A major focus of our work is to provide sexual and reproductive health services to young women and girls.

Why?

• Adolescent girls aged 10-19 account for 23 per cent of the global burden of disease due to pregnancy and childbirth
• An estimated 2.5 million adolescents have unsafe abortions every year and these account for 46 per cent of deaths related to unsafe abortion worldwide
• Newborn mortality constitutes 37 per cent of childhood deaths under age 5, and when maternal death occurs child mortality is doubled

Almost all of our 151 Member Associations provide services to young people and nearly a third of the 66 million services that we provide go to young people.

IPPF accepts that young women and girls are sexual beings.

By sexual being we mean that all people are sexual, whether or not they ever have had sex with a partner or engaged in sexual acts. 

This is regardless of marital status, age,
(dis)ability, socio-economic background, sexual preference, HIV status, etc.

Therefore we:

• Stand by girls: we respect and fulfil their right to high quality services
• Stand up for girls: we support and empower them to make their own choices and decisions related to sexuality and pregnancy
• Stand for sexual and reproductive rights: we address the challenges facing young women and girls at the local, national and international levels

Girls Decide launch at the Commission on the Status of Women.

Have you seen our publications?

Consultative meeting report (16-17 September 2010).

For more information contact us:  girlsdecide@ippf.org