II. Purpose of Workshop

Reproductive health is one of the important components of Programme of Action (POA) which was agreed in 1994 at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and defined in chapter VII 7.2~7.3 as �gReproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters relating to the reproductive system and to its functions and processes. Reproductive health therefore implies that people are able to have a satisfying and safe sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so.�h Implicit in this last condition are the right of men and women to be informed and to have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice, as well as. other methods of their choice for regulation of fertility which are not against the law, and the right of access to appropriate health-care services that will enable women to go safely through pregnancy and childbirth and provide couples with the best chance of having a healthy infant.�h

Reproductive health includes a comprehensive approach to reproductive health issues including family planning, maternal and child health, sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS, which has been dealt separately by vertically divided administrative functions.

Reproductive health eludes many of the world's people because of such factors as: inadequate levels of knowledge about human sexuality and inappropriate or poor-quality reproductive health information and services; the prevalence of high-risk sexual behaviour; discriminatory social practices; negative attitudes towards women and girls; and the limited power many women and girls have over their sexual and reproductive lives. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable because of their lack of information and access to relevant services in most countries. 500,000 women or more have died every year by factors that originated in pregnancy and birth. Strikingly, 99 percent of these cases occurred in developing countries.

The promotion of the responsible exercise of reproductive health is not only a fundamental right for all people, but also contributes to micro level problem solving, such as population and poverty issues. Confronting reproductive health issues will contribute to meeting most of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) directly or indirectly. It contributes directly to meeting the three health related goals: �gGoal 4: Reduce child mortality�h, �gGoal 5: Improve maternal health�h, �gGoal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other diseases�h and synergistically effects the following two �gGoal 2: Achieve universal primary education�h and �gGoal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women�h. Voluntary family planning rests on a number of experts�f recognition of help to meet the �gGoal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger�h. In addition, it also contributes to meeting �gGoal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability�h by solving the population issues.

This workshop is focused on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS prevention especially for the youth who are socially vulnerable. It will allow invited city administrators to deepen their understanding on necessary basic knowledge to develop concrete task plans which they would take back to their respective cities for possible implementation through lectures, case studies, discussion on current states and challenges of AACs that associate with population and development issues.

III. Invited Cities

AUICK Associate Cities (one officer from each city):

Chittagong (Bangladesh), Weihai (China), Chennai (India), Surabaya (Indonesia), Kuantan (Malaysia), Faisalabad (Pakistan), Olongapo (Philippines), Khon Kaen (Thailand), Danang (Vietnam)


IV. Language

English (Interpretation will be provided for lectures given in Japanese.)

V. Period

 27June - 7 July, 2005  (11 days)


VI. Schedule

	Date	Programme
1	27 JUN	Arrive in Kobe
2	28 JUN	Orientation. Opening Remarks by Chairman of AUICK. Demographic Transition and Change in Needs for Public Health. Best Practice in Surabaya and Khon Kaen. Reports on RH and HIV/AIDS in Chittagong, Weihai, Chennai.
3	29 JUN (Wed)	Reports on RH and HIV/AIDS in Kuantan, Faisalabad, Olongapo, Danang. Maternal and Child Health Services in Kobe Site Visit to RH related Facility in Kobe.
4	30 JUN (Thu)	Current State and Challenges on RH and HIV/AIDS in Asian Countries – UNFPA�fs Viewpoint. Open Forum (UNFPA Seminar) on Adolescent RH and HIV/AIDS.
5	1 JUL (Fri)	Peer Counseling Activity of Kobe City College of Nursing. How to Prepare Work Plan for Improvement of Adolescent RH and HIV/AIDS. ICAAP Opening Ceremony. ICAAP Welcome Reception.
6	2 JUL (Sat)	ICAAP Plenary Session on �gPrevalence of HIV and Challenges in Asia and the Pacific�h. ICAAP Symposia/Skills Building Workshop.
7	3 JUL (Sun)	CAAP Plenary Session on �gCross-border Approach�h. ICAAP Symposia/Skills Building Workshop.
8	4 JUL (Mon)	ICAAP Plenary Session on �gPrevention and Medical Treatment in Community�h. ICAAP Symposia/Skills Building Workshop.
9	5 JUL (Tue)	Presentation on Work Plan for improvement of Adolescent RH and HIV/AIDS
10	6 JUL (Wed)	Review and Exchange of Opinions. Courtesy Call on Mayor of Kobe. Closing Ceremony.
11	7 JUL (Thu)	Depart Kobe.

ICAAP: The Seventh International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific to be held at International Conference Center Kobe from 1 to 5 July 2005

* This schedule is provisional and subject to change.

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VII. Qualification of Nominee

The applicant should be officially nominated by the Mayor of the city to which he/she belongs. The final decision on the selection of the participant will be made by AUICK with the consultation of UNFPA Country Offices and IAC members.

1. The applicant should be a senior city official who is in the top or second top position of Public Health Department.
2. The applicant is required to have University level of education and work experience as a city administrator for a minimum of 7 years.
3. The applicant is required to be willing and able to remain in the position of city official in a relevant field in an AUICK Associated City for at least 5 years.
4. The applicant should have a sufficient command of both spoken and written English as the workshop is conducted in English.
5. The applicant should be physically and mentally fit to participate in all aspects of the twelve-day workshop.

VIII. Participant Nomination Procedures

1. Procedures
(1) Deadline: Saturday, 30 April 2005

(2) Documents required:

a. Letter of Nomination     (Form A)	To be completed by the Mayor.
b. Application Form (Form B)	To be completed by the nominee and signed by the Mayor.
c. Medical Certificate     (Form C)	To be completed by the doctor.
d. Photograph	Must attach to Form B (Photograph should be square, preferably trimmed to 4cm�~3cm, full face, front view, and head-shot only.)
e. Photocopies of all pages of nominee�fs passport that describe the nominee�fs status	One copy.

2. Procedures for the Notification of Acceptance

The final decision on the selection of the participant will be notified to the Mayor after careful consideration made by AUICK with the joint consultation of UNFPA Country Offices and IAC members. AUICK has the final say on the selection for the participant.

 
3. Procedures for entry to Japan:

Two weeks following the receipt of nomination documents, AUICK will send the necessary documents direct to the nominee for visa application, such as a notification of acceptance, and a letter of guarantee. The nominee should immediately apply for an entry visa at a Japanese Consular office in their country. Expenses for obtaining passport and visa will not be reimbursed.

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IX. Invitational Conditions for Participants

AUICK will provide participants with the followings:

(1) Economy-class round trip airline ticket between the nearest airport to each participant's residence and Kansai International Airport in Japan
(2) Travel expenses between the accommodation and Kansai International Airport in Japan
* Airport tax to be paid in each participant's country will not be reimbursed.
(3) Accommodation
(4) Living allowance of 6,200yen per day for meals and incidental expenses during the workshop period in Japan.
(5) Short-term insurance to cover injuries or illness from the time of entry to Japan until departure.
(Preexisting illnesses and dental treatment are not covered by the insurance.)
(6) Internal transportation for the workshop programs.

Note: Expenses other than those mentioned above should be borne by participants themselves

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X. Responsibilities of Participants

Participants are required to:

(1) Abide by Japanese law and regulations during their stay.
(2) Follow the regulations and schedule of the workshop prepared by AUICK and the Kobe City Government.
(3) Attend the workshop unaccompanied.
(4) Depart Japan at the termination of the workshop. (The visa issued will not allow participants to stay in Japan beyond the workshop period.)
(5) Gather the required data on their cities and submit the report before the specified date. Submitted data and report will be integrated into AUICK database and open to public on AUICK Web site.

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XI. Program Organisers

1. The Asian Urban Information Center of Kobe (AUICK)
     Kobe International Center for Cooperation and Communication (KIC)
              Kobe International House 20F,
              8-1-6, Goko-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-8570, Japan
              Tel: +81-78-291-8031         Fax: +81-78-291-0691
              E-mail: auick@auick.org     URL: http://www.auick.org

2. Kobe City Government
    (International Division, Civic Affairs, Culture and Tourism Bureau)
               6-5-1, Kano-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-8570, Japan
               Tel: +81-78-322-5010         Fax: +81-78-322-2382

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