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.  

Riksförbundet För Sexuell Upplysning (RFSU) has 17 local branches, 19 member organizations, 1 clinic and 1 'open house' youth clinic. RFSU works extensively in education, campaigning, advocacy, research, training, and in the international sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) arena. The organization has been especially active in the field of counselling for people with learning difficulties, visual impairment and disability, and it runs courses for volunteers working with these groups. RFSU runs seminars for the general public on the pursuit of pleasure, gender roles and male and female language, and clinics for young men, who are generally thought to be overlooked when it comes to talking about their sexuality. These clinics are run by male staff and registered nurses. RFSU conducts outreach activities at summer seaside resorts, music festivals and other youth events. This work is carried out by trained peer educators and cover sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV and AIDS, and other SRHR issues. The organization produces a quarterly bulletin which is widely read, especially by the media, and a periodical entitled `Reports on Sexuality and Reproduction'. RFSU's international activities include joint projects with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) in Tanzania andZambia, focused on the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of young people. These projects aim to increase knowledge, to promote openness and acceptance of young peoples’ sexual activity, and to improve access to contraceptive services. Other international projects focus on communicating the Swedish experience of sex education, and on providing input into the development of family planning in Russia and the Baltic States. Contacts Website: http://www.rfsu.se/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rfsu.se/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RFSU