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Summary: By Rama Lakshminarayanan (Reproductive Health Matters, Vol. 11, No. 21, May 2003). An analysis of the difficulties associated with health sector reform in the Philippines, in particular the negative consequences for reproductive health services. The decentralization process, initiated in 1991, was intended to improve the efficiency, equity, and effectiveness of the health sector. Given existing weaknesses and inequities in the system, however, the process created a number of unanticipated problems, with particular consequences for women. In order to avoid such problems in the future, it is necessary to consider a number of health and non-health factors before undertaking such reforms, and to be willing to make adjustments during implementation (12 pages).

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Summary: By Françoise Girard andWilhelmina Waldman (International Family Planning Perspectives, Vol.26, No. 4, December, 2000, New York: Alan Guttmacher Institute).Examines the international legal framework for the reproductive rightsof refugees and internationally displaced persons, as well as someaspects of UN and NGO policies relevant to refugee reproductive health(7 pages).

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Summary: By Françoise Girard (EarthTimes, 2000). Summarizes the challenges and achievements of thefive-year review of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing PlusFive, New York, 2000) (3 pages).

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Summary: By Françoise Girard (Journal of Women's Health and Law, Vol. I, No. 1, November, 1999, Toronto and Vancouver: Butterworths). Analyzes the significance for women's health of the UN's five-year review of implementation of the Programme of Action agreed in the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). The author outlines and discusses the significance and impact of the original ICPD agreements and of the new commitments made by governments in 1999 to hasten implementation of the Programme of Action (14 pages).

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Summary: By Ruth Dixon-Mueller (Studies in Family Planning, Vol. 24, No. 5, 1993, New York: Population Council). Literature review commissioned by IWHC and the Working Group on Sexuality and Gender (IWHC and the Population Council). Explores the importance of sexuality and gender-based power relations to reproductive health policies and programs (13 pages).