| 31 March 2016
Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand
The Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand (PPAT) Under the Patronage of HRH the Princess Mother has been in operations for more than 50 years. The primary aim of PPAT is to support people living in Thailand, of all ages, to have access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for their better quality of life. PPAT operations include family planning, HIV/AIDS prevention, and increasing the accessibility of sexual and reproductive health services to groups who are challenged to have access to SRHR. We strive to adapt to the changes in society, such as reproductive health operations for children and young people, the elderly development for the transition to the aging society, and the maternity promotion in the period of low birth rate which affected the population equilibrium. Our work compliments and supports government policies. We collaborate with the public and government sectors to bring about change in society. PPAT has initiated and developed several creative methods and social innovations that change and improve society in many ways. All of this helps the people including people living in hard-to-reach areas to be able to access appropriate and friendly reproductive health services. We currently operate through 47 service delivery points in both urban and rural areas to provide SRHR services to people with average 179,004 clients every year. These include 10 permanent clinics and 12 mobile units, and a network of community-based distributors/community-based services (CBDs/CBSs). With more challenges awaiting in the future, PPAT considers human rights, human dignity, and diversity of ideas, beliefs, and identities in creating programs which will bring about change in society and improve the quality of life for those living in Thailand. These programs combined with other sectors, will impact Thailand’s growth and access to SRHR health services.
| 31 March 2016
Israel Family Planning Association
The Israel Family Planning Association (IFPA) is Israel's leading organization advancing the human right to sexual health. 'Open Door' is a national network consisting of 14 information, counselling and treatment centres. The centres deal with issues of adolescence, such as intimacy, love, prevention of sexual violence, and healthy and responsible sexual behaviour. They serve as open and safe places for young people, in particular at-risk individuals. 'Open Door' serves Jews and Arabs, secular and religious, native Israelis and new immigrants, in a variety of languages and with cultural sensitivity. It provides accessibility to individuals with disabilities. The service providers are mostly volunteers who have completed special training and certification. Their work is monitored and guided appropriately. 'Open Door' centres uniquely adapted for the Arab society are active in Nazareth, Haifa, Be'er Sheva, and Umm Al-Fahem. 'Open Door' is included in the World Health Organization (WHO) list of best preventative practices for youth in the world. For over a decade, IFPA has been operating a unique and comprehensive certification service for professionals from the Arab sector as sex educators. More than a thousand graduates of this certification programme promote and disseminate information and counselling on sexual health to young people, parents and teachers. IFPA runs a national centre which offers a comprehensive, 300-hour certification programme for sex educators. It has so far trained over 2000 professionals. The centre also offers an International Innovation Award for the leading sex educator certification programme for individuals with physical or sensory disabilities. There are additional courses and continuing education activities for different groups of the population, tailored to suit the target audience and its needs. IFPA operates a community outreach centre which organizes workshops, lectures, and seminars for all sectors of the population on topics of education and the promotion of healthy sexuality, in Hebrew, Arabic, Russian and Amharic. These take place in schools, schools, universities and the army and in absorption, youth, women’s, community, and welfare centres and centres for individuals with disabilities. A unique project, Empowering Specially-Enlisted Women Soldiers (Hagam), offers workshops for young vulnerable women, preparing them for life and social integration. In the past 5 years, aided by this initiative, 4500 specially-enlisted young women soldiers successfully completed full army service. The Information Center provides access to continuously updated professional information, in topics related to healthy sex, in Hebrew, English, Arabic, and Russian. The information in our extensive database is unparalleled anywhere in Israel, and includes lesson plans, instructional videos, presentations, group activities, and more.