Member Associations

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.  

The Union of Women Sex Workers of Paraguay (Unión de Trabajadoras Sexuales del Paraguay -UNES) is a grassroots organization founded in 2006 in Asunción by and for adult women who engage in sex work autonomously. As a member of Redtrasex, UNES advocates for the recognition of sex workers' rights, the elimination of stigma, and their social inclusion. Its main goal is to collaborate with the Paraguayan state to strengthen and expand guarantees for comprehensive healthcare access with a human rights approach. Through various projects, UNES raises awareness among healthcare professionals, distributes prevention packages (including condoms, lubricants, counseling, and rapid tests for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B), and conducts community oversight visits to healthcare services. Additionally, it provides support to sex workers in accessing treatment and medical consultations. The organization promotes the political training of its leaders, builds alliances with feminist and human rights networks, and engages in public policy advocacy. UNES also works on developing legal frameworks that protect sex workers' rights, including legislative proposals such as the Sex Work Bill Proposal. Moreover, it carries out awareness-raising initiatives targeting key actors in the judicial, municipal, and governmental sectors. By strengthening partnerships with national and international organizations, UNES continues to advocate for the recognition and respect of sex workers' rights in Paraguay and across the region.   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unes_py/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UNESPY