Updated:19 March 2020 Update: This appeal is now closed and all funds raised by 18 March were transferred to our partner the China Family Planning Association to contribute to their services. Further funds raised through the appeal will be used to help our Member Associations impacted by coronavirus. As of 10 February 2020, the novel coronavirus outbreak in China is ongoing and the number of cases continues to rise. In addition to the risk from the virus itself, there is a critical impact on the safe provision of other vital health services in China, including sexual and reproductive healthcare. IPPF’s member association in China, the China Family Planning Association (CFPA), has millions of volunteers and staff providing people with information, education, counselling and social services related to family planning, maternal and child health, healthier childbearing and adolescent sexual and reproductive health. We’re launching an appeal to give as much assistance to them as we can. That includes help in reducing the chance of contracting or transmitting the virus. It’s vital that volunteers and staff stay as safe as possible as they continue to support vulnerable groups, including women, young people and migrants. IPPF’s Director-General Dr Alvaro Bermejo said: “Global support for China is needed now. IPPF’s member association in China, the China Family Planning Association, is playing a vital role in maintaining its services as much as possible throughout the outbreak. In turn, we are going to do as much as we can to support CFPA’s volunteers and staff. That will include supplying badly needed commodities such as face masks, along with other prevention measures. China’s emergency is our emergency too.” CFPA’s Standing Vice President Mr. Wang Peian said: “The work of our volunteers and staff remains vital. CFPA is actively involved in disseminating knowledge about novel coronavirus, sourcing and distributing masks, assisting the health department by monitoring the health situation in communities on a daily basis, and setting up hotlines for psychological consultations. We continue to provide sexual and reproductive healthcare across China, as well as other provisions for both medical professionals and patients to help stop the spread of novel coronavirus especially for vulnerable people. We are grateful for the support of IPPF, and to everyone who makes a donation.” Our emergency fund will allow us to reach more people with these much needed, and overlooked, services. 100% of donations made to this fund by 18 March were transferred to our partner the China Family Planning Association to contribute to their  services. Want to know more? Take a look at the World Health Organization's latest information on novel coronavirus.  

It all started when I hadn’t seen one girl for a couple of months. I was told her boyfriend had broken up with her because she was pregnant. Then the rumors started. “She borrowed money, she is probably going to take an abortion.” “She should be expelled from school.” “Her parents were angry and they beat her.” I felt sad that young people weren’t being given the chance to receive comprehensive sex education at school and learn how to protect ourselves. I was outraged that when a girl found herself in these circumstances, people and society simply criticized her behavior rather than providing help and supporting her.  When I first participated in an event hosted by UNFPA in 2014, I was astonished to learn the tremendous number of adolescent girls giving birth every year – 7.3 million in developing countries. In China, 4 out of every 100 unmarried girls aged 15 -24 become pregnant, and almost 90% of those have an abortion.  Taking into account the huge population in China, I cannot imagine how many young people are suffering due to a lack of information and biased gender attitudes. What youth leadership means to me I started to volunteer at the China Family Planning Association (CFPA) an IPPF Member Association as a youth peer educator. I travelled to different provinces and cities providing training on sexual and reproductive health and rights to young people.  Next, I worked with Dance4life as an international trainer. I delivered Journey4life –   a programme designed to build young people’s social and emotional competencies so   they are able to make healthy choices about their lives and feel confident   about their future.  Through my interaction with different generations, I gradually realized that leadership is   something that happens within yourself. You feel confident about your life, can see   a different world, and are empowered to make changes.  Being a young leader at IPPF  20% of IPPF’s board must be represented by young people under the age of 25. I     was elected to the board of my Member Association, the East and South East Asia   & Oceania Region, and the global board. I attend meetings, participate in discussions   and vote on the important matters – just as any other member.  My fellow youth representatives and I struggled when we first entered this unfamiliar   territory, and had a difficult time finding our position.   Were we supposed to comment and participate solely on youth-related issues? Or should we engage with all the matters and discussions? When we speak, which hat are we wearing – young people who receive services, young activists on the ground, or youth leaders shaping the rules? We learned that we could define our role. It was important to keep reminding ourselves of our focus and shifting hats to ensure more young people are truly represented. We didn’t elect a chair among the youth representatives. Instead, the youth meeting is chaired by all the members in rotation. We also share the reporting and presentation responsibilities. This shared leadership approach avoids power dynamics and makes sure we don’t forget why we are all here. Having been through the journey in IPPF, I realized that there is no point waiting until we ‘grow older’ to be a leader. Leadership has nothing to do with age or gender. We are the leaders, now and in the future: here and beyond!   Image: Youth volunteers in Senegal  

IPPF Director-General Dr Alvaro Bermejo and China’s Vice Premier Madam Sun Chunlan have met in Beijing to discuss the changes in family planning and population policy in China and the direction of a new partnership between IPPF and China. In the meeting, which took place on April 3rd, Dr Bermejo said he knew that family planning had been an important part of China's development over the last 40 years, with the China Family Planning Association (CFPA), an IPPF member association, playing a significant role.  He also expressed a desire for IPPF to work more closely with China in the future.     Dr Bermejo said: “IPPF is keen to develop a new partnership with China and IPPF, deepening our joint cooperation and understanding. That should include a focus more on 'quality' of populations (eg migrants, rural-urban disparity, ageing) and family health approach (eg health of women, new-born, child, adolescent and elderly people) in China, a greater role for China in south - south collaboration and its Belt and Road Initiative, and in global heath development. We also needs to see a great global focus on sexual and reproductive health in humanitarian settings. IPPF’s unique federal structure can help in leveraging China's experience and knowledge to the benefit of IPPF member associations in developing countries.” Vice Premier Sun said: “All the areas of cooperation proposed by IPPF are important to China.  China's development process is still continuing and we are happy to share China's experience with developing countries to improve people's health. Let's explore further areas of health together.”  Dr Bermejo also meet with the President of CFPA, H.E. Mr Wang Gang, the Standing Vice President of CFPA, H.E. Mr Wang Paian and Vice Minister of Health H.E. Mr Yu Xuejun of the National Health Commission, and discussing the ways in which family planning can contribute to China's efforts to meet sustainable development goals

The BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) cover more than 40% of the world’s population. Cooperation between BRICS countries offers opportunities to share national challenges, approaches and learnings around sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment.  IPPF has been working with the BRICS governments in support of a seminar series for officials and experts on population and development issues.  For example we worked with the Government of South Africa to produce a report on population issues in BRICS countries. IPPF convened civil society organisations (CSOs) for BRICS CSO fora and to participate in the inter-governmental seminars.  IPPF facilitated advocacy by BRICS CSOs on the text of the BRICS Brasilia Ministerial statement on population matters.  IPPF also organised a study tour for South African officials and allies to learn about SRHR programming and to visit SRHR projects in Brazil.  The next BRICS seminar will be hosted in India towards the end of 2016.