- - -
LGBTI flag
news item

| 09 January 2020

IPPF's new project sets to change discriminatory laws related to sexual orientation, gender identity and expression in 12 countries

IPPF arranged the first meeting of the project group that is tasked to develop IPPF policy and advocacy work on SOGIE issues in Nairobi in November 2019. IPPF has chosen 12 member associations (MAs), two from each IPPF region, for this important work.  Participants shared their countries’ political situation and discussed possibilities and strategies for changing restrictive laws and regulations.  The participants feedback expressed that they were inspired by the range of advocacy experiences and ideas, the creative solutions to reformulate challenges to opportunities and the wins already achieved.  The world has recently seen improvements in SOGIE rights but still around 70 out of 190 countries have criminalizing legislations. Processes of decriminalization using the judicial system was a main discussion. Participants from MAs in India, Botswana and Trinidad and Tobago described how this had been a successful strategy in their countries and what the role of a non LGBTI health and human rights organisation could be. Examples were shared on how to cooperate with LGBTI organisations, including hosting and help initiate them in their formative stages. Some of our member organisations described the success of building and strengthening partner networks over time to enable the building of skills and confidence.  The participants also spent time discussing how to ensure institutional strengthening of their organisations ensuring the SOGIE knowledge and competence when carrying out advocacy. Making use of interns and ensuring this competence in the governing boards were among examples given. International human rights mechanisms like the Universal Periodic Review are advocacy opportunities where the organisations are participating through writing shadow reports and reporting the situation on the ground. In addition, there were presentations of how to address public opinion (this film from Romania can be used as an example) and raise awareness of changes that are needed, as well as how to build movements and the importance for collecting evidence and data.  All these efforts require funding, thus the participants made advocacy plans that can be used when applying for support. The advocacy plans were made according to the IPPF strategies and the participants discussed how to make use of the IPPF tools.  At the end the participants watched the upcoming documentary The Art of Sin about the first gay man from Sudan to come out, by Ibrahim Mursal (co-produced by Sex og Politikk, IPPF’s MA in Norway). The film follows the artist Ahmed Umar as he comes out and explores his identity both in Sudan (where death penalty can be imposed on men who have sex with men) and Norway.    List of participants:   The participants came from 12 IPPF member associations (MAs), two from each of the 6 IPPF regions in the world: Tunisia (ATSR), Morocco (AMPF), Botswana (BFWA), Kenya (FHOK), India (FPAI), Sri Lanka (FPASL), Nord-Macedonia (HERA), Romania (SECS), Cambodia (RHAC), Indonesia (PKBI), Guyana (GRPA) and Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT) as well as the steering group and the secretariat. The IPPF Steering Committee has one representative from each of IPPF 6 regions: Africa, Arab World, Europe, South East Asia and Oceania, South Asia and Western Hemisphere.  The secretariat of the project is based at IPPF Norway (Sex og Politikk).  

LGBTI flag
news_item

| 09 January 2020

IPPF's new project sets to change discriminatory laws related to sexual orientation, gender identity and expression in 12 countries

IPPF arranged the first meeting of the project group that is tasked to develop IPPF policy and advocacy work on SOGIE issues in Nairobi in November 2019. IPPF has chosen 12 member associations (MAs), two from each IPPF region, for this important work.  Participants shared their countries’ political situation and discussed possibilities and strategies for changing restrictive laws and regulations.  The participants feedback expressed that they were inspired by the range of advocacy experiences and ideas, the creative solutions to reformulate challenges to opportunities and the wins already achieved.  The world has recently seen improvements in SOGIE rights but still around 70 out of 190 countries have criminalizing legislations. Processes of decriminalization using the judicial system was a main discussion. Participants from MAs in India, Botswana and Trinidad and Tobago described how this had been a successful strategy in their countries and what the role of a non LGBTI health and human rights organisation could be. Examples were shared on how to cooperate with LGBTI organisations, including hosting and help initiate them in their formative stages. Some of our member organisations described the success of building and strengthening partner networks over time to enable the building of skills and confidence.  The participants also spent time discussing how to ensure institutional strengthening of their organisations ensuring the SOGIE knowledge and competence when carrying out advocacy. Making use of interns and ensuring this competence in the governing boards were among examples given. International human rights mechanisms like the Universal Periodic Review are advocacy opportunities where the organisations are participating through writing shadow reports and reporting the situation on the ground. In addition, there were presentations of how to address public opinion (this film from Romania can be used as an example) and raise awareness of changes that are needed, as well as how to build movements and the importance for collecting evidence and data.  All these efforts require funding, thus the participants made advocacy plans that can be used when applying for support. The advocacy plans were made according to the IPPF strategies and the participants discussed how to make use of the IPPF tools.  At the end the participants watched the upcoming documentary The Art of Sin about the first gay man from Sudan to come out, by Ibrahim Mursal (co-produced by Sex og Politikk, IPPF’s MA in Norway). The film follows the artist Ahmed Umar as he comes out and explores his identity both in Sudan (where death penalty can be imposed on men who have sex with men) and Norway.    List of participants:   The participants came from 12 IPPF member associations (MAs), two from each of the 6 IPPF regions in the world: Tunisia (ATSR), Morocco (AMPF), Botswana (BFWA), Kenya (FHOK), India (FPAI), Sri Lanka (FPASL), Nord-Macedonia (HERA), Romania (SECS), Cambodia (RHAC), Indonesia (PKBI), Guyana (GRPA) and Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT) as well as the steering group and the secretariat. The IPPF Steering Committee has one representative from each of IPPF 6 regions: Africa, Arab World, Europe, South East Asia and Oceania, South Asia and Western Hemisphere.  The secretariat of the project is based at IPPF Norway (Sex og Politikk).  

Bebia from Mozambique (Photo by: IPPF/Isabel Corthier)
news item

| 12 November 2019

IPPF unveils commitments at Nairobi Summit to transform lives of women, girls & marginalized groups

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has marked the start of the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 by unveiling ambitious new commitments to drive forward gains in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). On the first day of the Summit, IPPF Director General Dr Alvaro Bermejo revealed four new key pledges covering comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), abortion care, the fight against discriminatory laws covering sexual identity and gender expression, and South to South cooperation between IPPF national Member Associations. Dr Bermejo told global and national leaders gathered to mark 25 years since the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) that all participants at the Summit needed to recommit to transforming the lives of women and girls. He said: “179 national governments signed up to the ICPD Programme of Action in Cairo 25 years ago. But signing is one thing, implementing another. It’s still about translating commitments on paper into action; action to transform the lives of women and girls and marginalised groups. This has to be a priority.     This Summit is needed because although Cairo was a monumental achievement, the years since have not fulfilled its promise.   Twenty-five years ago, it felt like the tide of progress was flowing only one way. Authoritarianism was in retreat, or maybe even defeated. It doesn’t feel like that now. This conference is hugely important for SRHR. IPPF will be influencing governments to announce national commitments to re-endorse ICPD and make sure it become a reality, and changes women’s and girls’ lives for the better.   And we are proud to make our own renewed commitments today. The ICPD Programme of Action continues to guide the work of IPPF Member Associations in every part of the world where we serve a woman, a girl or a young person and support their sexual and reproductive freedom.” Dr Bermejo unveiled four new commitments: (i)    By 2025 IPPF, together with Rutgers, its national Member Association in the Netherlands, will:  Provide 12 million young people in 30 focus countries with a specific focus on Africa, South-East Asia and Latin America/the Caribbean with comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), in and out of schools, through evidence-based approaches including innovative and digital ones. Influence governments of 42 countries to establish new or revised policy initiatives and/or legislative changes to include CSE into curricula of formal education programs or programs for out-of-school adolescents. Jointly establish at least three Centers of Excellence in priority regions to work in youth-centered programming and CSE and to build local capacity to deliver high-quality integrated gender and rights-based CSE. (ii)    By 2022, IPPF will:   Accelerate universal access to safe abortion by expanding the provision of quality and women-centered comprehensive abortion care, with a focus on implementing innovative strategies to reach underserved populations; providing support to women to self-manage medical abortion and improving access to and availability of medical abortion commodities. Champion reproductive freedom and stand firm against reproductive coercion by advocating for safe and legal abortion, and by defeating obstacles that undermine women’s reproductive autonomy. We will influence 20 governments to establish new or revised policy initiatives or to pass legislative changes in support of improved access to abortion. (iii)    IPPF commits to increase South-to-South triangular cooperation by establishing at least seven Centers of Excellence to accelerate cross-Federation learning and fostering a Member Association centric approach, in areas such as comprehensive sexuality education, sexual and reproductive health in humanitarian settings, supporting social movements, and enhancing female leadership by 2022. (iv)    IPPF and many of its Member Associations are fighting discriminatory laws based on sexual orientation and gender identity. We commit to supporting each other and engaging with partners to ensure at least six countries change these laws by 2025.

Bebia from Mozambique (Photo by: IPPF/Isabel Corthier)
news_item

| 12 November 2019

IPPF unveils commitments at Nairobi Summit to transform lives of women, girls & marginalized groups

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has marked the start of the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25 by unveiling ambitious new commitments to drive forward gains in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). On the first day of the Summit, IPPF Director General Dr Alvaro Bermejo revealed four new key pledges covering comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), abortion care, the fight against discriminatory laws covering sexual identity and gender expression, and South to South cooperation between IPPF national Member Associations. Dr Bermejo told global and national leaders gathered to mark 25 years since the landmark International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) that all participants at the Summit needed to recommit to transforming the lives of women and girls. He said: “179 national governments signed up to the ICPD Programme of Action in Cairo 25 years ago. But signing is one thing, implementing another. It’s still about translating commitments on paper into action; action to transform the lives of women and girls and marginalised groups. This has to be a priority.     This Summit is needed because although Cairo was a monumental achievement, the years since have not fulfilled its promise.   Twenty-five years ago, it felt like the tide of progress was flowing only one way. Authoritarianism was in retreat, or maybe even defeated. It doesn’t feel like that now. This conference is hugely important for SRHR. IPPF will be influencing governments to announce national commitments to re-endorse ICPD and make sure it become a reality, and changes women’s and girls’ lives for the better.   And we are proud to make our own renewed commitments today. The ICPD Programme of Action continues to guide the work of IPPF Member Associations in every part of the world where we serve a woman, a girl or a young person and support their sexual and reproductive freedom.” Dr Bermejo unveiled four new commitments: (i)    By 2025 IPPF, together with Rutgers, its national Member Association in the Netherlands, will:  Provide 12 million young people in 30 focus countries with a specific focus on Africa, South-East Asia and Latin America/the Caribbean with comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), in and out of schools, through evidence-based approaches including innovative and digital ones. Influence governments of 42 countries to establish new or revised policy initiatives and/or legislative changes to include CSE into curricula of formal education programs or programs for out-of-school adolescents. Jointly establish at least three Centers of Excellence in priority regions to work in youth-centered programming and CSE and to build local capacity to deliver high-quality integrated gender and rights-based CSE. (ii)    By 2022, IPPF will:   Accelerate universal access to safe abortion by expanding the provision of quality and women-centered comprehensive abortion care, with a focus on implementing innovative strategies to reach underserved populations; providing support to women to self-manage medical abortion and improving access to and availability of medical abortion commodities. Champion reproductive freedom and stand firm against reproductive coercion by advocating for safe and legal abortion, and by defeating obstacles that undermine women’s reproductive autonomy. We will influence 20 governments to establish new or revised policy initiatives or to pass legislative changes in support of improved access to abortion. (iii)    IPPF commits to increase South-to-South triangular cooperation by establishing at least seven Centers of Excellence to accelerate cross-Federation learning and fostering a Member Association centric approach, in areas such as comprehensive sexuality education, sexual and reproductive health in humanitarian settings, supporting social movements, and enhancing female leadership by 2022. (iv)    IPPF and many of its Member Associations are fighting discriminatory laws based on sexual orientation and gender identity. We commit to supporting each other and engaging with partners to ensure at least six countries change these laws by 2025.

A woman and toddler in Nepal
news item

| 29 March 2019

IPPF welcomes outcome from the 63rd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women

IPPF is pleased to welcome a successful outcome from the Commission on the Status of Women at its 63rd Session this year, focusing on “Social Protection, Access to Public Services, and Sustainable Infrastructure for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls.” The Agreed Conclusions provide vital guidance on the role that social protection, public services and sustainable infrastructure can have in dismantling unequal systems of power that disadvantage women and girls.  Taking on the topic for the first time, Member States emphasized that social protection, public services and sustainable infrastructure are interlinked and mutually reinforcing; stressed the need for coordinated approaches, financing and policy coherence; and requested the revision of cash transfer conditionalities that reinforce gender stereotypes.  They urged a comprehensive, integrated approach to ensure gender-responsive policy-making, specifically calling for gender-responsive migration policies, social protection floors, accountability mechanisms for social protection, public services and sustainable infrastructure projects, and strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Furthermore, Member States recognized that health disparities, including reproductive health and inadequate access to family planning services, are exacerbated by multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and urged governments to ensure acceptable, accessible, available and quality health care services. As in past years, the Commission reaffirmed the need for governments to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights and the human rights of women including the right to have control over and decide freely on all matters relating to their sexuality. The Agreed Conclusions also reaffirmed prior agreements on education, gender-based violence, the need for policies that address the diverse needs of families, as well as the responsibility of the state to protect women human rights defenders. We congratulate the Member States for finding common ground on critical issues and demonstrating the continued critical importance of the Commission on the Status of Women and defending and advancing women and girls’ rights year after year, despite particularly aggressive strategies this by some groups attempting to chip away at established rights for women and girls. IPPF is committed to remaining a strong partner in protecting and promoting women and girls’ rights and we look forward to the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action in 2020.  

A woman and toddler in Nepal
news_item

| 29 March 2019

IPPF welcomes outcome from the 63rd Session of the Commission on the Status of Women

IPPF is pleased to welcome a successful outcome from the Commission on the Status of Women at its 63rd Session this year, focusing on “Social Protection, Access to Public Services, and Sustainable Infrastructure for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women and Girls.” The Agreed Conclusions provide vital guidance on the role that social protection, public services and sustainable infrastructure can have in dismantling unequal systems of power that disadvantage women and girls.  Taking on the topic for the first time, Member States emphasized that social protection, public services and sustainable infrastructure are interlinked and mutually reinforcing; stressed the need for coordinated approaches, financing and policy coherence; and requested the revision of cash transfer conditionalities that reinforce gender stereotypes.  They urged a comprehensive, integrated approach to ensure gender-responsive policy-making, specifically calling for gender-responsive migration policies, social protection floors, accountability mechanisms for social protection, public services and sustainable infrastructure projects, and strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Furthermore, Member States recognized that health disparities, including reproductive health and inadequate access to family planning services, are exacerbated by multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and urged governments to ensure acceptable, accessible, available and quality health care services. As in past years, the Commission reaffirmed the need for governments to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights and the human rights of women including the right to have control over and decide freely on all matters relating to their sexuality. The Agreed Conclusions also reaffirmed prior agreements on education, gender-based violence, the need for policies that address the diverse needs of families, as well as the responsibility of the state to protect women human rights defenders. We congratulate the Member States for finding common ground on critical issues and demonstrating the continued critical importance of the Commission on the Status of Women and defending and advancing women and girls’ rights year after year, despite particularly aggressive strategies this by some groups attempting to chip away at established rights for women and girls. IPPF is committed to remaining a strong partner in protecting and promoting women and girls’ rights and we look forward to the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action in 2020.  

UNFPA State of the World Population 2018 report
news item

| 17 October 2018

IPPF welcomes UNFPA's State of the World Population 2018 report

The UNFPA's State of the World Population report highlights that, while much progress has been made globally in upholding reproductive rights, there remains large inequalities in access and high levels of unmet needs.  By grouping countries into low, medium and high fertility countries, the report recognizes the diverse needs globally, and the importance of targeted interventions. In high fertility countries, the high unmet need for family planning is one of the most important issues that governments and SRHR partners need to address by ensuring access to quality, rights-based contraceptive services. In low fertility countries, the report highlights infertility and needs of the ageing population - more needs to be done to prioritize these issues, especially in countries with low fertility. In countries with mid fertility, high adolescent fertility is a concern, and reflects the need to further strengthen youth friendly services, including comprehensive sexuality education.   IPPF supports the report and especially its emphasis and recognition of the reproductive rights of couples, including the right to choose, the right to decide the number of children they wish to have and when, throughout the report.  IPPF joins its voice with UNFPA and partners to call on governments to sustain their commitments to SRHR and ensure access to the full range of high quality universally accessible SRH services and allocate domestic funding to ensure that gender equality and sexual and reproductive rights are realized. This is of critical importance as the 25th anniversary of the historic commitments adopted by 179 governments in the Programme of Action of the International Conference of Population and Development in Cairo in 1994. IPPF aligns with the call made by the report on the rights of all women to choose and decide freely and without question over their bodies, sexuality and reproduction as a priority to achieve the agenda 2030.  

UNFPA State of the World Population 2018 report
news_item

| 17 October 2018

IPPF welcomes UNFPA's State of the World Population 2018 report

The UNFPA's State of the World Population report highlights that, while much progress has been made globally in upholding reproductive rights, there remains large inequalities in access and high levels of unmet needs.  By grouping countries into low, medium and high fertility countries, the report recognizes the diverse needs globally, and the importance of targeted interventions. In high fertility countries, the high unmet need for family planning is one of the most important issues that governments and SRHR partners need to address by ensuring access to quality, rights-based contraceptive services. In low fertility countries, the report highlights infertility and needs of the ageing population - more needs to be done to prioritize these issues, especially in countries with low fertility. In countries with mid fertility, high adolescent fertility is a concern, and reflects the need to further strengthen youth friendly services, including comprehensive sexuality education.   IPPF supports the report and especially its emphasis and recognition of the reproductive rights of couples, including the right to choose, the right to decide the number of children they wish to have and when, throughout the report.  IPPF joins its voice with UNFPA and partners to call on governments to sustain their commitments to SRHR and ensure access to the full range of high quality universally accessible SRH services and allocate domestic funding to ensure that gender equality and sexual and reproductive rights are realized. This is of critical importance as the 25th anniversary of the historic commitments adopted by 179 governments in the Programme of Action of the International Conference of Population and Development in Cairo in 1994. IPPF aligns with the call made by the report on the rights of all women to choose and decide freely and without question over their bodies, sexuality and reproduction as a priority to achieve the agenda 2030.  

Girl in Solomon Islands credits: IPPF/Jack Robert-Tissot
news item

| 11 July 2017

IPPF lauds news commitments made at London FP Summit

The International Planned Parenthood Federation has praised the Governments, private companies and partner organisations making family planning commitments at today’s London Summit. Speaking at the summit, IPPF Director General Tewodros Melesse said: “IPPF welcomes the wonderful and generous commitments being made today by Governments, civil society and the private sector. As the largest provider of family planning services in the world, IPPF’s members know that access to family planning transforms the lives of women and girls. That is why it is vital that the 214 million women and girls around the world who want contraceptive care but are currently denied it must be given access to it. We know that tens of millions of women and young girls are forced into pregnancy every year because they do not have access to the contraceptive care they want and need. Reproductive rights exist only on paper without supplies. Without generous additional support the world’s poorest women and girls are asked to try to bridge a contraceptive funding gap from their own pockets – something they simply cannot do.” Today’s FP Summit is co-hosted by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Mr Melesse praised the UK Government for its announcement of an increase in funding for family planning of £45m a year for five years, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for its announcement of an additional £375m over four years for global family planning. Mr Melesse said: “These huge additional increases in funding from DFID and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the commitments made by so many other governments, private companies and partner organisations today show we are all united in our determination to reach those woman and girls currently underserved and overlooked. “IPPF has published a new report today which says that more women and girls than the entire population of Germany will find themselves forced into pregnancy just this year because they cannot get the contraceptive care they want and need. The vast majority of them are in developing countries. IPPF’s members work tirelessly to reach the poorest and most marginalised in these societies – we will build on the commitments of the London Summit today to reach even more of them than ever.”     Join our campaign: ask for universal access to contraception!

Girl in Solomon Islands credits: IPPF/Jack Robert-Tissot
news_item

| 11 July 2017

IPPF lauds news commitments made at London FP Summit

The International Planned Parenthood Federation has praised the Governments, private companies and partner organisations making family planning commitments at today’s London Summit. Speaking at the summit, IPPF Director General Tewodros Melesse said: “IPPF welcomes the wonderful and generous commitments being made today by Governments, civil society and the private sector. As the largest provider of family planning services in the world, IPPF’s members know that access to family planning transforms the lives of women and girls. That is why it is vital that the 214 million women and girls around the world who want contraceptive care but are currently denied it must be given access to it. We know that tens of millions of women and young girls are forced into pregnancy every year because they do not have access to the contraceptive care they want and need. Reproductive rights exist only on paper without supplies. Without generous additional support the world’s poorest women and girls are asked to try to bridge a contraceptive funding gap from their own pockets – something they simply cannot do.” Today’s FP Summit is co-hosted by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). Mr Melesse praised the UK Government for its announcement of an increase in funding for family planning of £45m a year for five years, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for its announcement of an additional £375m over four years for global family planning. Mr Melesse said: “These huge additional increases in funding from DFID and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the commitments made by so many other governments, private companies and partner organisations today show we are all united in our determination to reach those woman and girls currently underserved and overlooked. “IPPF has published a new report today which says that more women and girls than the entire population of Germany will find themselves forced into pregnancy just this year because they cannot get the contraceptive care they want and need. The vast majority of them are in developing countries. IPPF’s members work tirelessly to reach the poorest and most marginalised in these societies – we will build on the commitments of the London Summit today to reach even more of them than ever.”     Join our campaign: ask for universal access to contraception!

Yemen mobile clinic IPPF
news item

| 30 March 2017

IPPF responds to the announcement of funding from the Government of Japan

IPPF’s Director General, Tewodros Melesse, has paid tribute to the Government and people of Japan, following the announcement that Japan will support the provision of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for 2017.  The Japanese Government has announced that it will contribute approximately 3.1 billion yen (roughly $28 million) to IPPF and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in annual support.  Mr Melesse said: “IPPF is grateful for Japan’s continuing support to SRHR through funding IPPF and UNFPA. Particularly in the current negative climate around SRHR, Japan’s expression of its strong will to continue its support for SRHR is warmly welcome.”  “Japan’s long-lasting support for IPPF and for sexual and reproductive health care and rights has always been appreciated. These funds will help IPPF member associations around the world mitigate the cuts in funding we are seeing from some other sources. This will help protect health and save the lives of many people, especially women and girls.”  Mr Melesse added: “We agree completely with the Government of Japan when it says that the provision of services relating to sexual and reproductive health and rights is essential for realizing universal health coverage (UHC), that ensures affordable access to basic health services for all whenever they need them throughout their lives.  This is stated clearly in the Basic Design for Peace and Health, Japan’s global health policy and one of the outcome documents of the G7 Ise-Shima Summit, as well as in an outcome document from the The World Assembly for Women in Tokyo 2016 (WAW), the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI).  IPPF would like to congratulate Japan’s leadership and commits to working closely with the Government of Japan to make a real difference to the lives of women, men and young people in around world and to achieve the Strategic Development Goals.”  IPPF received approximately $1.13m  from Japan in early 2017 for its activities targeted to Syrian refugees and internally displaced people, and will receive funding of $7.76m which was recently approved by the Japanese Parliaments.  

Yemen mobile clinic IPPF
news_item

| 30 March 2017

IPPF responds to the announcement of funding from the Government of Japan

IPPF’s Director General, Tewodros Melesse, has paid tribute to the Government and people of Japan, following the announcement that Japan will support the provision of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for 2017.  The Japanese Government has announced that it will contribute approximately 3.1 billion yen (roughly $28 million) to IPPF and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in annual support.  Mr Melesse said: “IPPF is grateful for Japan’s continuing support to SRHR through funding IPPF and UNFPA. Particularly in the current negative climate around SRHR, Japan’s expression of its strong will to continue its support for SRHR is warmly welcome.”  “Japan’s long-lasting support for IPPF and for sexual and reproductive health care and rights has always been appreciated. These funds will help IPPF member associations around the world mitigate the cuts in funding we are seeing from some other sources. This will help protect health and save the lives of many people, especially women and girls.”  Mr Melesse added: “We agree completely with the Government of Japan when it says that the provision of services relating to sexual and reproductive health and rights is essential for realizing universal health coverage (UHC), that ensures affordable access to basic health services for all whenever they need them throughout their lives.  This is stated clearly in the Basic Design for Peace and Health, Japan’s global health policy and one of the outcome documents of the G7 Ise-Shima Summit, as well as in an outcome document from the The World Assembly for Women in Tokyo 2016 (WAW), the Third United Nations World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI).  IPPF would like to congratulate Japan’s leadership and commits to working closely with the Government of Japan to make a real difference to the lives of women, men and young people in around world and to achieve the Strategic Development Goals.”  IPPF received approximately $1.13m  from Japan in early 2017 for its activities targeted to Syrian refugees and internally displaced people, and will receive funding of $7.76m which was recently approved by the Japanese Parliaments.