FAO Regional Expert Consultation on Rural Families and Household Economies in Asia and the Pacific
7-10 November 1995
Opening speech by Mr. A.Z.M. Obaidullah Khan, Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific
(presented by Mr. Dong Qingsong, Deputy Regional Representative)
Ms. Mermillod, Mrs. Khalakdina, Ms. Stephens and all participants: Since there are no gentlemen attending this Consultation may I begin by welcoming an "all women" gathering to the FAO Regional Office, and to thank you in advance for the contributions you will make to our deliberations on Rural Families and Household Economies.
This meeting was originally planned to mark the International Year of the Family in 1994, but due to budget cuts throughout FAO in that year, we had to postpone it until now. Although we were requested to cancel a number of meetings in 1994 and 1995, this one was not cancelled, because we felt it was important to seek the advice of experts such as yourselves in planning our programme of work in the follow up to the 4th World Conference on Women, held earlier this year in Beijing.
We are very lucky that we have been able to have the support of our headquarters in Rome to provide the technical support of Ms. Mermillod, Senior Officer for Home Economics, as well as a consultant provided under the FAO retirees' programme - Ms. Margaret Khalakdina from India. In addition, although my colleague Ms. Stephens has resigned from FAO early last month, she has returned to help us in this Consultation.
I would like to place on record our gratitude to consultants and colleagues from sister agencies 1 UNIFEM and A.I.T., for providing interesting papers for consideration and discussion at this meeting. Together with the papers and the data to be presented by each participant here, they will provide a wealth of information on the problems faced by rural families in Asia, and also on the various ways in which families find ways to meet their needs.
The purpose of the meeting is to identify major issues, and to discuss the necessary reorientations needed in order for us to better serve rural families. This is done through research studies, extension and training, policy and planning, and on-going monitoring and evaluation. You will no doubt be in a position to offer us valuable advice on the directions we should take in the reorientation of home economics and agriculture curricula, the research agenda, rural extension, services and data base work needed to improve the profile of rural families. No doubt gender analysis will form a central part of your deliberations, and you will pay special attention to the role of women in rural life. We welcome this. Since Ms. Stephens left us, we have no officer now concerned with these issues. Your recommendations will provide a concrete platform for her successor to launch new programmes next year.
Thank you all for coming here, and I look forward to meeting you at lunch today. I also look forward to hearing on Friday, the results of your deliberations at the Consultation.
Welcome to Bangkok, and a very warm welcome to F.A.O.
RFHE/95/1 |
Rural Families and Farm Households in Asia and the Pacific: an Overview |
RFHE/95/2 |
The Family as an Enterprise |
RFHE/95/3 |
Rural Women and the Family in an Era of Liberalization: Danger and Opportunities |
RFHE/95/4 |
The Rural Family as an Enterprise |
RFHE/95/5 |
The Family and Democracy: Challenges From the IYF |
RFHE/95/6 |
The Impact of the Institutionalisation of Religion on the Status of Women |
RFHE/95/7 |
Women's Strategies Against Violence in the Family |
RFHE/95/8 |
Fight Against Poverty: A Challenge for Home Economists |
Regional Expert Consultation on Rural Families and Household Economies
Tuesday, 7 November 1995
Welcome and Introductions
Opening of the Consultation by FAO Deputy Regional Representative, Mr. Dong Qingsong
Regional Overview Papers (Secretariat)
Participant presentations - summary of reports, by country
Wednesday, 8 November 1995
Statistics and Data on Rural Families
The Impact of Institutionalization of Religion on the Status of Women
Women's Strategies Against Violence in the Family
Group Discussion on Rural Families: Issues and Constraints
Group Presentations
Thursday, 9 November 1995
Reorientation of Curricula
Discussion and Preparation for Group Work
Group work: Curriculum Reorientation; Priorities in Education and Extension
Group Presentations and Discussion
Recommendations for Action by Governments, by Universities and by FAO
Meeting of Drafting Committee
Friday, 10 November 1995
Review of Draft Recommendations
Adoption of Report
Closing
Regional Expert Consultation on Rural Families and Household Economies
Bangkok, Thailand, 7 to 10 November, 1995
INDIA
Ms. Leela Gulati
Fellow, Population & Development Training Programme
Centre for Development Studies
Prasanth Nagar Road, Ulloor
Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala 695 011, South India
Tel: (91) 448881-84, 448412
Fax: (91) 471447137
INDONESIA
Dra. Soejatni
National Expert on Women in Development
Jalan Kalasan 45C
Jakarta 10320
Tel: (62-02) 3904322
MALAYSIA
Ms. Kamaliah Hashim
Assistant Director
Farm Family Development Section
Farmers Development Branch
Department of Agriculture
Jalan Sultan Salahuddin
Kuala Lumpur 50632
Tel: (60-3) 2982011 Ext. 3422
Fax: (60-3) 2985746, 2915051
NEPAL
Dr. Harinder Thapliya
Head Department of Home Science and Women Development
Tribhuvan University
Padma Kanya Campus
G.P.O. Box 2530
Kathmandu
Tel: (977-1) 225209 (Off.), 470461 (Res.)
Fax: (977-1) 220684
Dr. Bina Pradhan
P.O. Box 3637
Jamal
Kathmandu
Tel: (977-1) 226-265, 224-835
Fax: (977-1) 271-570
PAKISTAN
Ms. Shagufta Alizai
Member Shirkat Gah
1, Bath Island Road
Karachi 75530
Tel: (92-21) 534101-2-3, 573079, 573082
Fax: (92-21) 5870287
PHILIPPINES
Dr. Marietta S. Adriano
Assistant Director-General
National Economic and Development Authority
5th Floor, NEDA sa Pasig Building
Amber Avenue, Pasig City
Metro Manila
Tel: 631-2186, 631-0945-64
Fax: 631-2186
Dr. Cecilia A. Florencio
University Professor and Dean
College of Home Economics, Alonso Hall
University of the Philippines, Diliman
Quezon City 1101
Tel: (632) 926-1449, 9205301-399 (local 6263)
Fax: (632) 9261449, 6334088
Email: [email protected]
SRI LANKA
Prof. (Dr.) Yoga Rasanayagam
Department of Geography
University of Colombo
P.O. Box 1490
Cumaratunga Munidasa Mawatha
Colombo 3
Tel: (94) 1 - 500458, 502940 (Off.); 580956 (Res.)
Fax: (94) 1 - 586731, 582770 (private)
Dr. Ramanie Jayatilaka
Department of Sociology
University of Colombo
Post Box 1490 'College House'
Colombo 3
Tel: (94) 1-500452
THAILAND
Dr. Makha Khittasangka
Associate Prof. and Dean
School of Home Economics
Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University
Bangpood, Pakkred - Nonthaburi 11120
Tel: (662) 5033573
Fax: (662) 5033639
Email: heaskmak @ samsorn.stou.ac.th
Ms. Puengpit Dulayapach
Director of Agricultural
Administrative Development Division
Department of Agricultural Extension
2143/1 Phaholyotin Road, Khet Jatujak
Bangkok 10900
Tel: (662) 5793007 (Direct), 5614828
Fax: (662) 5793007, 5614828
Dr. Amorurat Chareonchai
Vice-President (General Affairs)
Rajamangala Institute of Technology Main Campus
Tambon Klong 6
Klong Luang
Pratumtani 12110
Tel: (662) 5493008, 5775007
Fax: (662) 2800435, 5772357
ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (AIT)
Dr. Govind Kelkar
Associate Professor and Head
Centre for Gender and Development Studies
Asian Institute of Technology (A.I.T.)
G.P.O. Box 2754
Bangkok 10501
Tel: (662) 524-5673 (Direct), (662) 5160110 Ext. 5673
Fax: (662) 5246166, 5162126, 5161418
UNIFEM
Ms. Birgitte Qvist-Sorensen
Programrne Officer
UNIFEM, APRO
c/o UNDP
The United Nations Building
Rajdamnern Avenue
Bangkok 10200
Tel: (662) 280-3810, 288-2475
Fax: (662) 281-0071, 280-556
OBSERVERS
Ms. Kanya Sambandaraksa
Farm Home Improvement Section
Department of Agricultural Extension
Phaholyotin Road, Jatujak District
Bangkok 10900
Tel: (662) 5793856
Ms. Cornelie Meynen
P.O. Box 9 - Bangna
Bangkok 10260
Tel: (662) 3930012
Fax: (662) 7452345
Email [email protected]
Mr. Richard Smith c/o FAO Regional Office
39 Phra Atit Road
Bangkok 10200, Thailand
FAO
Mr. A.Z.M. Obaidullah Khan
Assistant Director-General
and FAO Regional Representative
for Asia and the Pacific
FAO Regional Office
39 Phra Atit Road
Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Tel: (66-2) 2817844
Fax: (66-2) 2800445
Mr. Dong Qingsong
Deputy Regional Representative
FAO Regional Office
Bangkok 10200, Thailand
Ms. Marie-Jane Mermillod
Senior Home Economics Officer
Integration of Women in Development Service (SDWW)
Division of Women and People's Participation in Development (SDW)
Sustainable Development Department (SD)
FAO of the United Nations
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00100 Rome, Italy
Tel: (39-6) 52254062
Fax: (39-6) 52253152/52255155
SECRETARIAT
Ms. Alexandra Stephens
FAO Consultant
14 Fifeshire Crescent
Nelson 7001, New Zealand
Tell/fax: (64-3) 548 9302
Ms. Margaret Khalakdina
6B, 44 Amrita Sher Gill Marg
New Delhi 110 003
India
Tel: (91-11) 4619235
Fax: (91-11) 4620102 (c/o Panjab Stores)
Ms. Valai Visuthi
Secretary
FAO Regional Office
Bangkok 10200, Thailand
