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IPPF_Tommy Trenchard_Botswana
news item

| 08 April 2019

IPPF leads new consortium for UK Government-funded programme promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has welcomed today’s announcement by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) that an IPPF-led consortium has been selected within the UK Aid Connect programme under the theme of promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).  The consortium is comprised of IPPF, Frontline AIDS, Internews, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, The Open University, and the Women’s Refugee Commission. This partnership brings together powerful expertise in programme delivery, research, capacity building, advocacy and communications, ensuring vital information, education and services reach marginalised populations and people in complex and challenging environments.  Approaches in Complex and Challenging Environments for Sustainable SRHR (ACCESS) will leverage the consortium’s expertise to design and test innovative solutions that enable the most marginalised and under-served people to access comprehensive, evidence-based SRHR. The project seeks to bridge the gap between research and programming by drawing on existing and emerging evidence to inform the design of the programme through an adaptive, people-centred approach.   Penny Mordaunt MP, UK Secretary of State for International Development said: “Some of the most marginalised women and girls in the world are those living in conflict and crisis areas. Together we are pushing for a humanitarian system that responds to women and girls’ specific needs, but also sees them as active agents of change.” IPPF Director General, Dr Alvaro Bermejo welcomed the partnership. He said: “We bring distinct areas of expertise and are united by a shared commitment to improving the lives of the most marginalised populations. We critically need to work together to develop new and innovative approaches for bringing sexual and reproductive health and rights for those most in need.”  The partners of the SRHR Connect programme were announced at a Women Deliver pre-conference event at the Canadian High Commission in London, UK. IPPF, Frontline AIDS, and the Women’s Refugee Commission are NGO Sponsors for the Women Deliver 2019 Conference, being held in Vancouver, Canada on 3-6 June 2019; the world’s largest conference on gender equality and the health, rights, and wellbeing of girls and women.

IPPF_Tommy Trenchard_Botswana
news_item

| 08 April 2019

IPPF leads new consortium for UK Government-funded programme promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has welcomed today’s announcement by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) that an IPPF-led consortium has been selected within the UK Aid Connect programme under the theme of promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).  The consortium is comprised of IPPF, Frontline AIDS, Internews, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, The Open University, and the Women’s Refugee Commission. This partnership brings together powerful expertise in programme delivery, research, capacity building, advocacy and communications, ensuring vital information, education and services reach marginalised populations and people in complex and challenging environments.  Approaches in Complex and Challenging Environments for Sustainable SRHR (ACCESS) will leverage the consortium’s expertise to design and test innovative solutions that enable the most marginalised and under-served people to access comprehensive, evidence-based SRHR. The project seeks to bridge the gap between research and programming by drawing on existing and emerging evidence to inform the design of the programme through an adaptive, people-centred approach.   Penny Mordaunt MP, UK Secretary of State for International Development said: “Some of the most marginalised women and girls in the world are those living in conflict and crisis areas. Together we are pushing for a humanitarian system that responds to women and girls’ specific needs, but also sees them as active agents of change.” IPPF Director General, Dr Alvaro Bermejo welcomed the partnership. He said: “We bring distinct areas of expertise and are united by a shared commitment to improving the lives of the most marginalised populations. We critically need to work together to develop new and innovative approaches for bringing sexual and reproductive health and rights for those most in need.”  The partners of the SRHR Connect programme were announced at a Women Deliver pre-conference event at the Canadian High Commission in London, UK. IPPF, Frontline AIDS, and the Women’s Refugee Commission are NGO Sponsors for the Women Deliver 2019 Conference, being held in Vancouver, Canada on 3-6 June 2019; the world’s largest conference on gender equality and the health, rights, and wellbeing of girls and women.

Business plan
news item

| 08 April 2019

IPPF launches new business plan

IPPF has developed a new comprehensive Business Plan as a clear roadmap to accelerate delivery of its Strategic Framework (2016-2022). The goal is to boost performance by closing delivery gaps, unleashing capabilities throughout the Federation, and changing the organisation’s culture. It identifies six areas where we most need to improve and where we need to intensify efforts in order to achieve the Strategic Framework targets.  In early 2018, IPPF created solution teams to design initiatives to close gaps in each of the six solution areas. Representatives from all six teams came together with technical staff to adopt a multi-disciplinary approach, ensuring that key cross-cutting issues –  gender equality, vulnerable populations and young people – were integrated. The process was highly participatory and inclusive, involving Member Associations (MAs), the Secretariat, donors and partners.  The Business Plan was launched in mid-March 2019 and will provide impetus to deliver the targets put forward in the Strategic Framework. IPPF’s approach is evolving to become more MA-centric with the Secretariat playing a key role as an architect of cooperation. The Business Plan identifies areas where an MA can provide the support and technical assistance needed to bring other MAs up to speed.  View A Road to Transform IPPF - Secretariat Business Plan

Business plan
news_item

| 08 April 2019

IPPF launches new business plan

IPPF has developed a new comprehensive Business Plan as a clear roadmap to accelerate delivery of its Strategic Framework (2016-2022). The goal is to boost performance by closing delivery gaps, unleashing capabilities throughout the Federation, and changing the organisation’s culture. It identifies six areas where we most need to improve and where we need to intensify efforts in order to achieve the Strategic Framework targets.  In early 2018, IPPF created solution teams to design initiatives to close gaps in each of the six solution areas. Representatives from all six teams came together with technical staff to adopt a multi-disciplinary approach, ensuring that key cross-cutting issues –  gender equality, vulnerable populations and young people – were integrated. The process was highly participatory and inclusive, involving Member Associations (MAs), the Secretariat, donors and partners.  The Business Plan was launched in mid-March 2019 and will provide impetus to deliver the targets put forward in the Strategic Framework. IPPF’s approach is evolving to become more MA-centric with the Secretariat playing a key role as an architect of cooperation. The Business Plan identifies areas where an MA can provide the support and technical assistance needed to bring other MAs up to speed.  View A Road to Transform IPPF - Secretariat Business Plan

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.  

鶴岡公二駐英国特命全権大使とDr アルバロ・ベルメホIPPF事務局長
news item

| 01 February 2019

Embassy of Japan and IPPF launch latest SRHR and UHC publication

On the evening of Thursday 31 January 2019, the Embassy of Japan and International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) jointly organized an event to launch an IPPF publication entitled Leaving no one behind: universal health coverage and sexual and reproductive health and rights, at the Embassy of Japan in London. This event was an opportunity to showcase the successful partnership between Japan and IPPF, and to highlight the importance of universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights which is vital to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), women’s empowerment and human security. It was also an occasion to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Japan-IPPF partnership.  Guests in attendance included British parliamentarians, representatives from numerous governments, and development and global health practitioners.  The keynote speeches were given by the Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Mr Koji Tsuruoka and IPPF Director General, Dr Alvaro Bermejo, and were followed by a networking reception. During his opening remarks, Ambassador Tsuruoka highlighted the importance of universal health coverage in ensuring that every individual gets the treatment that they deserve. He also praised IPPF for their continuous work “on the ground” to address the common challenge of health, and emphasised Japan’s support for IPPF’s activities around the world.  Dr Bermejo said: “By promoting universal access to sexual and reproductive health services that are stigma-free, effective, and affordable for everyone, IPPF makes a unique contribution to universal health coverage.” Dr Bermejo also acknowledged Japan’s leadership in promotion of global UHC based on its own experiences and successful campaigns that have resulted in UHC being adopted as a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target. The event provided valuable insights into Japan’s leadership in promoting UHC and global health, and the importance of partners looking ahead to forging new opportunities and accelerating collective efforts to achieve SDGs. 2019 is set to be another important year in building momentum towards UHC, as Japan hosts the G20 Osaka Summit in June, in hope of realising and promoting a free and open, inclusive and sustainable “human-centred future society”. Japan will also be hosting the 7th Tokyo International Conference of Africa's Development (TICAD 7) in Yokohama in August, and the Nutrition for Growth Summit in Tokyo in 2020.     See more: Full publication: Leaving no one behind  Speech: Ambassador of Japan Koji Tsuruokas Speech: IPPF Director General Alvaro Bermejo                    

鶴岡公二駐英国特命全権大使とDr アルバロ・ベルメホIPPF事務局長
news_item

| 01 February 2019

Embassy of Japan and IPPF launch latest SRHR and UHC publication

On the evening of Thursday 31 January 2019, the Embassy of Japan and International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) jointly organized an event to launch an IPPF publication entitled Leaving no one behind: universal health coverage and sexual and reproductive health and rights, at the Embassy of Japan in London. This event was an opportunity to showcase the successful partnership between Japan and IPPF, and to highlight the importance of universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights which is vital to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), women’s empowerment and human security. It was also an occasion to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Japan-IPPF partnership.  Guests in attendance included British parliamentarians, representatives from numerous governments, and development and global health practitioners.  The keynote speeches were given by the Ambassador of Japan, H.E. Mr Koji Tsuruoka and IPPF Director General, Dr Alvaro Bermejo, and were followed by a networking reception. During his opening remarks, Ambassador Tsuruoka highlighted the importance of universal health coverage in ensuring that every individual gets the treatment that they deserve. He also praised IPPF for their continuous work “on the ground” to address the common challenge of health, and emphasised Japan’s support for IPPF’s activities around the world.  Dr Bermejo said: “By promoting universal access to sexual and reproductive health services that are stigma-free, effective, and affordable for everyone, IPPF makes a unique contribution to universal health coverage.” Dr Bermejo also acknowledged Japan’s leadership in promotion of global UHC based on its own experiences and successful campaigns that have resulted in UHC being adopted as a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target. The event provided valuable insights into Japan’s leadership in promoting UHC and global health, and the importance of partners looking ahead to forging new opportunities and accelerating collective efforts to achieve SDGs. 2019 is set to be another important year in building momentum towards UHC, as Japan hosts the G20 Osaka Summit in June, in hope of realising and promoting a free and open, inclusive and sustainable “human-centred future society”. Japan will also be hosting the 7th Tokyo International Conference of Africa's Development (TICAD 7) in Yokohama in August, and the Nutrition for Growth Summit in Tokyo in 2020.     See more: Full publication: Leaving no one behind  Speech: Ambassador of Japan Koji Tsuruokas Speech: IPPF Director General Alvaro Bermejo                    

news item

| 14 January 2019

Statement from IPPF

Following a number of allegations made against the Africa Regional Director by staff members in the regional office through our internal safeguarding mechanisms, IPPF commissioned an independent investigation by the law firm, Anjarwalla and Khanna (A&K). A&K is the largest corporate law firm in East Africa, with more than 90 lawyers and the leading full-service law firm in Kenya. It is also a founding member of ALN, Africa’s widest and most integrated legal alliance of independent top-tier law firms. The thorough investigation conducted by A&K concluded that there were insufficient grounds to take disciplinary action against the Regional Director on the evidence available on the allegations. The investigation did however uncover further information, following from the investigation of one of the allegations, relating to a lack of management controls and oversight of a previously declared and investigated fraud within the regional office. This new information led to the commencement of a disciplinary process against the Regional Director. Following the decision to terminate the Regional Director's contract at the end of November 2018, an appeal was lodged, and that process is ongoing. During this process the Regional Director will continue to have no active duties. IPPF has been in regular contact with its donors and regulator throughout this process. Over the past year IPPF’s Safeguarding Taskforce has undertaken considerable work to strengthen safeguarding policies, procedures and systems. This has included a comprehensive review of the Federation’s existing policies, procedures and resources. As a result, new resources, policies and training are all being implemented. IPPF has a new Safeguarding Framework and has launched IPPF SafeReport, a confidential incident reporting service line for staff.  IPPF is committed to safeguarding all who come into contact with it, including the people we serve, volunteers, employees, contractors and all workers. This includes safeguarding from any bullying or harassment at work. IPPF is committed to ensuring that its governance procedures help reinforce this vital work. As you can understand, while the process is ongoing we will not be able to comment further.

news_item

| 15 January 2019

Statement from IPPF

Following a number of allegations made against the Africa Regional Director by staff members in the regional office through our internal safeguarding mechanisms, IPPF commissioned an independent investigation by the law firm, Anjarwalla and Khanna (A&K). A&K is the largest corporate law firm in East Africa, with more than 90 lawyers and the leading full-service law firm in Kenya. It is also a founding member of ALN, Africa’s widest and most integrated legal alliance of independent top-tier law firms. The thorough investigation conducted by A&K concluded that there were insufficient grounds to take disciplinary action against the Regional Director on the evidence available on the allegations. The investigation did however uncover further information, following from the investigation of one of the allegations, relating to a lack of management controls and oversight of a previously declared and investigated fraud within the regional office. This new information led to the commencement of a disciplinary process against the Regional Director. Following the decision to terminate the Regional Director's contract at the end of November 2018, an appeal was lodged, and that process is ongoing. During this process the Regional Director will continue to have no active duties. IPPF has been in regular contact with its donors and regulator throughout this process. Over the past year IPPF’s Safeguarding Taskforce has undertaken considerable work to strengthen safeguarding policies, procedures and systems. This has included a comprehensive review of the Federation’s existing policies, procedures and resources. As a result, new resources, policies and training are all being implemented. IPPF has a new Safeguarding Framework and has launched IPPF SafeReport, a confidential incident reporting service line for staff.  IPPF is committed to safeguarding all who come into contact with it, including the people we serve, volunteers, employees, contractors and all workers. This includes safeguarding from any bullying or harassment at work. IPPF is committed to ensuring that its governance procedures help reinforce this vital work. As you can understand, while the process is ongoing we will not be able to comment further.

Global HIV Prevention Coalition
news item

| 10 December 2018

Statement: The Global HIV Prevention Coalition

Joint statement by Dr Alvaro Bermejo and Professor Sheila Tlou, the co-chairs of the Global HIV Prevention Coalition welcoming the Global Partnership to Eliminate all forms of HIV-related Stigma and Discrimination:  "Addressing stigma and discrimination remains at the core of ensuring effective scaled HIV prevention programmes and HIV programmes overall. Efforts and investments to eliminate stigma and discrimination, which are violations of human rights, remain insufficient. The Global HIV Prevention Coalition and the actions on comprehensive prevention programmes, addressing biomedical, behavioural and structural issues, called for in the 2020 HIV Prevention Roadmap include stigma and discrimination.     People face discrimination every day based on who they are, who they love or what they do or how old they are. Human rights challenges, including stigma and discrimination, denial of sexual and reproductive health and rights, punitive approaches and misuse of criminal law remain key barriers to an effective HIV prevention response.    The Global HIV Prevention Coalition looks forward to working closely with GNP+, UN Women, UNDP and the UNAIDS Secretariat to accelerate global action towards the elimination of HIV-related stigma and discrimination to help close prevention, testing, and treatment gaps."

Global HIV Prevention Coalition
news_item

| 10 December 2018

Statement: The Global HIV Prevention Coalition

Joint statement by Dr Alvaro Bermejo and Professor Sheila Tlou, the co-chairs of the Global HIV Prevention Coalition welcoming the Global Partnership to Eliminate all forms of HIV-related Stigma and Discrimination:  "Addressing stigma and discrimination remains at the core of ensuring effective scaled HIV prevention programmes and HIV programmes overall. Efforts and investments to eliminate stigma and discrimination, which are violations of human rights, remain insufficient. The Global HIV Prevention Coalition and the actions on comprehensive prevention programmes, addressing biomedical, behavioural and structural issues, called for in the 2020 HIV Prevention Roadmap include stigma and discrimination.     People face discrimination every day based on who they are, who they love or what they do or how old they are. Human rights challenges, including stigma and discrimination, denial of sexual and reproductive health and rights, punitive approaches and misuse of criminal law remain key barriers to an effective HIV prevention response.    The Global HIV Prevention Coalition looks forward to working closely with GNP+, UN Women, UNDP and the UNAIDS Secretariat to accelerate global action towards the elimination of HIV-related stigma and discrimination to help close prevention, testing, and treatment gaps."