| 31 March 2016
Association Congolaise pour le Bien-Etre Familial
The Association Congolaise pour le Bien-Etre Familial (ACBEF) opened its doors for the first time in 1987. Then it was a small operation dedicated to attending to the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs of the urban poor. 25 years later, ACBEF reaches out to the whole country through a network of over 100 community-based distributors (CBDs) backed by static clinics and permanent staff. In addition, ACBEF relies on over 1,000 volunteers, including fully-trained peer educators and a Youth Action Movement. ACBEF provides a comprehensive range of services covering integrated family planning, voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), prevention and management of HIV and AIDS, post-abortion care, antenatal and post-natal care, youth-friendly education and information projects, contraceptive and laboratory services. Stigma and taboos around HIV and AIDS are strong in Congo, and ACBEF is engaged in major re-education and sensitization on this front. ACBEF aims its work at a wide public, with particular emphasis on young people (aged 25 and under), internally displaced people, sex workers and women of child-bearing age. Work occurs in both rural and urban areas. With high visibility in the national media, ABCEF is making major inroads in SRH in a very difficult environment. ABCEF works in close partnership with the government’s ministries of Health, Foreign Affairs, and Gender, and with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including Jeunesse Action Sida. ABCEF receives financial support from the European Union, UNFPA and the Congolese Government.
| 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.