

| 31 March 2016
Association Béninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille
The Association Béninoise pour la Promotion de la Famille (ABPF) has been operating for almost 40 years. ABPF offers family planning, ante-natal and post-abortion care, infertility treatment, screening of cancers of the reproductive system, and management of sexually transmitted infections (including HIV and AIDS). Its service points include permanent and mobile clinics. ABPF is focused on reaching marginalized groups such as prisoners, sex workers, refugees and internally displaced persons. The majority of clients are estimated to be poor, marginalized, socially excluded and/or under-served. To reduce the national maternal mortality rate, ABPF operates an effective community-based obstetric and antenatal care service in 16 villages, using traditional birth attendants and volunteer health workers. ABPF also runs a locally-based service for young people which involves hundreds of community-based distributors (CBDs) and peer educators providing young people with sexual and reproductive health information, condoms and counselling services. In acknowledgment of ABPF’s expertise and accomplishments, the Government of Benin invited the organization to become a member of the technical committee (in the Ministry of Planning) that drafts reproductive health policies: the Population Policy, the Family Health Policy, HIV and AIDS policies and the National Sexual and Reproductive Health Policy. Whilst ABPF has recorded major advances in sexual and reproductive health, there are still very significant challenges as the figures for lifetime risk of maternal death, child mortality rate and unmet need for contraception of illustrate. Driving the work of ABPF is a large and dedicated team of hundreds of volunteers. There’s a Youth Action Movement which draws on the skills of young people. ABPF works in partnership with a range of government organisations, including parliament, the Ministère de la Famille, the Ministère de la Jeunesse, and the Ministère du Plan. Funders include USAID. Non-goverrnmental organizations working with ABPF include the Country Co-ordinating Mechanism for health and sexual and reproductive health.

| 31 March 2016
Väestöliitto (The Family Federation of Finland)
Väestöliitto is a non-governmental-organization working in the field of social services, health and human rights. Väestöliitto was founded in 1941 and is composed of 35 member organizations. Within a global network, Väestöliitto, Finland’s leading sexual rights organisation, works to promote sexual health and rights and gender equality. Through their activities the Väestöliitto works to allow every individual and couple to make free, responsible and informed choices about their sexuality, such as, forming close relationships, getting married, using contraception, and having children. Within the scope of this aim, Väestöliitto works to stop gender based violence. Väestöliitto’s operations are divided into services for citizens, research, and advocacy. Väestöliitto promotes family-friendly policies, sustainable population policies, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in Finland, Europe, and globally. All of Väestöliitto’s advocacy aims to further the UN’s goals for sustainable development. Väestöliitto provides online-services for people of all ages at Hyvä kysymys online service. Väestöliitto also has chat service for young people focusing on sexual wellbeing. Väestöliitto provides a helpline telephone and web service for boys and young men.