- - -
Services in St Lucia
news item

| 03 May 2021

Appointment of IPPF Americas and the Caribbean Directors

IPPF is pleased to announce the appointment of Eugenia Lopez Uribe as Regional Director and Dona Da Costa Martinez as Deputy Regional Director of the Americas and Caribbean. They will be based in the Americas and the Caribbean Regional office (ACRO), based in Bogota, Colombia and Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, respectively.  IPPF would like to thank partner organizations for their continuous support during the transition phase, as well as to the IPPF transition team led by Anamaria Bejar who will return to her position as IPPF Global Director of Advocacy. Eugenia López Uribe – IPPF ACRO Regional Director Eugenia is an experienced advocate for gender equality and sexual and reproductive rights, promoting innovation in the delivery of health services from a human rights perspective. She began her professional career as a volunteer with the Gente Joven (Young people) Programme of MEXFAM, IPPF's Mexican member association.  She has worked with rural and indigenous people, adolescents, youth, LGBTQI+ populations, sex workers and women with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean. For more than a decade she was the executive director of Balance, a sexual and reproductive rights NGO working on regional advocacy in favour of sexual rights. Internationally, Eugenia has engaged on the follow-up of the commitments of International Conference of Population and Development (ICPD), the Beijing Conference on Women’s rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women - CEDAW and UN General Assembly on AIDS.  She co-founded the Abortion Fund for Social Justice: MARIA, the first initiative of its kind in Latin America. Her experience includes ten years as part of the management team of the Integrated Model of Health Care for Rural Adolescents of the Mexican Social Security Institute - IMMS Oportunidades. Eugenia will be based in Bogotá - Colombia.  Dona Da Costa Martinez – IPPF ACRO Deputy Regional Director Dona began her work in sexual and reproductive health, thirty-five years ago, when she joined the Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago – FPATT in 1985.   In her formative years in the Association, she was responsible for research, planning and evaluation and the development of programmes to ensure the achievement of the Association’s mission.  From 1990 she served as the Deputy Executive Director of the Association before taking on the mantle of Executive Director in 1999.   Under her stewardship, the Association expanded its work in many other areas with a focus on integrating sexual rights in all of its programmes.  This included expansion of its advocacy work in abortion and LGBTQI rights, comprehensive sexuality education, gender-based violence, HIV prevention and ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health services to most at risk populations including sex workers and adolescents.   She serves as Co-Chair of the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC), is the Chairperson of the Trinidad and Tobago Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance and serves on several other committees at the national, regional and international levels.   Dona is the holder of an Executive Master’s in Business Administration from the Institute of Business, University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago. Dona will be based in Port of Spain.  Under new leadership, IPPF ACRO will continue to provide support and strengthen our Member Associations in the Americas and the Caribbean to ensure they can deliver quality sexual and reproductive healthcare to those in need - no matter what.

Services in St Lucia
news_item

| 03 May 2021

Appointment of IPPF Americas and the Caribbean Directors

IPPF is pleased to announce the appointment of Eugenia Lopez Uribe as Regional Director and Dona Da Costa Martinez as Deputy Regional Director of the Americas and Caribbean. They will be based in the Americas and the Caribbean Regional office (ACRO), based in Bogota, Colombia and Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, respectively.  IPPF would like to thank partner organizations for their continuous support during the transition phase, as well as to the IPPF transition team led by Anamaria Bejar who will return to her position as IPPF Global Director of Advocacy. Eugenia López Uribe – IPPF ACRO Regional Director Eugenia is an experienced advocate for gender equality and sexual and reproductive rights, promoting innovation in the delivery of health services from a human rights perspective. She began her professional career as a volunteer with the Gente Joven (Young people) Programme of MEXFAM, IPPF's Mexican member association.  She has worked with rural and indigenous people, adolescents, youth, LGBTQI+ populations, sex workers and women with HIV in Latin America and the Caribbean. For more than a decade she was the executive director of Balance, a sexual and reproductive rights NGO working on regional advocacy in favour of sexual rights. Internationally, Eugenia has engaged on the follow-up of the commitments of International Conference of Population and Development (ICPD), the Beijing Conference on Women’s rights, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women - CEDAW and UN General Assembly on AIDS.  She co-founded the Abortion Fund for Social Justice: MARIA, the first initiative of its kind in Latin America. Her experience includes ten years as part of the management team of the Integrated Model of Health Care for Rural Adolescents of the Mexican Social Security Institute - IMMS Oportunidades. Eugenia will be based in Bogotá - Colombia.  Dona Da Costa Martinez – IPPF ACRO Deputy Regional Director Dona began her work in sexual and reproductive health, thirty-five years ago, when she joined the Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago – FPATT in 1985.   In her formative years in the Association, she was responsible for research, planning and evaluation and the development of programmes to ensure the achievement of the Association’s mission.  From 1990 she served as the Deputy Executive Director of the Association before taking on the mantle of Executive Director in 1999.   Under her stewardship, the Association expanded its work in many other areas with a focus on integrating sexual rights in all of its programmes.  This included expansion of its advocacy work in abortion and LGBTQI rights, comprehensive sexuality education, gender-based violence, HIV prevention and ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health services to most at risk populations including sex workers and adolescents.   She serves as Co-Chair of the Caribbean Vulnerable Communities Coalition (CVC), is the Chairperson of the Trinidad and Tobago Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance and serves on several other committees at the national, regional and international levels.   Dona is the holder of an Executive Master’s in Business Administration from the Institute of Business, University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago. Dona will be based in Port of Spain.  Under new leadership, IPPF ACRO will continue to provide support and strengthen our Member Associations in the Americas and the Caribbean to ensure they can deliver quality sexual and reproductive healthcare to those in need - no matter what.

new mothers received maternal healthcare in Burundi
news item

| 08 March 2021

Cuts cost lives: IPPF calls on the UK government to remain committed to SRHR spending despite budget cuts

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) calls on the UK government to keep its commitment to spend at least £225m per year on family planning and sexual and reproductive healthcare. The UK government's decision to cut the aid budget from 0.7% to 0.5%, is one that will exacerbate inequalities further and widen economic, social and healthcare gaps in low-income countries, with women and girls undoubtedly being hardest hit.  IPPF’s Director-General Dr Alvaro Bermejo said:   “Cuts cost lives. Women and girls that rely on foreign aid assistance are already facing dire situations and this cut in funding will only worsen their situation.    “The UK government has a moral obligation to the millions of people who rely on foreign assistance to survive. We are already seeing the devastating impact these cuts will have in Yemen, a country that now faces the worst famine in decades, and where 80% of the population are in need of humanitarian assistance.    “We are in exceptional times and the pandemic has shone a global light on the fragile and precarious situations millions of people face around the world; from job and food insecurity, to fragile healthcare systems, to being unable to access healthcare. Cutting aid during a pandemic is cruel and will only impact the most vulnerable amongst us.    “The UK government cannot turn its back on the women and girls who need their help and we urge the UK to maintain its commitment to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).”   Whilst we are pleased to see girls’ education, COVID and global health security as part of the UK’s ‘seven global challenges’, we urge the UK to ensure that SRHR is not deprioritized.  The health and lives of women and girls around the world is STILL at risk. Millions of women and girls around the world face the indignity of dropping out of school, or an unsafe abortion because of barriers in healthcare. When women and girls have access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, it helps them stay in education and enables them to join the workforce. These choices let women and girls take control of their lives. At the United Nations General Assembly in September 2019, the UK signed the Political Declaration on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) which aimed to provide effective health services to an additional one billion people by 2023.  Reducing the aid budget inevitably reduces investment in healthcare, meaning the UK will renege on its commitment to support UHC globally.    The UK has a long-standing reputation of investing in sexual and reproductive healthcare programmes that enable women and girls to lead healthier, safer and more prosperous lives. As the UK prepares to host the G7 and COP this year, we strongly urge the UK to remain a champion for the rights of women and girls and welcome the reassurance that no one who needs help will be left behind. For media enquiries please email [email protected]

new mothers received maternal healthcare in Burundi
news_item

| 08 March 2021

Cuts cost lives: IPPF calls on the UK government to remain committed to SRHR spending despite budget cuts

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) calls on the UK government to keep its commitment to spend at least £225m per year on family planning and sexual and reproductive healthcare. The UK government's decision to cut the aid budget from 0.7% to 0.5%, is one that will exacerbate inequalities further and widen economic, social and healthcare gaps in low-income countries, with women and girls undoubtedly being hardest hit.  IPPF’s Director-General Dr Alvaro Bermejo said:   “Cuts cost lives. Women and girls that rely on foreign aid assistance are already facing dire situations and this cut in funding will only worsen their situation.    “The UK government has a moral obligation to the millions of people who rely on foreign assistance to survive. We are already seeing the devastating impact these cuts will have in Yemen, a country that now faces the worst famine in decades, and where 80% of the population are in need of humanitarian assistance.    “We are in exceptional times and the pandemic has shone a global light on the fragile and precarious situations millions of people face around the world; from job and food insecurity, to fragile healthcare systems, to being unable to access healthcare. Cutting aid during a pandemic is cruel and will only impact the most vulnerable amongst us.    “The UK government cannot turn its back on the women and girls who need their help and we urge the UK to maintain its commitment to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).”   Whilst we are pleased to see girls’ education, COVID and global health security as part of the UK’s ‘seven global challenges’, we urge the UK to ensure that SRHR is not deprioritized.  The health and lives of women and girls around the world is STILL at risk. Millions of women and girls around the world face the indignity of dropping out of school, or an unsafe abortion because of barriers in healthcare. When women and girls have access to sexual and reproductive healthcare, it helps them stay in education and enables them to join the workforce. These choices let women and girls take control of their lives. At the United Nations General Assembly in September 2019, the UK signed the Political Declaration on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) which aimed to provide effective health services to an additional one billion people by 2023.  Reducing the aid budget inevitably reduces investment in healthcare, meaning the UK will renege on its commitment to support UHC globally.    The UK has a long-standing reputation of investing in sexual and reproductive healthcare programmes that enable women and girls to lead healthier, safer and more prosperous lives. As the UK prepares to host the G7 and COP this year, we strongly urge the UK to remain a champion for the rights of women and girls and welcome the reassurance that no one who needs help will be left behind. For media enquiries please email [email protected]

news item

| 30 October 2020

Delivering SRH services to seamen to enhance their health and reduce sexual and gender-based violence in Morocco

On 27 October 2020, an inauguration ceremony was held in Agadir for the new IPPF Japan Trust Fund (JTF) project launched by Associationi Morocaine de Planification Familiale (AMPF), IPPF’s Member Association in Morocco, with the support of the Government of Japan. The JTF project aims to improve the health of men working at sea and prevent sexual and gender-based violence in communities around the port of Agadir in central Morocco. AMPF works with port associations and fishermen, who are vital to the local economy and usually have limited access to medical services. AMPF delivers sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and information to seafarers and fishermen and provide psychosocial care to reduce sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). We will also implement awareness raising activities at workplace and local fisheries stakeholders to achieve SRHR. The inauguration ceremony was held with support from Sousse Massa Regional Office. Participants included officials from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. There was also a press conference for local media. His Excellency Takashi Shinozuka, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Morocco said: "Gender-based violence is one of the most widespread human rights violations. As one of the leading advocates for SRHR, and in particular for family planning, the Government of Japan has made substantial financial and technical support in this area. I believe the success of this project, in which an organization as high-profile and well-established as AMPF collaborates with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, which has a long history of cooperation with Japan, on a common goal of ending human rights violations, is a promise. I am proud of this project to be implemented in Morocco where steady progress has been made in enhancing women’s status under the guidance of His Majesty King Mohammed VI." Dr Latifa Mokhtar JAMAI, President of AMPF, said:  "We are grateful to AMPF for this initiative to promote the right to health for the poorest and most hard-to-reach people in Morocco. I would like to thank the Government of Japan and the people of Japan for allowing AMPF to carry out this work to promote the right to health for the poorest and most hard-to-reach populations in Morocco." This project will last for two years till 2022. Please stay tuned for the future of the project. For further information, please contact Hiroko Takazawa at [email protected] or Yuri Taniguchi at [email protected] at IPPF. Pictured above: H.E. Takashi Shinozuka, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Morocco and Dr Latifa Mokhtar JAMAI, President of AMPF, IPPF’s Member Association in Morocco, at the JTF project launch ceremony

news_item

| 30 October 2020

Delivering SRH services to seamen to enhance their health and reduce sexual and gender-based violence in Morocco

On 27 October 2020, an inauguration ceremony was held in Agadir for the new IPPF Japan Trust Fund (JTF) project launched by Associationi Morocaine de Planification Familiale (AMPF), IPPF’s Member Association in Morocco, with the support of the Government of Japan. The JTF project aims to improve the health of men working at sea and prevent sexual and gender-based violence in communities around the port of Agadir in central Morocco. AMPF works with port associations and fishermen, who are vital to the local economy and usually have limited access to medical services. AMPF delivers sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and information to seafarers and fishermen and provide psychosocial care to reduce sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). We will also implement awareness raising activities at workplace and local fisheries stakeholders to achieve SRHR. The inauguration ceremony was held with support from Sousse Massa Regional Office. Participants included officials from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. There was also a press conference for local media. His Excellency Takashi Shinozuka, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Morocco said: "Gender-based violence is one of the most widespread human rights violations. As one of the leading advocates for SRHR, and in particular for family planning, the Government of Japan has made substantial financial and technical support in this area. I believe the success of this project, in which an organization as high-profile and well-established as AMPF collaborates with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, which has a long history of cooperation with Japan, on a common goal of ending human rights violations, is a promise. I am proud of this project to be implemented in Morocco where steady progress has been made in enhancing women’s status under the guidance of His Majesty King Mohammed VI." Dr Latifa Mokhtar JAMAI, President of AMPF, said:  "We are grateful to AMPF for this initiative to promote the right to health for the poorest and most hard-to-reach people in Morocco. I would like to thank the Government of Japan and the people of Japan for allowing AMPF to carry out this work to promote the right to health for the poorest and most hard-to-reach populations in Morocco." This project will last for two years till 2022. Please stay tuned for the future of the project. For further information, please contact Hiroko Takazawa at [email protected] or Yuri Taniguchi at [email protected] at IPPF. Pictured above: H.E. Takashi Shinozuka, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Morocco and Dr Latifa Mokhtar JAMAI, President of AMPF, IPPF’s Member Association in Morocco, at the JTF project launch ceremony

Healthcare workers
news item

| 12 June 2020

IPPF welcomes Canada’s support

Around the world, COVID-19 is having an unprecedented impact on health systems and economic systems. Evidence indicates that the poorest and most vulnerable communities are disproportionately affected, particularly women and girls. In 2020, IPPF’s service delivery points have experienced major impacts on their capacity to provide contraception, safe abortion and CSE services due to lockdowns, restrictions and social distancing measures put in place by governments to contain the spread of the virus. There is a shortage of resources available, including personal protective equipment and reproductive health commodities. Women and girls are facing the greatest toll from the lockdowns and restrictions, with increases in sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), spikes in unintended pregnancy, and increases in unsafe abortion all expected. Thanks to crisis funding support from Global Affairs Canada, IPPF will partner with Marie Stopes International and RNW Media to collaboratively address the challenges posed by this pandemic on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls in countries significantly affected by COVID-19. The project partnership will focus on increasing access to sexual and reproductive health information and services for the most vulnerable.  Priorities activities to be delivered by IPPF include: Ensuring hardest hit frontline services can stay open and continue to provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care to women and girls. IPPF will build the resilience of its members through robust support from IPPF’s COVID-19 Taskforce. Emergency relief funding will be provided to IPPF’s most affected members. IPPF will identify and address gaps in supply chains to ensure members have sufficient stocks of essential commodities and infection prevention equipment.   Increasing access to information and services for women and girls through digital platforms. IPPF will collaborate with RNW Media in priority countries to connect women and girls to services through new SMS applications and social media platforms and strengthen existing online platforms as resources of information. In order to reach individuals unable to access a physical service delivery point, innovative service delivery mechanisms will also be rolled out including remote counselling and telemedicine. Dr Alvaro Bermejo, IPPF Director General said: “We are extremely grateful that Global Affairs Canada (GAC) has recognised the scale of the impact of COVID-19 on the lives of so many women and girls through this new crisis funding.    Our ability as a Federation to deliver sexual and reproductive healthcare is under enormous strain, but our members are doing everything they can to continue to reach the clients we serve and adapt their vital work in response to this emergency.    Through this new partnership with GAC we will be able to step-up the safe delivery of frontline services during this pandemic and also invest more in new ways of reaching those in desperate need of care.” For more information, please contact [email protected] 

Healthcare workers
news_item

| 12 June 2020

IPPF welcomes Canada’s support

Around the world, COVID-19 is having an unprecedented impact on health systems and economic systems. Evidence indicates that the poorest and most vulnerable communities are disproportionately affected, particularly women and girls. In 2020, IPPF’s service delivery points have experienced major impacts on their capacity to provide contraception, safe abortion and CSE services due to lockdowns, restrictions and social distancing measures put in place by governments to contain the spread of the virus. There is a shortage of resources available, including personal protective equipment and reproductive health commodities. Women and girls are facing the greatest toll from the lockdowns and restrictions, with increases in sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), spikes in unintended pregnancy, and increases in unsafe abortion all expected. Thanks to crisis funding support from Global Affairs Canada, IPPF will partner with Marie Stopes International and RNW Media to collaboratively address the challenges posed by this pandemic on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls in countries significantly affected by COVID-19. The project partnership will focus on increasing access to sexual and reproductive health information and services for the most vulnerable.  Priorities activities to be delivered by IPPF include: Ensuring hardest hit frontline services can stay open and continue to provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care to women and girls. IPPF will build the resilience of its members through robust support from IPPF’s COVID-19 Taskforce. Emergency relief funding will be provided to IPPF’s most affected members. IPPF will identify and address gaps in supply chains to ensure members have sufficient stocks of essential commodities and infection prevention equipment.   Increasing access to information and services for women and girls through digital platforms. IPPF will collaborate with RNW Media in priority countries to connect women and girls to services through new SMS applications and social media platforms and strengthen existing online platforms as resources of information. In order to reach individuals unable to access a physical service delivery point, innovative service delivery mechanisms will also be rolled out including remote counselling and telemedicine. Dr Alvaro Bermejo, IPPF Director General said: “We are extremely grateful that Global Affairs Canada (GAC) has recognised the scale of the impact of COVID-19 on the lives of so many women and girls through this new crisis funding.    Our ability as a Federation to deliver sexual and reproductive healthcare is under enormous strain, but our members are doing everything they can to continue to reach the clients we serve and adapt their vital work in response to this emergency.    Through this new partnership with GAC we will be able to step-up the safe delivery of frontline services during this pandemic and also invest more in new ways of reaching those in desperate need of care.” For more information, please contact [email protected] 

LGBTI+ flat with Love Wins text
news item

| 15 May 2020

IPPF is committed to fighting homophobia and transphobia worldwide

Today marks the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT), a day to draw attention to the discrimination and violence experienced by the LGBTI community. The day represents a major global annual landmark to draw the attention of decision makers, the media, the public, corporations, opinion leaders and local authorities to the alarming situation faced by people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics. Sexual and reproductive health and rights are for everyone, inclusive of sexual and gender diversity. This is particularly important since the outbreak of COVID-19, where people not conforming to sexual and gender norms are facing further abuse, neglect, incarceration and stigmatization. IPPF’s vision for "a world where all people can make decisions about their sexuality and well-being, in a world free of discrimination" strongly supports the position that all people have the right to self-determination according to their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and sex characteristics. IPPF is made up of people who also reflect sexual and gender diversity – many of our staff, board members, volunteers and partners are part of LGBTI communities. Our Federation is committed to providing quality and non-discriminatory services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people, and to fight for the recognition of the rights of sexual and gender diverse people worldwide. “The trans community has been implementing projects for sexual health promotion with MEXFAM for many years. We work with our peers from the LGBTI community, but also with the general population and they really appreciate what we do. They come to us for counseling and information. We are not the ‘weirdos’ anymore."  – Joseline Sosa, volunteer at MEXFAM Oaxaca, an IPPF Member Association           We work in cooperation and solidarity with the LGBTI movement by:  Promoting inter-governmental declarations that recognize the right to a life free of violence and discrimination for LGBTI people at the UN in Geneva and New York  Fighting for the decriminalization of same-sex acts where it is still prohibited, including Trinidad & Tobago and India Provide friendly services for HIV and STI prevention and treatment for men who have sex with men in Botswana  Partnering with LGBTI organizations to respond to humanitarian situations in Nepal and Tonga Supporting teachers in providing sexual and gender diverse education all over the world Implementing protocols for sex change for trans people in Colombia Providing trans-specific dignity kits during natural disasters in Sri Lanka Fighting for same-sex marriage and recognition of same-sex families in Romania Those are just a few examples, but members of our Federation have been supporting the movement for years, and in some cases for decades.   Since 2018, IPPF has established a Steering Committee, led by our Member Association in Norway, Sex og Politikk, to advance the sexual and gender diversity agenda within and outside our Federation.The Steering Committee includes representatives from all the Regional Offices.  On 17 May, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, we reaffirm our commitment to achieving a world in which no person suffers discrimination or violence because of their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or sex characteristics; a world where the life or the integrity of people is not put at risk by prejudice; a world where all people can decide with whom to share their sexuality and their life; a world where people live healthy lives regardless of their sexual practices and their bodies.  IPPF – in all of its diversity – will continue to fight for the human right for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and sex characteristics, to be respected, celebrated and recognized. In the end – love wins. Happy IDAHOBIT!         Image from FreePik and modified by IPPF  

LGBTI+ flat with Love Wins text
news_item

| 17 May 2020

IPPF is committed to fighting homophobia and transphobia worldwide

Today marks the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT), a day to draw attention to the discrimination and violence experienced by the LGBTI community. The day represents a major global annual landmark to draw the attention of decision makers, the media, the public, corporations, opinion leaders and local authorities to the alarming situation faced by people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, and sex characteristics. Sexual and reproductive health and rights are for everyone, inclusive of sexual and gender diversity. This is particularly important since the outbreak of COVID-19, where people not conforming to sexual and gender norms are facing further abuse, neglect, incarceration and stigmatization. IPPF’s vision for "a world where all people can make decisions about their sexuality and well-being, in a world free of discrimination" strongly supports the position that all people have the right to self-determination according to their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and sex characteristics. IPPF is made up of people who also reflect sexual and gender diversity – many of our staff, board members, volunteers and partners are part of LGBTI communities. Our Federation is committed to providing quality and non-discriminatory services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people, and to fight for the recognition of the rights of sexual and gender diverse people worldwide. “The trans community has been implementing projects for sexual health promotion with MEXFAM for many years. We work with our peers from the LGBTI community, but also with the general population and they really appreciate what we do. They come to us for counseling and information. We are not the ‘weirdos’ anymore."  – Joseline Sosa, volunteer at MEXFAM Oaxaca, an IPPF Member Association           We work in cooperation and solidarity with the LGBTI movement by:  Promoting inter-governmental declarations that recognize the right to a life free of violence and discrimination for LGBTI people at the UN in Geneva and New York  Fighting for the decriminalization of same-sex acts where it is still prohibited, including Trinidad & Tobago and India Provide friendly services for HIV and STI prevention and treatment for men who have sex with men in Botswana  Partnering with LGBTI organizations to respond to humanitarian situations in Nepal and Tonga Supporting teachers in providing sexual and gender diverse education all over the world Implementing protocols for sex change for trans people in Colombia Providing trans-specific dignity kits during natural disasters in Sri Lanka Fighting for same-sex marriage and recognition of same-sex families in Romania Those are just a few examples, but members of our Federation have been supporting the movement for years, and in some cases for decades.   Since 2018, IPPF has established a Steering Committee, led by our Member Association in Norway, Sex og Politikk, to advance the sexual and gender diversity agenda within and outside our Federation.The Steering Committee includes representatives from all the Regional Offices.  On 17 May, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, we reaffirm our commitment to achieving a world in which no person suffers discrimination or violence because of their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or sex characteristics; a world where the life or the integrity of people is not put at risk by prejudice; a world where all people can decide with whom to share their sexuality and their life; a world where people live healthy lives regardless of their sexual practices and their bodies.  IPPF – in all of its diversity – will continue to fight for the human right for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and sex characteristics, to be respected, celebrated and recognized. In the end – love wins. Happy IDAHOBIT!         Image from FreePik and modified by IPPF  

IPPF評議委員会の委員長に就任したケイト・ギルモア
news item

| 16 May 2020

IPPF announces new Board of Trustees

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has brought-in historic changes to its governance and structure after transforming itself through a year-long reform process. The changes ensure the global sexual and reproductive health NGO can now respond faster to the needs of the women, girls and marginalized people who make-up the vast majority of its clients and whom are being disproportionality affected by the COVID-19 crisis. In its final meeting, IPPF’s Governing Council agreed a new governance structure to take its place. It also endorsed a new 15-member Board of Trustees that reflect the skills and the diversity IPPF needs. Two thirds of the new board are women, and five are young people under 25.  The Chair of the Board of Trustees is Kate Gilmore, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2015 to 2019. Kate Gilmore said:  “It would be an extraordinary privilege to join the Board of IPPF at any time; but it is even more so now.  As certain governments and other regressive influencers work to orchestrate rollback on sexual and reproductive health and rights, IPPF stands as a beacon of hope and solidarity for the fundamental dignity of women, men and young people - of people of all identities - the world over. A worldwide movement grounded in the intimacies of local realities, IPPF is unrelentingly courageous in its delivery of tangible care and principled advocacy for the sexual and reproductive health and rights of millions, even in the midst of grave humanitarian crises of conflict and contagion. To be gifted the opportunity to contribute to the continued governance of this life saving, global game-changer is truly an opportunity to be cherished. We are enormously grateful to those who prepared the way for this new Board and, in particular, pay tribute to the President and Trustees of the outgoing Governing Council for their leadership in doing so.” IPPF’s outgoing President Rana Abu Ghazaleh said: “I am grateful that we are now ready to take the Federation to the next level. In doing so we shall change so many more lives for the better. It has been a privilege to serve IPPF as a youth volunteer and Governing Council member for almost two decades in its mission and fight for women’s rights and social justice and I hand over to the new interim Chair of our new Board of Trustees with pride in the legacy we leave. I am proud of our progress and I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the task of driving us to the finish line for a brand new IPPF.” At the same time as confirming its new Board, the Federation has adopted amended regulations, procedural bylaws, and policies that embed its governance reforms. It has also appointed seven members of its new Nominations and Governance Committee (NGC), which has the mandate to lead future recruitment for its Board and its committees and review the performance of Board members. The transformation began in May 2019 when IPPF’s Governing Council responded to a groundswell of activism for reform, and sanctioned reviews of its governance structure and its resource allocation model. The parallel reviews recommended sweeping changes at a meeting of all the Federation’s 134 national members in New Delhi last November. It agreed unanimously to approve the proposals, with a six-month deadline to have them all in place.  IPPF’s Director-General, Dr Alvaro Bermejo said:  “In the space of 12 months our Federation has transformed itself from within. It has designed, agreed and now implemented the most sweeping changes to how it is governed and how it is run. For any organization, responding with courage and integrity to the need for reform is a challenge; and many fail to do so. This is the result of a desire and determination from across our Federation and community to build a new future. Volunteers, young people, staff and partners mobilized to breathe life into a new IPPF. This is a new era for IPPF, one that is grounded in our membership and more strategically positioned to focus on the needs of those we serve. With the crisis of COVID-19, they have never needed us more. We already know that women and girls are being disproportionately affected by this pandemic. They are facing more gender-based violence, the majority of risk in frontline health provision and a lack of time, lack of choice and lack of access to essential sexual and reproductive health services.” A recent survey of IPPF members found that 5,633 static and mobile clinics and community-based care outlets had closed because of the pandemic, across 64 countries. Dozens of IPPF’s members reported they had been forced to cut sexual and reproductive healthcare services as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. In response IPPF established an emergency fund to provide PPE to members in need and began coordinating a Federation-wide response through a COVID-19 Taskforce.

IPPF評議委員会の委員長に就任したケイト・ギルモア
news_item

| 16 May 2020

IPPF announces new Board of Trustees

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has brought-in historic changes to its governance and structure after transforming itself through a year-long reform process. The changes ensure the global sexual and reproductive health NGO can now respond faster to the needs of the women, girls and marginalized people who make-up the vast majority of its clients and whom are being disproportionality affected by the COVID-19 crisis. In its final meeting, IPPF’s Governing Council agreed a new governance structure to take its place. It also endorsed a new 15-member Board of Trustees that reflect the skills and the diversity IPPF needs. Two thirds of the new board are women, and five are young people under 25.  The Chair of the Board of Trustees is Kate Gilmore, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2015 to 2019. Kate Gilmore said:  “It would be an extraordinary privilege to join the Board of IPPF at any time; but it is even more so now.  As certain governments and other regressive influencers work to orchestrate rollback on sexual and reproductive health and rights, IPPF stands as a beacon of hope and solidarity for the fundamental dignity of women, men and young people - of people of all identities - the world over. A worldwide movement grounded in the intimacies of local realities, IPPF is unrelentingly courageous in its delivery of tangible care and principled advocacy for the sexual and reproductive health and rights of millions, even in the midst of grave humanitarian crises of conflict and contagion. To be gifted the opportunity to contribute to the continued governance of this life saving, global game-changer is truly an opportunity to be cherished. We are enormously grateful to those who prepared the way for this new Board and, in particular, pay tribute to the President and Trustees of the outgoing Governing Council for their leadership in doing so.” IPPF’s outgoing President Rana Abu Ghazaleh said: “I am grateful that we are now ready to take the Federation to the next level. In doing so we shall change so many more lives for the better. It has been a privilege to serve IPPF as a youth volunteer and Governing Council member for almost two decades in its mission and fight for women’s rights and social justice and I hand over to the new interim Chair of our new Board of Trustees with pride in the legacy we leave. I am proud of our progress and I want to thank everyone who has contributed to the task of driving us to the finish line for a brand new IPPF.” At the same time as confirming its new Board, the Federation has adopted amended regulations, procedural bylaws, and policies that embed its governance reforms. It has also appointed seven members of its new Nominations and Governance Committee (NGC), which has the mandate to lead future recruitment for its Board and its committees and review the performance of Board members. The transformation began in May 2019 when IPPF’s Governing Council responded to a groundswell of activism for reform, and sanctioned reviews of its governance structure and its resource allocation model. The parallel reviews recommended sweeping changes at a meeting of all the Federation’s 134 national members in New Delhi last November. It agreed unanimously to approve the proposals, with a six-month deadline to have them all in place.  IPPF’s Director-General, Dr Alvaro Bermejo said:  “In the space of 12 months our Federation has transformed itself from within. It has designed, agreed and now implemented the most sweeping changes to how it is governed and how it is run. For any organization, responding with courage and integrity to the need for reform is a challenge; and many fail to do so. This is the result of a desire and determination from across our Federation and community to build a new future. Volunteers, young people, staff and partners mobilized to breathe life into a new IPPF. This is a new era for IPPF, one that is grounded in our membership and more strategically positioned to focus on the needs of those we serve. With the crisis of COVID-19, they have never needed us more. We already know that women and girls are being disproportionately affected by this pandemic. They are facing more gender-based violence, the majority of risk in frontline health provision and a lack of time, lack of choice and lack of access to essential sexual and reproductive health services.” A recent survey of IPPF members found that 5,633 static and mobile clinics and community-based care outlets had closed because of the pandemic, across 64 countries. Dozens of IPPF’s members reported they had been forced to cut sexual and reproductive healthcare services as a result of COVID-19 restrictions. In response IPPF established an emergency fund to provide PPE to members in need and began coordinating a Federation-wide response through a COVID-19 Taskforce.