Results from the meeting included the following
IPPF is a Federation of autonomous associations united by their common vision and shared values. One of these values is that all members of IPPF are equal in their rights and responsibilities towards each other and towards the Federation.
The Governing Council accredited the following Member Associations as full members of the Federation as they were in full compliance with the Membership Standards:
- Asociación Hondureña de Planificación de Familia (Honduras)
- Family Planning Association of the Islamic Republic of Iran
- Jamaica Family Planning Association
- Family Health Options Kenya
- Society for Health Education (Maldives)
- Centro Paraguayo de Estudios de Poblacíon (Paraguay) Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka
- Stichting Lobi (Suriname)
It was with regret that Governing Council took the decision to expel the Lebanon Family Planning Association (LFPA) from IPPF membership due to an untenable situation regarding non-compliance with IPPF Membership Standards.
Governing Council approved the appointment of a new International Medical Advisory Panel (IMAP) for the term from May 2006 to November 2008:
- Dr. Ana Langer – Co-Chairperson
- Dr. Philip Darney – Co-Chairperson
- Dr. Pierre Buekens – new member
- Dr. Elizabeth Bukusi
- Dr. Safa El-Baz – new member
- Prof. HO Pak Chung
- Dr. Justus Hofmayr – new member
- Dr. John Townsend – new member
Governing Council agreed to the establishment of a High Level Panel to work on a Bill of Rights for the Federation.
Governing Council devoted nearly a full day to an in-depth discussion on one of the Five As – HIV/AIDS.
This session was facilitated by Dr. Arletty Pinel, Chief, Reproductive Health Branch, UNFPA, together with Kevin Osborne, Senior HIV/AIDS Adviser, IPPF.
The session began with personal reflections on living with HIV from Raoul Fransen (Young Positives, Netherlands) and Florence Allen (South Africa). This was followed by group discussions on achievements made, challenges and IPPF’s response.
Time was also spent discussing HIV related stigma and discrimination and the linkages between SRH and HIV, including examples from Colombia and Kenya and a discussion on engaging with new partners, particularly the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
Vote of Thanks - Dr. Steven Sinding
Governing Council carried, with acclamation, a Vote of Thanks to Dr. Steven Sinding, who would be stepping down as Director-General at the end of August:
"Taking into account the many tributes and words of thanks made by Governing Council to the Director-General, Governing Council wishes to place on record its recognition and thanks to Dr. Steven W. Sinding for his outstanding four years of dedicated work and leadership as Director-General of IPPF.
Steven joined IPPF at a very difficult and uncertain time for the Federation following the imposition of the Global Gag Rule by the US government. It was a time when IPPF needed courage and a clear vision for the future.
Together with the volunteers and staff he forged a Federation-wide consensus around that vision which directly led to five priorities which lie at the heart of IPPF’s work in communities around the world.
The subsequent document, IPPF Strategic Framework 2005-2015, commits the Federation to make a real difference at the grassroots level to people’s lives, and to ensure participation of young people at all levels of the Federation.
Armed with a new focus, the Federation re-established itself as the strongest voice of civil society on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights issues playing a catalytic global leadership role in the Countdown 2015 Global Roundtable and series of regional conferences.
With this work, Steven has left a lasting personal imprint not only on IPPF but on the wider SRHR movement in which he has laboured for almost 40 years.
He leaves IPPF with a very strong and united senior management team, a clear map to guide them, and renewed confidence of those who are in a position to provide financial support for the challenges ahead.
Governing Council wishes Steven the best of good fortune in whatever he chooses to tackle next, in the full knowledge and hope that we will continue to benefit from his wisdom and commitment to our shared cause."