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.

In light of the ongoing conflict in Sudan since April 15, 2023, the Sudan Family Planning Association (SFPA) has re-launched its electronic platform to provide essential rights-based reproductive health services. Current technical challenges in Sudan, caused by the ongoing conflict, has disrupted many essential services, including access to family planning and reproductive health care. The e-platform is being relaunched to ensure that we can continue providing rights-based, essential services to those in need, particularly women and youth, even during these difficult times. Since the platform’s inception, it has already reached over one thousand clients, many of whom are in rural or conflict-affected areas. It has also provided psychological support and legal advice to women suffering from abuse in conflict areas, which demonstrates the platform’s vital role. This initiative, supported by the Federal Ministry of Health and state ministries, aims to strengthen the affected health system and improve access to vital services during this challenging period. Key services available through the phone number 1700 include: Comprehensive reproductive health consultations. Response to gender-based violence (GBV) with psychological and legal support. Secure and confidential remote consultations via video calls. The project aims to: Enhance access to reproductive health services, particularly in conflict-affected areas. Support vulnerable groups such as women and youth with comprehensive health consultations. Strengthen the national health system in partnership with the Ministry of Health and international partners. Elshafie Muhammed Ali, Executive Director, Sudan Family Planning Association, said:  "We hope this initiative will contribute to alleviating the impact of the crisis and improving the quality of life for the Sudanese population. The lack of reaction from the UN and the international community is heartbreaking. So much is left for the Sudanese people to deal with. SFPA and IPPF stand by the women and girls of Sudan, even if the world looks away." The total number of people who fled their homes since mid-April 2023 is 10.3 million - or every fifth person in the country - making this the largest displacement crisis in the world. This includes about 8 million people displaced within Sudan and another 2.3 million who crossed into neighbouring countries. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), estimates that 6.7 million Sudanese people, mostly women, are at risk of gender-based violence (GBV).

25 September 2024, New York - During his visit to New York to participate in the Future Summit and the UN General Assembly, IPPF Director General Dr Alvaro Bermejo held a side bilateral meeting with Mr Kazuhiko Nakamura, Director General and Assistant Minister for Global Issues, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan to promote universal health coverage and women, peace and security.  Dr Bermejo thanked the Government of Japan for the long-standing cooperation with and its consistent support since 1969. Dr Bermejo introduced IPPF and its Member Associations and Collaborative Partners operating in 152 countries, stating that in 2023, IPPF provided 22.4 million services to 71.4 million people worldwide. He further stated that in 2023, thanks to support from the Japanese Government's supplementary budget, IPPF was able to provide life-saving sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services to 291,723 people in crisis across four countries; namely Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Pakistan and Ukraine. He stressed that the IPPF and its Member Associations are playing an important role in the growing need for humanitarian assistance worldwide due to the effects of global climate change and increasing conflicts. He also confirmed that the IPPF is actively working on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) issues, which Japan attaches great importance to. Dr Bermejo also referred to the importance of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), Japan's leadership and notable pioneering initiatives and activities in this area. In response, Mr Kazuhiko Nakamura, Director General and Ambassador for Global Issues, stated that SRHR is a fundamental component of UHC and that progress in SRHR is essential to achieve UHC. Furthermore, these Mr Nakamura and Dr Bermejo agreed that Japan and the IPPF will further strengthen their cooperation, as it is impossible to fully realise UHC without addressing the SRH needs that the population has. In an increasingly polarised global situation regarding SRHR, Secretary-General Bermejo stressed the importance of balanced voices such as Japan as a bridge to facilitate dialogue in order to prevent global fragmentation. In particular, he noted the need for efforts to shift attention away from using SRHR as a political power struggle and towards the real issue of addressing ways and means to promote gender equality and health in particular.

Nairobi, 23 September 2024 – A groundbreaking £75.125 million project has been announced by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and its partners, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Options, Ipas, and Johns Hopkins University Centre for Communication Programmes, to transform sexual and reproductive health services across East and Southern Africa. This large-scale initiative will benefit seven countries, supporting millions of women, girls, and vulnerable communities in Burundi, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Zambia. This programme, known as Women’s Integrated Sexual Health 2 (WISH 2) Lot 2, is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). As part of FCDO WISH Dividend, it builds on the successes of FCDO’s £272 million Women’s Integrated Sexual Health (2018-2024) programme, which spanned 27 countries across Africa and Asia. Over its lifespan, the first WISH programme supported over an estimated 16.9 million women and girls, helping them gain access to critical SRHR services. FCDO’s continued partnership with IPPF for this next phase of WISH was unveiled by FCDO's Chris Carter, on behalf of the UK Minister for Africa, Lord Collins, during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) side event, “SRHR: Securing reproductive choice for the next generation.” Announcing FCDO’s partnerships with IPPF, MSI Reproductive Choices and the Children's Investment Fund Foundation, Chris Carter noted the new programme will play a critical role in increasing women's voice, choice and control across 13 countries in Africa.” With the goal of delivering over seven million ‘couple years protection,’ the programme will address critical healthcare gaps, promote reproductive choice, and tackle harmful social norms. It will also provide urgent support to improve policies, strengthen health systems, and safeguard the reproductive rights of women and girls, especially in areas affected by conflict and displacement. At the heart of this initiative is a focus on reaching the most marginalised groups, including young women and girls under 20, those living in poverty, people with disabilities, and communities in conflict zones. Importantly, WISH2 will also work to improve access to safe abortion care and counteract the growing threats to women’s and girls' sexual and reproductive health rights. IPPF Director General Dr Alvaro Bermejo emphasised the critical need to protect and expand access to SRHR. “WISH2 will continue our mission of empowering women and girls across Africa to unlock their full potential. We will not only tackle the rollback of SRHR rights but also strengthen disability inclusion while delivering sustainable healthcare solutions,” said Dr Bermejo. “We’re grateful to the UK Government for their unwavering support in this important work.” Elshafie Mohamed Ali, Executive Director of Sudan Family Planning Association (SFPA) said “WISH2 is essential given Sudan’s current circumstances, particularly the ongoing conflict since April 15, 2023. The programme addresses the growing need for sexual and reproductive health services, offering crucial support to vulnerable communities amidst increasing instability and humanitarian challenges.” Chris Carter, Deputy Director, Head of Human Development Department, highlighted the impact of this new initiative: “Access to sexual and reproductive health services saves lives, empowers women and girls, and supports education, transforming lives and entire livelihoods. This project will amplify women’s voice, choice, and control across Africa, and we are proud to partner with IPPF and African organizations in this critical mission.” For media enquiries, please contact [email protected]    

IPPF is thrilled to announce that the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has been recognized as a Very High Performer in the 2024 Global Health 50/50 Gender and Health Index! This prestigious designation, coupled with our classification as a Consistently Strong Performer in trend performance, reflects IPPF's unwavering commitment to achieving gender equality.  Transparency, strong governance with gender parity, and actively closing the gender pay gap are all cornerstones of our mission as a feminist organization. This recognition by Global Health 50/50 validates our ongoing efforts to create a truly equitable environment, both internally and within the global health landscape.  Professors Sarah Hawkes and Kent Buse, Co-CEOs of Global Health 50/50, acknowledged IPPF's leadership, stating, “Global Health 50/50 is pleased to recognise International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) as a Very High Performer in our 2024 Report, 'Gaining Ground?'. We hope that International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF)'s efforts to advance equality and diversity inspires others. We look to them to continue to push this hard won progress forward for the people working in global health and around the world." We are inspired by their words and committed to furthering this progress for the benefit of our staff and the communities we serve worldwide.  Read the report here.

Stigmatising.  Ideologically driven.   Damaging.  These are just a few words that can describe this report.  The International Planned Parenthood Federation is a global feminist, sexual and reproductive health and rights organisation with decades of experience providing services to sex workers’ of all genders.  We denounce in the strongest terms the content of this report and the ideologically driven process that led to it.  The report ignores decades of international evidence and global recommendations by WHO, UNAIDS, Amnesty International - and more importantly sex workers themselves.   Sex workers' voices have deliberately been ignored in the drafting of this report, reproducing the patriarchal silencing and exclusion that sex workers face in their daily lives.  At times of increasing attacks on women’s and LGBTQI communities, this report is fuelling misconceptions and harmful stigmatisation. The report promotes policies consistently proven to violate sex workers’ human rights using human rights rhetoric and erase sex workers consent, agency and humanity  At a time when racialised and migrant communities are increasingly calling to end police brutality and impunity, this report only offers more criminalisation and policing - putting the lives of most marginalised sex workers at risk.  The International Planned Parenthood Federation support the full decriminalisation of sex work. and stands in full solidarity with sex workers, their organisations and their struggles for human rights.  There is no feminism without sex workers.  Sex work is work.