| 31 March 2016
Reproductive & Family Health Association of Fiji
The Reproductive and Family Health Association of Fiji (RFHAF) was inaugurated in June 1996. It has played a key role in shaping national family planning policy and in promoting sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education, particularly among young people and communities in which myths about the dangers of family planning prevail. The use of contraceptives is still believed by many to cause cancer and immature childbirth. RFHAF has also undertaken concerted national advocacy work (with a particular emphasis on HIV and AIDS) through its involvement with the National Advisory Committee on AIDS and the country co-ordinating mechanism. As such, it played a critical role in securing the HIV Prevention and Treatment Decree which outlaws discrimination, promotes counselling, testing and reporting, assures confidentiality, and legislates on the supply of blood products. The organization’s committed promotion of wider awareness of SRH issues is changing attitudes, and as attitudes change, uptake of services increase.
| 31 March 2016
Associação Para o Planeamento da Família
Associação para o Planeamento da Família – APF (Association for Family Planning) is an NGO, established in 1967 with health purposes, whose mission is to help people to make free and responsible sexual and reproductive choices and to promote positive parenting. APF develops activities around Portugal national territory through its six regional delegations. The Member Association teams engage more than 100 professionals and voluntaries from several domains of social intervention: health, education, community and youth intervention. APF’s history has been always linked to the fight for sexual and reproductive health and rights. Since its establishment, APF has played a leading role in matters concerning Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE), Safe Abortion, Prevention and Combat of Trafficking in Human Beings (THB), Early and Forced Marriages and Female Genital Mutilation. APF services target vulnerable people such as sex workers, drug users, migrants and ethnic minorities but also young people, families and professionals of several areas. The Member Association also promotes knowledge through investigation (diagnoses and new intervention strategies) and disseminates its results through their website, social networks, media and scientific events. Over the years, APF has been advocating in public policies concerning sexual and reproductive rights issues as human rights matters.