A petition has been launched calling for the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to tackle a looming global contraceptive crisis which threatens to put the health and well-being of thousands of women at risk.

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), in collaboration with the Reproductive Health Services Coalition (RHSC), PAI and Marie Stopes International (MSI), has launched a digital advertising campaign in the online version of Guardian Newspaper today calling for urgent action to be taken.

.@Bankimoon_amdg tell world leaders to keep their promises to women. https://t.co/nhY2Iu8pUs #FPCrisis #WCD2016 pic.twitter.com/BXQOK1PaAg

— PAI (@pai_org) September 19, 2016

The availability of contraceptives relies largely on funding from donor countries. As donors are falling short on their promises, it is leading to a crisis in getting contraceptives into the countries that need them most.

UNFPA is the only agency equipped to provide sexual and reproductive health care to women and girls in conflicts and emergencies and UNFPA Supplies provides approximately 40% of donated commodities to low and middle income countries.

Indications show that there is a funding gap of around $273 billion between now and 2020.

Projections show that by 2020, 397 million women will be using modern methods of contraception throughout more than 130 developing countries. If the funding gap is not closed, the needs of these women will not be met.

At the same time, most developing country governments have not made sufficient investments in contraceptives to fill the gap and meet the needs of women.

Access to contraception is transformative for women and communities. It is linked to greater gender equality, educational attainment and even economic development. Every $1 invested in sexual and reproductive health and unmet need for family planning has the potential to save $120 in other areas.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved without sustained investment in reproductive health supplies, as a reduction in unintended pregnancy is critical to health, wealth and wellbeing. And, a failure to meet the contraceptive needs of women has the potential to derail progress already made.

The petition calls for the Ban Ki-Moon to highlight the centrality of contraceptives to achieving the sustainable development goals.

It calls for global leaders and donors must prioritise funding for contraceptives and the systems that deliver them on the global agenda.

Please sign the petition.

The home page for the campaign is here.