Latest press releases
A selection of stories from across the Federation

Netherlands
Rutgers triumphs in landmark court case against lies, online hate and disinformation
Rutgers, the Netherlands’ leading sexual and reproductive health expert and IPPF’s Member Association, has today secured a landmark legal win against an ultra-conservative group.
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| 29 March 2022
Government of Japan, through its support for IPPF, will provide life-saving health care services to the most vulnerable populations in Palestine
With support from the Government of Japan, the IPPF Member Association in Palestine (PFPPA) is launching a new project in Palestine targeting the most vulnerable populations that have been severely affected by the humanitarian crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. It is estimated that at least 1.45 million people in Palestine are in need of healthcare-related humanitarian assistance. The escalation of the conflict in Gaza in May 2021, in addition to the long-standing severe restrictions on movement and inadequate healthcare systems, have resulted in the loss of many lives, the destruction of the healthcare system, and negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Together these have increased poverty levels and strained the healthcare system resulting in increased humanitarian and medical assistance needs. In 2022, it is estimated that 63% of the population living in Gaza and 23% in the West Bank will continue to need humanitarian assistance. The vulnerability of women and girls in particular is even greater, with serious and sometimes life-threatening health consequences. In this context, PFPPA will reach vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations (especially women and girls) with sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services, including sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) related services. This will focus on five locations: Gaza, Hebron, Halhoul, Bethlehem and Ramallah. By the end of February 2023, PFPPA aims to: Deliver quality SRHR and SGBV-related services to approximately 36,000 women and young people through PFPPA clinics in the 5 project target areas. Deliver a Minimum Initial Service Package for reproductive health in crisis situation (MISP: sexual and gender-based violence response, HIV and sexually transmitted disease prevention and treatment, emergency obstetric newborn care, family planning, comprehensive abortion care, etc.) to 4,800 people through mobile clinics in project target areas in Gaza and the West Bank. Deliver prenatal and postpartum door-to-door services to 160 women, including counselling and services to promote healthy pregnancies and prepare women for childbirth. Deliver "birth preparedness" services to 30 women and distribute kits consisting of basic supplies for pre- and postpartum preparation, including essential newborn care. Deliver SRH and SGBV services to 2,000 women and girls through mobile apps and telecommunication projects. H.E. Hajime Hayashi, Ambassador of Japan to the United Kingdom, said: “We are delighted to be working with the IPPF to improve the health of women in Palestine, who are increasingly vulnerable to the humanitarian crisis and the impact of the new coronavirus outbreak. This effort will not only contribute to the realization of Japan's emphasis on Universal Health Coverage (UHC), but will also have a direct effect on human security.” Dr Alvaro Bermejo, Executive Director of IPPF, said: “With the support of the Japanese government, IPPF will be able to provide health and life-saving services to vulnerable women in Palestine. We are very grateful for the opportunity to work with the Japanese government to stand with those affected by the conflict and the COVID-19 to ensure that no one is left behind.” Ms Ammal Awadallah, Executive Director of PFPPA, said: “PFPPA is committed to ensuring that all services provided by their team to the population, regardless of each individual's circumstances, are of high quality and are provided securely, with dignity and respect, protecting all those involved from any form of harm. Furthermore, through the generous support of the Japanese government, for which we are greatly appreciative, PFPPA will be able to deliver essential services related to Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (including SGBV) to those living in marginalized and remote areas most in need of such services.” International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF): Founded in 1952 in Bombay, India, IPPF’s founding members included Madam Shizue Kato, one of Japan's first female parliamentarians and the leader of the family planning movement. Today, IPPF is one of the world's largest international NGOs working to defend sexual and reproductive health and rights and to deliver SRH services and information to all people (especially vulnerable people) through its grassroots network of 120 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners working in 140 countries including Palestine around the world. Contact: Yuri Taniguchi, Chief Strategic Partnerships and Development Advisor (S.E.Asia), International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) London Office

| 22 February 2022
Colombia decriminalizes abortion
Today, the Colombian Constitutional Court decriminalized abortion up to 24 weeks in another victory for the Green Wave sweeping through Latin America. The historic decision follows years of campaigning by women's right's activists across Colombia and came off the back of two lawsuits that asked the court to declare article 122 of the penal code, that "the woman who causes her abortion or allows another to cause it, will incur a prison sentence from sixteen (16) to fifty-four (54) months" as unconstitutional. The court called an extraordinary meeting today, Monday 21st February, and took just a few hours to come to its decision which will go into effect immediately. ProFamilia, the International Planned Federation's Member Association in Colombia, and Colombia's largest provider of legal abortion care were heavily involved in pushing to extend the rights of those needing to access abortion care. Marta Royo, Executive Director for Profamilia, IPPF's Member Association in Colombia, said: "Today is a ground-breaking moment for the people of Colombia and a long-overdue guarantee of reproductive rights and dignity for all those who need abortion care, especially poor and rural women who bear the brunt of restrictive abortion policies. "The decriminalization of abortion up to 24 weeks in Colombia and the Green Wave movement across Latin America is centred not just on public health, but also the full lives, citizenship and human rights of girls, adolescents, and women – who, for multiple reasons, including inequity, access to education, gender-based violence and barriers to healthcare – continue to face unintended pregnancies. "The freedom for women to finally make their own choices about their pregnancies and their bodies is fundamental to disrupting the cycle of poverty that so many in Colombia face. This monumental decision is also a win for the dedicated health care providers, who will finally be recognized as people who simply care about the needs of others." While Colombian women have supposedly been able to access abortion care since 2006 under three circumstances: if their life or health is at risk, in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities, or if the pregnancy is the by-product of rape or incest, in reality, the criminalization of abortion persisted. The Guttmacher Institute found that less than one per cent of the estimated 400,000 abortions carried out each year in Colombia are performed legally, with women, especially poor, rural, vulnerable and marginalized women, facing significant barriers to accessing safe and timely abortion care. Many Colombian women are instead forced to carry their pregnancies to term or else seek other methods to end them. Figures collected by ProFamilia showed that during 2020, there were at least 26,223 unsafe abortions across Colombia, a startling amount for which consequences range from infection to life-changing injuries to death. As per the previous abortion law, other women have been imprisoned for up to four and a half years for having an abortion, even in cases where abortion should have been legal. In a shocking example of discrimination, data collected showed that poor rural women were more likely to be charged, with a third of those who faced charges also survivors of sexual violence. Eugenia Lopez Uribe, IPPF's Regional Director for Americas and the Caribbean Region, said: "Today Colombia took another step in the right direction for gender equality and full human rights for all, and we are incredibly proud of IPPF's Member Association, ProFamilia, for their tireless work alongside thousands of activists across Colombia and Latin America "This 24-week decriminalization is historic in the region and especially remarkable when we consider the current fragility of abortion rights globally and the anti-choice movements which continue to plague nations across the world, including in countries close to home like the United States of America. "While today we are celebrating this historic decision, the Green Wave is strong and growing, and the fight for reproductive rights and justice will not end until every person can access high-quality sexual and reproductive healthcare when and where they need it." For media enquiries in English, please contact Karmen Ivey on kivey@ippf.org or media@ippf.org For media enquiries in Spanish or during UK night-time hours, please contact Pamela Martin Garcia on PMartinGarcia@ippf.org