VIENNA – On 25th and 26th March UNFPA and UNECE organized the first of three thematic meetings for experts in Vienna on “Population Dynamics and Sustainable Development.” At the meeting in Vienna 15 experts from governments, academia and civil society organizations reflected on the relevant overarching issues of concern in the region, discussed future priorities, challenges and emerging issues and identified key recommendations for action. Cristina Dumitrescu, the secretariat of EPF’s Romanian APPG, was among those present. The remaining two meetings will take place in Bucharest and Belgrade.
The three thematic meetings are intended to feed into the European Population Forum in Geneva on 1st and 2nd July, which is entitled “Enabling Choices: Population Priorities in the 21st Century.” This forum will play a vital role in the global ICPD Beyond 2014 review/преглед/ and in negotiations for what will replace the Millennium Development Goals.
From 25th to 28th March, an international training, related to the modern internet communications, called ‘New Media Training’, took part in Skopje. The event was organized by H.E.R.A. (
OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) studies suggest that 39-68% of girls and 16-30 % of boys with intellectual or developmental disabilities are sexually abused before their 18th birthday. Violence against children with a disability occurs at 1.7 times the rate of violence against non-disabled children (UN Violence Study 2006). Yet, the sexual educational and health needs and rights of these populations continue to be largely neglected. “KEEP ME SAFE”, a new European-wide initiative from the International Planned Parenthood European Network (IPPF EN) highlights the importance of putting policies and appropriate programmes into place in order to ensure that young people living with learning disabilities enjoy relationships without putting themselves at risk and that they have access as others do to sexual and reproductive health information and services, including family planning. 
