As a preparatory process leading up to the Annual G8 Heads-of-State Summit, conferences on different thematic issues are convened with participation of the leading parliamentarians, policy-makers and members of think tanks from the G8 countries as well as beneficiary organizations, governments and key stakeholders of official G8 assistance. The purposes of these conferences are to foster meaningful dialogue among participants on the main subject to be raised at the G8 Heads-of-State Summit.

Participants of the Conference

This year the Parliamentary Advisory Committee of Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevolkerung, the European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (EPF) and Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevolkerung (DSW) jointly organized the “G8 Parliamentarians Conference on the Economic Rewards for Investing in HIV/AIDS Prevention and Health” at the German Parliament in Berlin on 30 – 31 May 2007.

For the first time, the Executive Director Mr. Harry Jooseery was invited to represent PPD in the Conference and to share the insights and experience of its implementation of Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS, Population and Development Programs in the developing countries including Africa, which is the main focus of this years’ conference. PPD Executive Director Mr. Harry Jooseery presented a paper entitled “Integrating HIV/AIDS within Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme in the Context of South-South Cooperation” under the session on “Funding for HIV/AIDS Prevention and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and the Chances of Public-Private Partnership (PPP).”

In his speech, Mr. Jooseery stressed that “there is an urgent need to reposition Family Planning with in the whole context of Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS Program”. He further emphasized that “Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS needs to be addressed synergistically, without underscoring one at the expense of the other”. He stated that “South-South Cooperation is based on the premise that developing countries have a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise which if effectively shared among themselves, can marvel and sprinkle extraordinary energy that can reshape their own destiny”. Mr. Jooseery’s speech received wide applause and the opinion expressed in his speech were taken into due consideration for preparation conference outcomes.

At the conclusion, the Conference adopted a Parliamentary Appeal to G8 Heads-of-State on Parliamentary Follow-up and a set of Recommendations for the G8 Summit. The Conference also produced a forward-looking declaration recommending steps parliamentarians might take to promote and monitor the implementation of the commitments made by G8 and other donor countries.

The Parliamentary Appeal to G8 Heads of State and Governments can be downloaded here.

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