Member Associations

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.    

Gestos is a philanthropic organization founded in 1993 by sociologist Acioli Neto, journalist Alessandra Nilo, sociologist Márcia Andrade and social worker Silvia Dantas. The first project developed was supported by MISEREOR and focused on psychological care for people living with AIDS, as well as the training of information multipliers in the poorest communities of the Metropolitan Region of Recife. Since then, they have effectively contributed to guaranteeing the human rights of people living with HIV and AIDS. About 70% of the people who have sought legal support from the institution have had their rights redressed, through precautionary measures and sentences, which today are even part of the list of jurisprudence on the subject of Law and AIDS. Throughout its history, the organization has considered communication as fundamental in the fight against AIDS and has fought to expand this understanding in Pernambuco, Brazil and Latin America. This vision has consolidated Gestos as an important reference in Communication and AIDS in the country, with special emphasis on discussions on Public Policies on Health Communication. They also help to form new civil society organizations, such as the National Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (RNPVHA - 1995), the Positive Work Group - GTP+ (2000), the Group of Positive Actions (2003), the Group of Support to HIV Positive People (GASP) 2003, Acts of Citizenship (2006). From 2007 to 2011, Gestos created and coordinated the UNGASS-AIDS Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Health, where it oversaw the implementation of agreements signed at the UN in sixteen developing countries. The UNGASS-AIDS Forum has established itself as a space for political debate on issues related to HIV and AIDS and sexual and reproductive health and rights. They are also a consultative NGO at the UN, with ECOSOC status since 2017.   Instagram Twitter