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IPPF responds to the new UK aid pledge made at the United Nations General Assembly, to expand access for over 20 million women and girls. Speaking at the high-level event at the United Nations General Assembly, International Development Secretary Alok Sharma said the world cannot achieve universal health coverage without prioritizing universal sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) access for women and girls.  IPPF Director General, Dr Alvaro Bermejo said: “We welcome the UK Government’s leadership at this critical time in significantly stepping up their efforts to expanding access to quality contraceptive supplies and sexual and reproductive healthcare services. This will be transformative for millions of women and girls in some of the world’s poorest and most marginalized communities, especially in humanitarian settings.    The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is working in close partnership with the UK government through the Women’s Integrated Health programme (WISH)  to scale up efforts at country level and expand reach to millions of new users of sexual and reproductive healthcare.  A second IPPF programme supported by DFID looks at the needs of people in complex and challenging settings (ACCESS) to design and test innovative sexual and reproductive health and rights solutions. This is the commitment and leadership that  puts women at the heart of healthcare.    DFID’s continued strong commitment to the UNFPA Supplies programme affirms its role as a global champion of women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health. The UNFPA Supplies programme is an essential mechanism for supporting women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive services and a close partner of IPPF. We look forward to continuing to work with DFID and UNFPA Supplies to make sure every woman and girl can access the healthcare she needs and deserves.”

IPPF strongly welcomes the renewal of the Mandate of the Independent Expert on protection against violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity at the 41st session of the Human Rights Council that ends today in Geneva. The renewal of the mandate, first adopted in 2016, represents an unequivocal commitment by member states to the rights of LGBTQI+ people. This mandate has been critical in highlighting the human rights violations people around the world face because of discrimination and violence due to their real or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity.  IPPF is very pleased with the adoption of this resolution proposed by a group of Latin American countries gathering the support of Governments from all regions of the world. As the reports of the Independent Expert have demonstrated over the years, discrimination and violence affect all aspects of people’s lives, including the very right to life itself, privacy and to be free from torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, as well as the ability to exercise the human rights to health, education, employment, housing and access to justice.  IPPF supports all people’s right to live free from violence and discrimination on any grounds, including real or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity, and is committed to supporting the work of the Independent Expert to fully execute the mandate over the coming years. IPPF was actively involved in advocating for the renewal of this important mandate, working closely with a large coalition of civil society organizations and activists prior to and throughout the Human Rights Council session.   

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has been commended as a high performer in the Global Health 50/50 2019 analysis of gender equality policies and practices among global organisations active in health.   Of 198 global organisations reviewed for the report, which is published today (7 March 2019), 31 were commended for their performance, including IPPF.  IPPF Director General, Dr Alvaro Bermejo, said: “We are honored and delighted to be commended in the Global Heath 50/50 report.   As a Federation which focuses so much on providing essential care for, and fighting for the rights of, women and girls in countries around the world, IPPF is committed to reducing gender inequalities in the global health workplace, including our own.   It’s apt that this very important report is launched on the eve of International Women’s Day and that it is entitled “Equality Works”. It does, and inequality does not.   I echo the words of New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in her foreword in the report; global health organisations can, indeed must, lead the way by building fairer, more equal workplaces.   Despite this commendation, IPPF still has more work to do. We intend to do everything we can to ensure that we are a very high performer in the practice of gender equality across our Federation. We and every organisation studied owes a debt of thanks to Global Health 50/50 for holding us all to account.” Note: Global Health 50/50, which was launched in 2018, seeks to advance action and accountability for gender equality in global health. This year’s report focuses on workplace policies to support gender equality and promote respectful, dignified and diverse workplaces. In addition to the variables we reviewed last year which assessed the extent to which organisations consider gender as relevant to their mandate both internally and operationally, this year we also reviewed policies for preventing sexual harassment, supporting parental leave and flexible working, and published gender pay gaps.