On this International Migrants Day, we speak with Valerie Dourdin, IPPF’s Humanitarian Director, about her recent visit to the Darién Gap, a perilous crossing linking South and Central America. With decades of humanitarian experience, Valerie highlights the hidden struggles women face on the move, and IPPF’s ambitious plans to deliver lifesaving sexual and reproductive healthcare (SRH) along key migration routes. With a focus on localisation and coordinated support, Valerie outlines a bold vision for ensuring the needs of women on the move are not forgotten.    Can you start by telling us about your background and what brought you to IPPF?
  I have had the privilege to work for 15 years with the Red Cross, 10 years with the UN, and later with Save the Children, with experience across every continent. I was fortunate to work alongside strong local teams at every step of my career. They taught me how to do my job, and that experience shaped my understanding of effective, localised humanitarian work.  My move to IPPF was inspired by my previous work in Colombia, where we ran a SRH clinic. Seeing the lifesaving importance of sexual and reproductive healthcare, and the difficulty of securing funding for it, drove me to continue this work. SRH isn’t a luxury, it’s critical for current and future generations, and IPPF provided an opportunity to address that gap globally, especially in humanitarian settings.    Who are ‘people on the move’?
  ‘People on the move’ refers to individuals who are fleeing from conflict, violence, economic hardship or climate change. Many people on the move have simply run out of options in their home countries and are forced to leave in search of safety, opportunity, or survival. These journeys can be incredibly dangerous and take weeks, months, or even years. Without documents, people must take unofficial routes, crossing irregularly into countries, leaving them vulnerable to violence, exploitation, and trafficking.  There are currently two major migration routes. The first is across Africa, where people travel north toward the Mediterranean. The second is in the Americas, where journeys often begin in Chile, Argentina, or Haiti, moving north through Colombia and Central America toward the US. Increasingly, people from Africa and as far as China are arriving in South America to follow this route. A critical and perilous passage in this region is the Darién Gap, a treacherous 70-mile stretch of dense jungle between Colombia and Panama.  Women and families endure immense hardship on these routes, yet their stories of violence, exploitation, and survival are rarely heard.    What was the aim of your recent visit to South and Central America?  We wanted to better understand the current situation along migration routes, particularly in Colombia and the Darién Gap, and see how IPPF could scale up support for women and girls on the move, through our Member Association (MA) Profamilia, who are leading the response.  Profamilia is a great organisation with decades of experience providing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in Colombia. They run over 50 clinics across the country and are well-respected for their work, including in emergency settings. During my visit, we discussed their plans to scale up mobile clinic services in key areas like Necoclí and Capurganá, where many migrants gather before attempting the difficult journey through the Darién Gap. These clinics offer SRH services like family planning, HIV and STI screening.  I then travelled to Panama, where the Darién Gap ends, to meet with local and national organisations. My aim was to start building a network of coordinated SRH and particularly SGBV care, so that women have access to support both before they enter the gap and when they emerge on the other side.    What did you witness in the Darién Gap, and how are women impacted?
  The Darién Gap is one of the most dangerous border crossings of the Americas migration route in the world and is controlled by armed criminal groups. For families making the journey, it can turn into a nightmare. Rivers rise without warning, people get lost in the thick forest, and many disappear without a trace. A fit young man might cross in five days, but for mothers with small children, it can take 10 to 15 days or more.  When I visited two years ago this route was starting to pick up, in 2023 around 600,000 people attempted the crossing. This year, it has dropped significantly to around 230,000, but what struck me was the increased desperation. You now see many lower-income families, with less access to resources and information. Many families sell everything to pay smugglers only to be ripped off, so they’re stuck in places like Necoclí for weeks or months. Women told me they had nothing left to go back to, so they had no choice but to push forward.   I saw mothers with newborn babies in their arms about to start the journey. I spoke to a young child and asked her where she was going, she smiled and said, “To the beach.” Parents do their best to protect their children but can’t prepare them for the unimaginable ordeal ahead.   Two years ago, the jungle was impenetrable. Now, there are some rudimentary paths, but it’s still extremely muddy, dangerous, and slow. You see families starting their journey loaded with a heavy backpack, but by the time they reach Panama, they have absolutely nothing. Reports revealed that approximately one in three women making the crossing experienced sexual violence on the route, and over half had been robbed. 

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has launched the CAD48 million "EmpowHER" project in partnership with Global Affairs Canada. The initiative aims to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for marginalised women, girls, and underserved communities across at least 11 countries. EmpowHER will enhance access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care, deliver comprehensive sexuality education, and combat growing threats to SRHR through policy reform and advocacy. This partnership aligns with Canada’s commitment to gender equality and empowering young people to make informed choices about their well-being. Ensuring Inclusive SRHR Delivery for Women, Girls and Marginalise Communities (EmpowHER), is a large-scale initiative that will strengthen access to SRHR for the most marginalised and underserved groups, particularly women and girls. It will support millions of women, girls, and vulnerable communities in Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mauritania, Sudan, Zambia, Uganda, Togo, Colombia, Ecuador and Pakistan. Through an intersectional, human rights-based feminist approach, EmpowHER will increase access to much needed rights-based SRH care, including access to person-centred safe and legal abortion care. It will deliver critical comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) to empower young people to act on their sexual and reproductive rights (SRR) by expanding their access to quality, rights-based, and gender-sensitive CSE. Furthermore, this initiative will also counteract the growing threats to women’s and girls' sexual and reproductive health rights, by providing urgent support to improve policies and strengthen the capacity of movements and coalitions. Dr. Alvaro Bermejo, Director-General of IPPF, emphasised the critical need to protect and expand access to SRHR. “This new project will continue our mission of empowering women and girls, particularly in Sub Saharan Africa, to make informed decisions about their bodies. We will not only increase access to much needed SRHR services including safe and legal abortion but will also deliver CSE to young people and tackle the rollback of SRHR rights.” “We’re grateful to the Canadian Government for their support and continued partnership.” The funding, unveiled during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), is part of Canada’s 10-Year Commitment to Global Health and Rights and aligns with its Feminist International Assistance Policy. Canada is committed to securing a more gender-equal world in which young people are empowered to exercise their rights and make free and informed decisions about their sexuality and well-being. "By supporting the EmpowHER initiative, Canada is taking another step towards achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls, in all their diversity, worldwide. This project will not only improve access to vital sexual and reproductive health services, but also ensure that the most marginalized communities can exercise their rights and make informed choices about their health and future. Together, we will strengthen partnerships that champion these rights and protect the progress we've made", said the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of International Development, Canada.

Over the past 30 years, more than 60 countries and territories have liberalized their abortion laws. Only four have regressed, including the United States. Abortion rights are increasingly becoming recognized as fundamental human rights for millions of people worldwide. The global landscape of abortion rights continues to evolve in 2024, with new legislation and feminist movements fighting for better access. Let's take a trip around the world to see the latest developments.

Earlier this year, on the 22nd of February, ProFamilia was awarded the José Acevedo y Gómez Civil Order of Merit, the highest distinction awarded by the Bogotá Council, in recognition of the hard work that the Organization has carried out for almost 58 years to achieve the effective empowerment of sexuality in Bogotá and in the rest of the country. At times like this, it is inevitable to look back to the mid-1960s, when guaranteeing reproductive autonomy for women, especially the most vulnerable, became the dream and raison d'être of the work of gynaecologist Fernando Tamayo, a dream that materialised with the creation of ProFamilia in Bogotá. We have made progress! Today, several decades later, we are celebrating with a new generation of women, the first anniversary of the decriminalization of abortion in Colombia, a historic decision that has as its essence equity, freedom, autonomy, social justice and the dream with which our Organization was born: that all people can exercise their Sexual and Reproductive Rights. No woman or pregnant woman can ever again be singled out or criminalized for deciding to terminate her pregnancy for whatever reasons she chooses, and the system, of which we are all a part, must allow her rights to become a reality.

Profamilia – an IPPF Member Association and the leading sexual and reproductive rights organization in Colombia – is celebrating the first anniversary of the decriminalization of abortion across the country. The move - Ruling C-055 - which allows abortion up to 24 weeks of gestation under any circumstance is saving lives across Colombia, and means those who have an abortion no longer face prosecution or criminalization. A historic step for the rights of women and pregnant people both in the country and across Latin America. Over the last year, Profamilia via its nationwide network of more than 50 clinics has helped guarantee sexual and reproductive health and rights, focusing on providing safe abortion care services in person as well as the provision of telemedicine for rural women.   For a country which sees 132,000 cases annually of complications from unsafe abortions and 70 women lose their lives each year – the shift in focus to abortion as a public health issue means healthcare providers can now focus on providing life-saving care and ending unsafe abortion. Alongside the ruling, the Ministry of Health, has also regulated abortion services throughout Colombia via Resolution 051, reiterating that abortion is an essential and urgent health service, which women, including migrant women, and pregnant people (transgender men, trans masculinities, non-binary people, among others) must be able to access without restriction and for free. Further rulings also embeds the provision of sexual and reproductive health information into Colombian health services. Marta Royo, the Executive Director of ProFamilia, said: "Profamilia's commitment will always be to provide comprehensive, humanized and safe services that allow free and informed decision making, and we reiterate this today” "After one year it is possible to see the progress the country has made in terms of reproductive autonomy and rights for women and pregnant people. However, we must move from text to action, and ensure that decriminalization means healthcare. Profamilia's commitment will always be to provide comprehensive, humanized and safe services that allow free and informed decision making." Eugenia López Uribe, Regional Director of IPPF for the Americas and The Caribbean.

We are overjoyed to announce the opening of the first of two locations of the International Planned Parenthood Federation -  Americas and the Caribbean Regional Office (ACRO), in Bogota, Colombia. IPPF Director-General Dr. Alvaro Bermejo, IPPF ACRO's Regional Director Eugenia López Uribe, Deputy Regional Director Dona Da Costa Martinez, and IPPF Director of External Relations Mina Barling were joined by team members from the ACRO and London Offices to reinforce the commitment to the fight for rights and access to sexual and reproductive services in the region. This is an especially exciting time as Colombia stands as the latest champion to step forward to protect the bodily autonomy of everyone with the possibility of gestation, with a recent Constitutional Court victory legalizing access to abortion until 24 weeks. The new IPPF Americas and the Caribbean Regional Office serves Member Associations and Collaborative Partners in over 24 countries across the region, and which are growing in their movement building and service delivery capabilities, including comprehensive sex education, provision of contraceptive, safe abortion, and maternal care and responding to humanitarian crisis. IPPF pride ourselves on being local through our members and global through our network. At the heart of our mission is the provision of – and advocacy in support of – integrated healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, gender, sex, income, and crucially no matter how remote. Volunteerism is central to our healthcare delivery. It underpins the vital work of our members and their teams, whether through community outreach and distribution of contraceptive care or the regional Youth Action Movements championing change.  

The Colombian Constitutional Court has decriminalized abortion up to 24 weeks in another victory for the Green Wave sweeping through Latin America.  The historic decision follows years of campaigning by women's right's activists across Colombia and came off the back of two lawsuits that asked the court to declare article 122 of the penal code, that "the woman who causes her abortion or allows another to cause it, will incur a prison sentence from sixteen (16) to fifty-four (54) months" as unconstitutional. Having delayed several times over the past two years, the court called an extraordinary meeting on Monday 21st February 2022, and took just a few hours to come to its decision - ruling five against four to decriminalize the healthcare procedure. The decision will go into effect immediately. ProFamilia, IPPF's Member Association in Colombia, and Colombia's largest provider of legal abortion care was heavily involved in pushing to extend the rights of those needing to access abortion care. Colombia follows other countries in the region such as Mexico and Argentina, while parliamentarians in Ecuador last week eased regulations to allow access to abortion in cases of rape. Marta Royo, Executive Director for Profamilia, IPPF's Member Association in Colombia, said: "Today is a ground-breaking moment for the people of Colombia and a long-overdue guarantee of reproductive rights and dignity for all those who need abortion care, especially poor and rural women who bear the brunt of restrictive abortion policies. "The decriminalization of abortion up to 24 weeks in Colombia and the Green Wave movement across Latin America is centred not just on public health, but also the full lives, citizenship and human rights of girls, adolescents, and women – who, for multiple reasons, including inequity, access to education, gender-based violence and barriers to healthcare – continue to face unintended pregnancies. "The freedom for women to finally make their own choices about their pregnancies and their bodies is fundamental to disrupting the cycle of poverty that so many in Colombia face. This monumental decision is also a win for the dedicated health care providers, who will finally be recognized as people who simply care about the needs of others."  While Colombian women have supposedly been able to access abortion care since 2006 under three circumstances: if their life or health is at risk, in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities, or if the pregnancy is the by-product of rape or incest, in reality,  the criminalization of abortion persisted. The Guttmacher Institute found that less than one per cent of the estimated 400,000 abortions carried out each year in Colombia are performed legally, with women, especially poor, rural, vulnerable and marginalized women, facing significant barriers to accessing safe and timely abortion care. Many Colombian women are instead forced to carry their pregnancies to term or else seek other methods to end them. Figures collected by ProFamilia showed that during 2020, there were at least 26,223 unsafe abortions across Colombia, a startling amount for which consequences range from infection to life-changing injuries to death. As per the previous abortion law, other women have been imprisoned for up to four and a half years for having an abortion, even in cases where abortion should have been legal. In a shocking example of discrimination, data collected showed that poor rural women were more likely to be charged, with a third of those who faced charges also survivors of sexual violence. Eugenia Lopez Uribe, IPPF's Regional Director for Americas and the Caribbean Region, said: "Today Colombia took another step in the right direction for gender equality and full human rights for all, and we are incredibly proud of IPPF's Member Association, ProFamilia, for their tireless work alongside thousands of activists across Colombia and Latin America "This 24-week decriminalization is historic in the region and especially remarkable when we consider the current fragility of abortion rights globally and the anti-choice movements which continue to plague nations across the world, including in countries close to home like the United States of America. "While today we are celebrating this historic decision, the Green Wave is strong and growing, and the fight for reproductive rights and justice will not end until every person can access high-quality sexual and reproductive healthcare when and where they need it."    

Today, the Colombian Constitutional Court decriminalized abortion up to 24 weeks in another victory for the Green Wave sweeping through Latin America. The historic decision follows years of campaigning by women's right's activists across Colombia and came off the back of two lawsuits that asked the court to declare article 122 of the penal code, that "the woman who causes her abortion or allows another to cause it, will incur a prison sentence from sixteen (16) to fifty-four (54) months" as unconstitutional. The court called an extraordinary meeting today, Monday 21st February, and took just a few hours to come to its decision which will go into effect immediately. ProFamilia, the International Planned Federation's Member Association in Colombia, and Colombia's largest provider of legal abortion care were heavily involved in pushing to extend the rights of those needing to access abortion care. Marta Royo, Executive Director for Profamilia, IPPF's Member Association in Colombia, said: "Today is a ground-breaking moment for the people of Colombia and a long-overdue guarantee of reproductive rights and dignity for all those who need abortion care, especially poor and rural women who bear the brunt of restrictive abortion policies. "The decriminalization of abortion up to 24 weeks in Colombia and the Green Wave movement across Latin America is centred not just on public health, but also the full lives, citizenship and human rights of girls, adolescents, and women – who, for multiple reasons, including inequity, access to education, gender-based violence and barriers to healthcare – continue to face unintended pregnancies. "The freedom for women to finally make their own choices about their pregnancies and their bodies is fundamental to disrupting the cycle of poverty that so many in Colombia face. This monumental decision is also a win for the dedicated health care providers, who will finally be recognized as people who simply care about the needs of others."  While Colombian women have supposedly been able to access abortion care since 2006 under three circumstances: if their life or health is at risk, in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities, or if the pregnancy is the by-product of rape or incest, in reality,  the criminalization of abortion persisted. The Guttmacher Institute found that less than one per cent of the estimated 400,000 abortions carried out each year in Colombia are performed legally, with women, especially poor, rural, vulnerable and marginalized women, facing significant barriers to accessing safe and timely abortion care. Many Colombian women are instead forced to carry their pregnancies to term or else seek other methods to end them. Figures collected by ProFamilia showed that during 2020, there were at least 26,223 unsafe abortions across Colombia, a startling amount for which consequences range from infection to life-changing injuries to death. As per the previous abortion law, other women have been imprisoned for up to four and a half years for having an abortion, even in cases where abortion should have been legal. In a shocking example of discrimination, data collected showed that poor rural women were more likely to be charged, with a third of those who faced charges also survivors of sexual violence. Eugenia Lopez Uribe, IPPF's Regional Director for Americas and the Caribbean Region, said: "Today Colombia took another step in the right direction for gender equality and full human rights for all, and we are incredibly proud of IPPF's Member Association, ProFamilia, for their tireless work alongside thousands of activists across Colombia and Latin America "This 24-week decriminalization is historic in the region and especially remarkable when we consider the current fragility of abortion rights globally and the anti-choice movements which continue to plague nations across the world, including in countries close to home like the United States of America. "While today we are celebrating this historic decision, the Green Wave is strong and growing, and the fight for reproductive rights and justice will not end until every person can access high-quality sexual and reproductive healthcare when and where they need it." For media enquiries in English, please contact Karmen Ivey on [email protected] or [email protected]  For media enquiries in Spanish or during UK night-time hours, please contact Pamela Martin Garcia on [email protected]    

The Colombian Constitutional Court has a historical opportunity in its hands as it decides on whether or not to completely remove the crime of abortion from the penal code, making it a public health matter. Unlike many others in Colombia, I grew up in a home where I wanted for nothing. A fortunate child in a country where meeting basic needs continues to be a matter of privilege, the reflection of an unequal society mired by the infinite cycle of poverty. I grew up amid discussions of politics and human rights in a safe environment where I was encouraged to formulate my own thoughts. Yet even for me, like so many Colombian women and girls, speaking openly about sex and sexuality was strictly forbidden. Despite this, Colombia remains a society that sees motherhood as the only achievable goal in a woman's life. A paradox that is difficult to understand. From a young age, girls face the power of stereotypes and gender roles, coming to understand them as superior to anything else and realizing that when it comes to reproductive autonomy, there is no space to think, express opinions, and much less act. Since 2006, Colombian women have supposedly been able to access abortion care under three circumstances: if their life or health is at risk, in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities, or if the pregnancy is the by-product of rape or incest. Yet in spite of these laws, the criminalization of abortion persists. The Guttmacher Institute found that less than one per cent of the estimated 400,000 abortions carried out each year in Colombia are performed legally, with women, especially poor, rural, vulnerable and marginalized women, facing significant barriers to accessing safe and timely abortion care. Many women are forced to carry their pregnancies to term or else seek other methods to end them. Figures collected by ProFamilia, IPPF's Member Association and the largest provider of legal abortions in Colombia, showed that during 2020, there were at least 26,223 unsafe abortions across Colombia, a startling amount for which consequences range from infection to life-changing injuries to death. Other women have been imprisoned for up to four and a half years for having an abortion, even in cases where abortion should have been legal. In a sickening twist of events, charges actually increased by 320% from 2005 to 2008, with around 400 women prosecuted for procuring an abortion each year. Perhaps the most saddening example of discrimination is that most women charged were poor rural women, and a third, survivors of sexual violence. The decriminalization of abortion and the Green Wave movement is centred on public health, human rights, and the full citizenship and lives of girls, adolescents, and women – who, for multiple reasons, including gender-based violence, inequity, lack of education and barriers to healthcare – continue to face unintended pregnancies. And for whom the freedom to make choices about their pregnancies and their bodies will reduce adolescent and unintended pregnancy, reduce gender-based violence and help break the cycle of poverty that so many in Colombia face.   For the dedicated health care providers, who also bear the burden of criminalization and stigma, decriminalization is an opportunity to make reproductive healthcare an integral part of physical, mental and social well-being. And a chance for abortion care providers to finally be recognized as people who simply care about the needs of others.   So after a long, rigorous and objective process of data, figures, findings and stories, Colombia is on the cusp of change. To achieve total decriminalization would be groundbreaking, a decision that would change the course of Colombia and Latin America forever. Especially in the face of terrifying anti-choice movements which continue to plague nations across the globe, removing long-held rights from citizens, as we have seen in Texas and Poland. The magistrates should not be afraid of making the right decision. From Uruguay to Argentina, Mexico, and now Colombia, I am hopeful that my country will join the right side of history. Originally published by Thomson Reuters Foundation News

IPPF interviewed Profamilia Colombia's Executive Director, Marta Royo, to discuss what it means to be a member of a global Federation like IPPF, and what her hopes are for the Americas region. This interview is available in English and Spanish. How long has Profamilia been a member of IPPF? Profamilia joined IPPF in 1968 as an associate, and in 1971 we became a full member. Why did Profamilia join IPPF? Profamilia understood from very early on that in order for sexual and reproductive health provision, and further down the line, to ensure the sexual and reproductive rights of every person were advanced and recognized, it was essential to unite the voices and actions of all the organizations and leaders all over the world that supported the cause. For Profamilia, IPPF means learning spaces, an exchange with experts on the most relevant themes of healthcare, medicine and education, as well as active participation in critical areas of advocacy. Could you explain to us how Profamilia values being part of a worldwide federation working for sexual and reproductive rights? For Profamilia, the value that the Federation adds is enormous. It gives us the possibility to exchange experiences and knowledge with other associations around the world, enriching our work, and allowing it to advance more quickly and with greater strength. In addition, it offers the opportunity to present projects through donors who support our issues. This has allowed us to have access to important resources with which the organization has been able to work with the most vulnerable populations in our country – from advocacy to healthcare service delivery, research, addressing issues as varied as abortion care, contraception and comprehensive sex education. Without this support, thousands of people in Colombia would not have access to any of these services. Additionally, the grant that we receive annually has made it possible throughout the years to invest in Profamilia’s capacity, strengthening our processes, improving the quality of our services and responsiveness to the population. Could you tell us how Profamilia participated in the General Assembly in India last November and in IPPF’s reform process? Profamilia actively participated in IPPF’s entire reform process. Before the Assembly we completed all the surveys, sharing relevant observations. Once in Delhi, our delegates and Executive Management attended all the meetings where the themes were discussed, splitting up to ensure that we could attend and contribute to both the discussion on governance issues and those on the resource allocation model. On the voting day we talked with other associations, negotiating some of the most important points. When voting on the reforms, all the Profamilia team did so earnestly, with enthusiasm and trust in the new future of IPPF. What is your vision of IPPF’s expansion in the Americas region and how do you feel being a central part of this process? The support of IPPF is essential in the region. After all, it has had an important presence for many years. Although Latin America gives the impression that it has many things in common, there are also profound differences between its countries, and having a Federation which convenes us and unifies us around the sexual and reproductive health movement is essential in reducing the inequalities of the region. These inequalities affect in particular young girls, teenagers and women; it is critical to join forces with organizations that allow us, in a whole and organized manner, to reduce the factors which generate these gaps.  Being a central part of this process is a real challenge! In considering the factors essential for success, one of the most important components is strengthening existing alliances and looking for new organizations who want to combine forces and ideas. Building a network which respects differences in opinion and vision, but that feels united in the purpose of fighting for and defending human, sexual and reproductive rights. It will be one which welcomes flexibility, open minds, calmness in taking decisions, diversity and in all the wide meaning of the word.  Could you tell us the best part of being part of IPPF’s worldwide movement in sexual and reproductive health? Being part of IPPF is feeling accompanied, always, in this challenge which is the defence of sexual health and reproductive health. It is knowing that when it comes to rights, its absence affects little girls in Colombia, Namibia, Ireland, Cambodia or Samoa in the same way. And that on the contrary, when they are guaranteed, the same girls become empowered young people, women who can make decisions about their bodies, their sexuality, their lives!   Interview in Spanish Hace cuanto tiempo que su Asociación es miembro de IPPF? Profamilia entró a ser parte de IPPF en 1968 como asociado y en 1971 se convirtió en miembro pleno.  Por qué su asociación se unió a IPPF? Profamilia entendió desde muy temprano que para que la salud sexual y reproductiva, y más adelante los derechos sexuales y reproductivos de todas las personas avanzaran y fueran reconocidos era indispensable unirse a las voces y acciones de todas las organizaciones y líderes alrededor del mundo que apoyaban la causa. IPPF significa para Profamilia espacios de aprendizaje, intercambio con expertos en los temas más relevantes de la medicina y la educación, además de una activa participación en espacios críticos de incidencia.  Nos podría explicar cómo valora su organización el ser parte de una Federación mundial trabajando por los derechos sexuales y reproductivos?  Para Profamilia el valor que agrega la Federación es enorme. Nos da la posibilidad de intercambiar experiencias y conocimiento con otras asociaciones en el mundo, enriqueciendo nuestro trabajo, y permitiendo avanzar más rápido y con mayor fuerza. Así mismo, brinda la oportunidad de presentar proyectos a través de los donantes que apoyan nuestros temas. Eso ha permitido tener acceso a importantes recursos con los cuales la organización ha podido trabajar con la población más vulnerable de nuestro país, desde incidencia, prestación de servicios de salud, investigaciones, atendiendo problemáticas tan variadas como aborto, anticoncepción, educación integral en sexualidad. Sin este apoyo, miles de personas en Colombia no tendrían acceso a ninguno de estos servicios. Adicionalmente, la subvención que recibimos anualmente ha posibilitado a lo largo de los años invertir en la capacidad instalada de Profamilia, fortaleciendo nuestros procesos, mejorando la calidad y capacidad de respuesta a la población.  Nos podría contar cómo su asociación participó en la Asamblea General en la India el pasado Noviembre y en el proceso de reforma de IPPF? Profamilia participó activamente en todo el proceso de reforma de IPPF. Desde antes de la Asamblea General, diligenciamos todas las encuestas enviadas, compartiendo observaciones relevantes para las mismas. Una vez en Delhi, los delegados de la organización y la Dirección Ejecutiva asistimos a todas las reuniones donde se discutieron los temas, dividiéndonos para garantizar que podríamos asistir y aportar tanto a las discusiones sobre los temas de gobernanza como a las del modelo de asignación de recursos. El día de la votación conversamos con otras asociaciones, negociando algunos de los puntos más críticos. En el momento de votar las reformas todo el equipo de Profamilia lo hicimos a conciencia, con entusiasmo y confianza en el nuevo futuro de IPPF.  Cuál es su visión sobre la expansión de IPPF en la región de las Americas y cómo se siente al ser parte central de este proceso? Es fundamental contar con el apoyo de IPPF en la región. Después de todo, ha tenido una presencia importante durante muchos años a través de lo que era su oficina regional. Aunque Latinoamérica da la sensación de compartir muchas cosas en común, también existen profundas diferencias entre sus países y tener una Federación que nos convoque y unifique alrededor del movimiento de derechos sexuales y derechos reproductivos es esencial para lograr reducir las inequidades de la región. Estas inequidades afectan particularmente a las niñas, adolescentes y mujeres; es crítico sumar esfuerzos y organizaciones que nos permitan, de manera conjunta y coordinada, reducir los factores que generan estas brechas.  Ser parte central de este proceso es todo un desafío! Considero que entre los factores de éxito, uno de los componentes más importante es fortalecer las alianzas existentes y buscar nuevas organizaciones que quieran aunar esfuerzos e ideas. Construir una red que respete la diferencia de opiones y visiones, pero que se sienta unida en el propósito de lucha y defensa de los derechos humanos y sexuales y reproductivos. Bienvenida la flexibilidad, las mentes abiertas, la serenidad en la toma de decisiones, la diversidad, en todo el amplio significado de la palabra!   Nos podria decir qué es lo mejor de ser parte del movimiento mundial de IPPF en salud sexual y reproductiva?  Ser parte de IPPF es sentirse acompañada, siempre, en este desafío que es la defensa de los derechos sexuales y derechos reproductivos. Es saber que cuando se trata de derechos, su ausencia afecta de la misma manera a las niñas de Colombia, Namibia, Irlanda, Camboya o Samoa. Y que al contrario, cuando se garantizan, las mismas niñas se convierten en adolescentes empoderadas, mujeres que pueden decidir sobre sus cuerpos, su sexualidad, sus vidas!