283 policy/legislative changes in the last 5 years thanks to IPPF's Member Associations.
Examples:
Adolescents
Our Member Association in Egypt successfully campaigned against female genital mutilation and marriage of girls below 18 years of age. In 2008, the Egyptian government passed laws banning both practices.
In Namibia, our Member Association campaigned for and participated in the process of developing the new national policy on reproductive health.
HIV and AIDS
Our Member Association in Togo participated in the development of the national programme for people living with HIV and worked with the government to review the policy relating to the provision of antiretrovirals (ARV).
In October 2008, the government of Togo declared provision of free ARV for all people living with HIV.
Abortion
Our Member Association in France, Mouvement Français pour le Planning Familial, successfully campaigned for changes in the law authorizing medical abortions to be provided by family planning centres, and not only by hospitals.
This has ensured greater access to abortion services.
In Spain, abortion has been legal since 1985 but only if the pregnancy is a result of rape, if there is a risk to the woman’s health, or in cases of fetal impairment. The Spanish Member Association successfully campaigned for an amendment to the abortion law to remove these restrictions and legalize first trimester abortions on demand.
Access
The Family planning Association of Bangladesh successfully campaigned to have oral contraceptive pills and condoms included in the national essential drugs list.
In St. Lucia, our Member Association was able to advocate for a change in the method of delivery of emergency contraception, making it available in all pharmacies and social marketing points without a prescription.
Prior to this it was only available in the emergency units of hospitals making access difficult.
The Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria advocated for the provision of free antenatal care.
As a result, it is now available in all government hospitals and clinics in 4 states of the country.
Gender-based violence
In Belize, the Belize Family Life Association is a member of the Gender Based Violence Prevention Committee. The committee has been instrumental in successfully advocating for governmental approval of The Enforcement of the Domestic
Violence Act which imposes harsher penalties on those who commit domestic violence.
Advocacy
In the Republic of Korea, there were not enough breastfeeding spaces at work and most working mothers had to stop breastfeeding after their 3 month maternity leave, or breastfeed/express milk in the toilets.
The Planned Population Federation of Korea advocated along with other organizations for a change in the situation, and as a result, the government enacted a law to oblige employers to provide adequate breastfeeding rooms in the workplace.
Our Member Association in Thailand was invited by the National Health Assembly to input into the revision of resolution 1/10 which urges not only the Ministry of Education and schools, but also other government departments and non-governmental organizations, to provide comprehensive sexuality education in schools.
Table 2.19: Advocacy indicators results, 2005 and 2008