Member Associations

Guinea-Bissau is one tenth the size of its neighbour Guinea-Conakry, but its people suffer equally distressing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) problems. The Associação Guineense para o Bem Estar Familiar was established in 1993 to address the major issue in family planning: equipping couples to make active, informed choices about the number of children they would have, and when they would have them.   Since then, the Member Association’s work has expanded to embrace a full range of SRH concerns. It provides young people with information, education and communication (IEC) and behaviour change communication (BCC) around sexual and reproductive health; it works on the prevention, diagnosis and management of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) includind HIV; it provides post-abortion care and support; it provides care for victims of gender-based violence (GBV); and it advocates strongly at government level for legislation to prevent GBV. Associação Guineense para o Bem Estar Familiar achieved these results through a small but committed team that operate over hundred service points, including static clinics and community-based service points. Despite the relatively small size of the organization, it is growing rapidly with strong central support from IPPF, influential government partnerships, and backing from non-governmental organizations including UNFPA.

In January 2011, Rutgers Nisso Groep and the World Population Foundation merged to form Rutgers. Rutgers is dedicated to promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the Netherlands and worldwide. The organization is a non-grant-receiving full Member Association of IPPF.   The 3 fundamental principles underpinning Rutgers's work are the promotion of equal sexual treatment, the protection and improvement of SRHR, and the emancipation of specific vulnerable groups, or groups with particular sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs. Rutgers contributes to the improvement of education, prevention, counselling and policy by gathering and disseminating knowledge. It does this by conducting scientific research and developing practical and appropriate services and materials for various target groups. It produces teaching packages, websites, books and brochures. Other work undertaken by the Member Association includes the organization of disciplinary education course for first-time youth sex offenders, training for healthcare professionals, research into (and the prevention of) gender-based violence (GBV), the development of preventive interventions, and monitoring changing sexual issues in the Netherlands.   Contacts Website: http://www.rutgers.international Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Rutgers Twitter: https://twitter.com/RutgersNL