Member Associations

The Association de Bien-Etre Familial – Naissances Désirables (ABEF-ND) The Democratic Republic of Congo is vast: it is Africa’s second largest country and has nearly 68 million inhabitants. The sexual and reproductive health (SRH) challenges are correspondingly immense, with the country recording some of the poorest SRH statistics globally. The Association de Bien-Etre Familial – Naissances Désirables (ABEF-ND) was founded in 1977, and since then it has worked tirelessly to drive changes which will secure a better future for the country. ABEF-ND offers sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information, education and communication for young people. It offers HIV and AIDS prevention and management services, and community-based distribution of contraceptives. It also advocates strenuously around SRH issues with legislators and health professionals. As such, it’s central to shaping relevant national policies. It achieved this through static clinics, associated clinics and community-based distributors (CBDs) and community-based services (CBSs). ABEF-ND has a small number of staff who are backed by a large body of volunteers: together, they are determined to promote sexual and reproductive health and rights for all. ABEF-ND works in partnership with the Ministry of Health, and in the private sector with faith-based health facilities. Non-governmental organizations partners include Service Centrale d'Education à la Vie (SCEV), the Women’s Action Network (RAF), Radios for the Consolidation of Peace (RCP+), Amo Congo. Donors include Programme National de Lutte contre le Sida (PNLS), UNFPA, UNHCR and GTZ. It is a Member of the National Council of NGOs against AIDS.  

The Latvian Association for Family Planning & Sexual Health (LAFPSH) focuses on information, education and training activities for health personnel and the general public, and sex education for teachers and young people. The organization has a highly active youth group which runs a safer sex campaign (in conjunction with national media). The group also publishes an advice section in a major youth magazine dealing with problems relating to (for example) puberty, relationships, contraceptives and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It operates a telephone helpline which is run by young people, for young people. More broadly, LAFPSH runs seminars and workshops on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) concerns such as sexuality and people with disability, gender-based violence and menopause. LAFPSH has significant influence as an advocate at government level, and has been closely involved in developing the national reproductive health programme. This is reflected in the organization’s active programme of information, education and communication (IEC) in conjunction with the Latvian Teachers Association. It has led to the training of over a 1,000 teachers in sex education. A project jointly supported by the Swedish Family Planning Association and the European Commission has enabled LAFPSH to produce and disseminate high quality materials on STIs, condoms and sex education.   Contacts Website: www.papardeszieds.lv Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/papardeszieds Twitter: https://twitter.com/PapardesZieds