JOICFP’s Work-plan for 2007 Approved

On 29th March, the JOICFP Board of Directors, and Counselors met, discussed and unanimously approved the work-plan and budget for fiscal year (FY) 2007 (April 1st 2007 - March 31st 2008).

The 2007 work plan focuses on “Saving Mothers Lives” through mainstreaming reproductive health and rights (RH/R) and advocacy contributing to “promotion of maternal health,” which was added as a target to the MDGs last year.

The board approved countries and regional projects in FY2007, such as those concerning

• Adolescent reproductive health (ARH) and behavior change communication (BCC) toward male involvement
• Domestic recycling campaigns such as bicycles through MCCOBA, and the randoseru campaign
• Human resource development activities, for example, NGO capacity building, including ARH and BCC.

JOICFP’s Board of Directors meet at JOICFP

The Board approved the appointment of a new president, Yasushi Akashi.

In 1957, Akashi became the first Japanese United Nations administrator. He held positions as

• Under-Secretary-General of Public Information
• Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs
• Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

Akashi has been President of the Council on Population Education of JOICFP since 1998.

Yasushi Akashi, JOICFP’s new president

In addition to the current 17 board of directors, two new members were approved to join the board:

* Makoto Atoh, Professor, Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University, and former Director, Institute of Population Research,

* Yoko Hayashi, lawyer and NGO activist.