PCC) of the UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme for Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (“the Programme") made the following statements and recommendations Report by the Assistant Director-General, WHO Family and Community Health 1. Noted the report of the Assistant Director-General.
2. Requested who increases its support to the Department of Reproductive Health and Research (RHR) from the core voluntary contribution. 3. Welcomed the timely selection of the new Director of HRP/RHR, Dr Marlene Temermann.
Director’s Report on Special Programme Activities 4. Commended the Director and the staff of RHR for the impressive work done and results achieved. 5. Underscored the importance of competencies in health professionals in developing guidelines for sexual and reproductive health. 6. Emphasized the importance of human rights in the work of the Programme.
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7. Requested that work on advocacy and communicating results of the programme continue to be strengthened. 8. Suggested that work done at country level continue to be highlighted.
9. Acknowledged the challenges associated with coordinating research and programming with respect to hormonal contraception and HIV risk, and commended the important work of the Department in this area. 10. Congratulated the programme for publication of the Guidelines on Safe Abortion, and recommended that these guidelines be disseminated to all regions. 11. Emphasized the need for WHO to maintain an integrated approach in the various components of reproductive health.
Technical Presentation on “Working to improve adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH)” 12. Congratulated the panellists for their presentations and Welcomed the work of the programme on adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH). 13. Recommended that the programme places emphasis on human rights when conducting research and implementing programme for ASRH. 14. Noted the importance of sexuality education, and recommended research to define appropriate approaches for both in and out of school adolescents. 15. Suggested giving attention to empowering adolescents and educating them on their rights. 16. Noted that the Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is increasingly available and recommended that HRP focus more on issues of vaccine delivery. 17. Recommended that HRP conduct more research to identify adolescents with greatest needs and how best to engage them.
Special agenda on commemorating 40 years of HRP 18. Congratulated the programme on its 40th anniversary, and commended its achievements in promoting sexual and reproductive health 19. emphasizsed the importance of research in sensitive areas which is not undertaken by other agencies. 20. Commended the work on research capacity strengthening in low-resource countries.
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21. Recommended disseminating achievements and results of research more widely. 22. Cited the earlier Strategic Partnership Programme (SPP) as an effective approach to translating research evidence to policy and practice, and recommended that this approach be continued for the systematic adoption of tools, guidelines and other knowledge products. 23. Agreed to hold PCC(26) on 20-21 June 2013 in Geneva.