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Camilo Jimenez

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Contraception

France, Belgium, United States

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Response to the U.S. State Department’s Senseless Plan to Destroy Supplies and Deny Contraceptive Care

Joint Statement by IPPF, Le Planning familial, Sensoa, Fédération Laïque de Centres de Planning Familial, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and Countdown 2030 Europe.

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CABLA
media center

| 27 June 2025

Amid Devastating Budget Cuts, Groundbreaking HIV Prevention Injectable Launches in Eswatini, Lesotho & Malawi

30 June 2025 - The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is proud to announce the roll out of CAB-LA (cabotegravir-long acting), a form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV, in Eswatini, and Malawi, and a pilot project in Lesotho - a major milestone in the fight against HIV. IPPF Member Associations (MAs) in the three countries - Family Life Association of Eswatini (FLAS), Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association (LPPA), and Family Planning Association of Malawi ( FPAM) will soon begin to distribute CAB-LA for HIV prevention to individuals who would like to use this form of HIV prevention.  CAB-LA, a long-acting injectable PrEP, is a game changer for HIV prevention. PrEP is an HIV prevention method where HIV-negative individuals take medication to significantly reduce their risk of acquiring HIV. Administered every 8 weeks, CAB-LA greatly reduces infection risk and does not rely on remembering to take a daily pill, addressing adherence challenges faced by some people using oral PrEP.  This roll-out comes when US budget cuts have severely impacted governments and organizations providing sexual and reproductive health services, HIV prevention, and humanitarian aid. These financial restrictions have significantly impacted access to essential sexual and reproductive health medications globally, compromising HIV prevention and treatment for many, especially those most in need. The arrival of CAB-LA is a major step forward in the fight against HIV/AIDS, providing longer-term protection, a more convenient option, and a discreet alternative to daily pills. Family Life Association of Eswatini, Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association, and the Family Planning Association of Malawi will be providing CAB-LA for PrEP through their static clinics and other public service delivery points. This effort underscores the vital role our MAs play in securing and delivering universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare. For more information, please contact media@ippf.orgAbout the International Planned Parenthood Federation  IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952 at the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference. Today, we are a movement of 158 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 153 countries.  Our work is wide-ranging, and includes services for sexual health and well-being, contraception, abortion care, sexually transmitted infections and reproductive tract infections, HIV, obstetrics and gynecology, fertility support, sexual and gender-based violence, comprehensive sex education, and responding to humanitarian crises. We pride ourselves on being local through our members and global through our network. At the heart of our mission is the provision of – and advocacy in support of – integrated healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, gender, sex, income, and, crucially no matter how remote.  

CABLA
media_center

| 30 June 2025

Amid Devastating Budget Cuts, Groundbreaking HIV Prevention Injectable Launches in Eswatini, Lesotho & Malawi

30 June 2025 - The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is proud to announce the roll out of CAB-LA (cabotegravir-long acting), a form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV, in Eswatini, and Malawi, and a pilot project in Lesotho - a major milestone in the fight against HIV. IPPF Member Associations (MAs) in the three countries - Family Life Association of Eswatini (FLAS), Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association (LPPA), and Family Planning Association of Malawi ( FPAM) will soon begin to distribute CAB-LA for HIV prevention to individuals who would like to use this form of HIV prevention.  CAB-LA, a long-acting injectable PrEP, is a game changer for HIV prevention. PrEP is an HIV prevention method where HIV-negative individuals take medication to significantly reduce their risk of acquiring HIV. Administered every 8 weeks, CAB-LA greatly reduces infection risk and does not rely on remembering to take a daily pill, addressing adherence challenges faced by some people using oral PrEP.  This roll-out comes when US budget cuts have severely impacted governments and organizations providing sexual and reproductive health services, HIV prevention, and humanitarian aid. These financial restrictions have significantly impacted access to essential sexual and reproductive health medications globally, compromising HIV prevention and treatment for many, especially those most in need. The arrival of CAB-LA is a major step forward in the fight against HIV/AIDS, providing longer-term protection, a more convenient option, and a discreet alternative to daily pills. Family Life Association of Eswatini, Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association, and the Family Planning Association of Malawi will be providing CAB-LA for PrEP through their static clinics and other public service delivery points. This effort underscores the vital role our MAs play in securing and delivering universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare. For more information, please contact media@ippf.orgAbout the International Planned Parenthood Federation  IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952 at the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference. Today, we are a movement of 158 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 153 countries.  Our work is wide-ranging, and includes services for sexual health and well-being, contraception, abortion care, sexually transmitted infections and reproductive tract infections, HIV, obstetrics and gynecology, fertility support, sexual and gender-based violence, comprehensive sex education, and responding to humanitarian crises. We pride ourselves on being local through our members and global through our network. At the heart of our mission is the provision of – and advocacy in support of – integrated healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, gender, sex, income, and, crucially no matter how remote.  

Rutgers SE
media center

| 17 April 2025

Rutgers triumphs in landmark court case against lies, online hate and disinformation

17 April 2025 - 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 notorious for fuelling online hate and spreading disinformation. This ruling is a crucial step forward in protecting young people’s health, safety and well-being from harmful narratives designed to undermine their rights. Rutgers took legal action against Civitas Christiana, due to the persistent lies and slander that Civitas continued to spread about Rutgers and the Spring Fever Week. This is an annual campaign in the Netherlands, held in Spring, focused on resilience, heathy relationships and sexual health. The court ruled entirely in favour of Rutgers; all statements must be rectified. The statements by Civitas - made through their social media channels, mainstream media and direct outreach efforts - were not only found to be false, but also harmful and unlawful. This important decision affirms support for parents, teachers, and schools, all who are committed to ensuring children to grow up healthy, safe and happy and protected from disinformation and misinformation. Schools participate voluntarily in Spring Fever Week by providing structured, age-appropriate lessons on these topics to their primary school students. Rutgers took these legal steps to support parents, teachers, and schools, and to combat misleading and vexatious misinformation, as our work is unapologetically about child safety and protection. It’s about giving young people agency and keeping them safe from perpetrators. Young people without information and without bodily autonomy are unsafe. This case was about standing with and for the young people, parents, caregivers, educators and communities who are targeted and harmed by these toxic campaigns run by ultra-conservative groups. The court’s ruling sends a clear message: there is no place for hate and misinformation in public discourse, especially when it endangers the lives, safety and health of young people. “This legal case was not about a difference of opinion on education,” says Rutgers deputy director Luc Lauwers, “but about the spreading of fake news that puts children in danger rather than protecting them. Everyone has the right to their own values, beliefs, opinions, religious convictions, and way of life - including in matters of education and parenting. That is a fundamental pillar of our democratic legal system in the Netherlands. However, the freedom of expression and freedom of religion that Civitas Christiana appeals to are not without limits.” Victories like this matter deeply.  At a time when sexuality education is under coordinated attack by alt-right movements globally, this victory speaks volumes about the power of civil society organisations to stand firm, fight back, and defend truth, science and young people’s rights. Anti-rights groups work to erode trust, sow fear and promote regressive narratives that do real harm - particularly to young people.  Staying silent is not an option. Every time we speak up, seek justice and share the truth, we help build a society where young people are safe, informed and healthy. This ruling is a meaningful step, but our shared global responsibility continues.  For media inquiries, please contact: n.hoeve@rutgers.nl or media@ippf.org.About the International Planned Parenthood Federation  IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952 at the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference. Today, we are a movement of 158 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 153 countries.  Our work is wide-ranging, including comprehensive sex education, provision of contraceptive, safe abortion, and maternal care and responding to humanitarian crises. We pride ourselves on being local through our members and global through our network. At the heart of our mission is the provision of – and advocacy in support of – integrated healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, gender, sex, income, and crucially no matter how remote. About RutgersRutgers is the Dutch centre of knowledge and expertise on sexual health, safety and well-being for young people. We work to improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all (young) people in the Netherlands and in more than 29 countries around the world. In partnership with other organisations we advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights, promote public support and do (scientific) research.Together with partners, we work within countries and internationally to improve sexual rights, access to sexuality education and information, access to contraception and safe abortion services and to prevent sexual and gender-based violence.

Rutgers SE
media_center

| 17 April 2025

Rutgers triumphs in landmark court case against lies, online hate and disinformation

17 April 2025 - 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 notorious for fuelling online hate and spreading disinformation. This ruling is a crucial step forward in protecting young people’s health, safety and well-being from harmful narratives designed to undermine their rights. Rutgers took legal action against Civitas Christiana, due to the persistent lies and slander that Civitas continued to spread about Rutgers and the Spring Fever Week. This is an annual campaign in the Netherlands, held in Spring, focused on resilience, heathy relationships and sexual health. The court ruled entirely in favour of Rutgers; all statements must be rectified. The statements by Civitas - made through their social media channels, mainstream media and direct outreach efforts - were not only found to be false, but also harmful and unlawful. This important decision affirms support for parents, teachers, and schools, all who are committed to ensuring children to grow up healthy, safe and happy and protected from disinformation and misinformation. Schools participate voluntarily in Spring Fever Week by providing structured, age-appropriate lessons on these topics to their primary school students. Rutgers took these legal steps to support parents, teachers, and schools, and to combat misleading and vexatious misinformation, as our work is unapologetically about child safety and protection. It’s about giving young people agency and keeping them safe from perpetrators. Young people without information and without bodily autonomy are unsafe. This case was about standing with and for the young people, parents, caregivers, educators and communities who are targeted and harmed by these toxic campaigns run by ultra-conservative groups. The court’s ruling sends a clear message: there is no place for hate and misinformation in public discourse, especially when it endangers the lives, safety and health of young people. “This legal case was not about a difference of opinion on education,” says Rutgers deputy director Luc Lauwers, “but about the spreading of fake news that puts children in danger rather than protecting them. Everyone has the right to their own values, beliefs, opinions, religious convictions, and way of life - including in matters of education and parenting. That is a fundamental pillar of our democratic legal system in the Netherlands. However, the freedom of expression and freedom of religion that Civitas Christiana appeals to are not without limits.” Victories like this matter deeply.  At a time when sexuality education is under coordinated attack by alt-right movements globally, this victory speaks volumes about the power of civil society organisations to stand firm, fight back, and defend truth, science and young people’s rights. Anti-rights groups work to erode trust, sow fear and promote regressive narratives that do real harm - particularly to young people.  Staying silent is not an option. Every time we speak up, seek justice and share the truth, we help build a society where young people are safe, informed and healthy. This ruling is a meaningful step, but our shared global responsibility continues.  For media inquiries, please contact: n.hoeve@rutgers.nl or media@ippf.org.About the International Planned Parenthood Federation  IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952 at the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference. Today, we are a movement of 158 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 153 countries.  Our work is wide-ranging, including comprehensive sex education, provision of contraceptive, safe abortion, and maternal care and responding to humanitarian crises. We pride ourselves on being local through our members and global through our network. At the heart of our mission is the provision of – and advocacy in support of – integrated healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, gender, sex, income, and crucially no matter how remote. About RutgersRutgers is the Dutch centre of knowledge and expertise on sexual health, safety and well-being for young people. We work to improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all (young) people in the Netherlands and in more than 29 countries around the world. In partnership with other organisations we advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights, promote public support and do (scientific) research.Together with partners, we work within countries and internationally to improve sexual rights, access to sexuality education and information, access to contraception and safe abortion services and to prevent sexual and gender-based violence.

Blue banner
media center

| 02 April 2025

The Urgent Need to Protect HIV Prevention and Global Health Investments

Joint statement by FCAA, IPPF, and ILGA-World from the Kalavai Partnership31 March 2025 -  We call on policymakers, governments, and philanthropy to protect and expand HIV funding and not to turn their backs on vulnerable populations.The world is at a crossroads in the fight against HIV. For decades, dedicated investments in HIV prevention, treatment, and care have saved millions of lives and helped stabilize communities. Yet today, these gains are at risk. Critical funding from the U.S. government and other donor nations is under threat, jeopardizing the very infrastructure that has driven progress.In fact, new analyses published by amfAR and The Lancet demonstrate the catastrophic toll cuts to both the U.S. CDC Division of HIV Prevention and foreign aid from the US, the Netherlands, Britain, and other nations, predicting up to 2.9 million more HIV-related deaths before 2030 and essentially undoing all progress achieved since 2000.This crisis no longer knows borders. Now is the time to act—before we lose ground that cannot easily be regained.HIV Prevention Saves Lives—We Must Not Step BackHIV prevention is one of the most cost-effective and impactful investments in global health. It reduces new infections, alleviates the burden on healthcare systems, and safeguards the well-being of vulnerable communities. U.S. government funding for global HIV programs has been a lifeline for communities disproportionately affected by HIV, including women and children, LGBTQ people, sex workers, and people who use drugs. Yet today, political and financial pressures threaten these programs, putting lives and progress in jeopardy.HIV prevention includes a broad range of essential interventions:Access to PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis): A highly effective HIV prevention medication that significantly reduces the risk of transmission.Comprehensive sexual health education: Ensuring individuals have the knowledge and resources to protect themselves and their partners.Harm reduction services: Including needle exchange programs and opioid substitution therapy for people who use drugs.Access to condoms and lubricants: Fundamental tools in preventing the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.HIV testing and linkage to care: Early diagnosis and immediate access to treatment are key to preventing new infections and achieving viral suppression.Mother-to-child transmission prevention: Ensuring pregnant women living with HIV have access to antiretroviral therapy to protect their newborns.HIV, Global Health Security, and Human Rights Are InseparableHIV prevention is not just about health — it is about global stability, economic resilience, and human rights.Slashing funding for HIV programs weakens public health infrastructure, rolling back decades of hard-won progress and making people worldwide more vulnerable to other global health crises.The fight against HIV is intrinsically linked to sexual and reproductive health and rights, women's health, and LGBTQ rights. For example, the lives of transgender individuals are even more at risk due to the reduction of health and human rights-based services as a result of anti-trans and anti-DEI Executive Orders.Women and girls continue to bear a disproportionate burden of the HIV epidemic, and their health hangs in the balance in the wake of funding cuts. Every week, approximately 4,000 adolescent girls and young women contract HIV, the majority of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa. Pregnant women living with HIV require consistent treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission, yet funding shortfalls place these essential services at risk. Without sustained investment, millions of women and newborns face heightened health risks, undermining global progress toward ending HIV.Governments and donors must recognize that investing in HIV prevention is an investment in global health security. When we protect and strengthen HIV infrastructure, we also reinforce systems that respond to pandemics, reduce maternal mortality, and promote equity in healthcare.A Call to Action: The Time to Step Up is NowWe have the medical tools - including the addition of long-acting injectables - to end HIV as a public health crisis. We just need the funding and leadership.We call on policymakers in the U.S. government and donor governments worldwide to take urgent action:Sustain and increase funding for HIV prevention, treatment, and care. Public investment is essential to protect the communities most at risk and ensure that we don’t lose ground.Recognize the intersection of HIV with broader human rights issues. Supporting HIV programs also means protecting reproductive health, LGBTQ rights, and gender justice.We also call on philanthropy to lean in, not out. Now is not the time for donors to retreat. The role of private philanthropy has never been more critical in safeguarding communities and mobilizing new resources to fill funding gaps. Every investment today saves lives tomorrow.The Kalavai Initiative — a partnership of Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA), the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Global Philanthropy Project (GPP), and ILGA World — urges all stakeholders to act with urgency. Lives are at stake. The time to protect and expand HIV funding is now.Join Us in Taking ActionPolicymakers, donors, and advocates: Stand with us to protect public health, human rights, and the future of HIV prevention. Together, we can ensure that decades of progress are not lost, and that every person — regardless of who they are or where they live — has access to the lifesaving care they deserve.About the Kalavai Partners:ILGA World is a worldwide federation of more than 2,000 organisations from over 170 countries and territories campaigning for the human rights of people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics. https://ilga.orgThe International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Founded in 1952, it is now a movement of 150 member associations and collaborative partners with a presence in over 146 countries. https://www.ippf.org/Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA) unites philanthropic leaders to pursue a shared vision of a world without AIDS. Through research, advocacy, and collaboration, we work to mobilize and grow funding for the ever-changing fight against HIV. https://www.fcaaids.org/Global Philanthropy Project (GPP) is a collaboration of funders and philanthropic advisors working to expand global philanthropic support to advance the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people in the Global South and East. https://globalphilanthropyproject.org/

Blue banner
media_center

| 31 March 2025

The Urgent Need to Protect HIV Prevention and Global Health Investments

Joint statement by FCAA, IPPF, and ILGA-World from the Kalavai Partnership31 March 2025 -  We call on policymakers, governments, and philanthropy to protect and expand HIV funding and not to turn their backs on vulnerable populations.The world is at a crossroads in the fight against HIV. For decades, dedicated investments in HIV prevention, treatment, and care have saved millions of lives and helped stabilize communities. Yet today, these gains are at risk. Critical funding from the U.S. government and other donor nations is under threat, jeopardizing the very infrastructure that has driven progress.In fact, new analyses published by amfAR and The Lancet demonstrate the catastrophic toll cuts to both the U.S. CDC Division of HIV Prevention and foreign aid from the US, the Netherlands, Britain, and other nations, predicting up to 2.9 million more HIV-related deaths before 2030 and essentially undoing all progress achieved since 2000.This crisis no longer knows borders. Now is the time to act—before we lose ground that cannot easily be regained.HIV Prevention Saves Lives—We Must Not Step BackHIV prevention is one of the most cost-effective and impactful investments in global health. It reduces new infections, alleviates the burden on healthcare systems, and safeguards the well-being of vulnerable communities. U.S. government funding for global HIV programs has been a lifeline for communities disproportionately affected by HIV, including women and children, LGBTQ people, sex workers, and people who use drugs. Yet today, political and financial pressures threaten these programs, putting lives and progress in jeopardy.HIV prevention includes a broad range of essential interventions:Access to PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis): A highly effective HIV prevention medication that significantly reduces the risk of transmission.Comprehensive sexual health education: Ensuring individuals have the knowledge and resources to protect themselves and their partners.Harm reduction services: Including needle exchange programs and opioid substitution therapy for people who use drugs.Access to condoms and lubricants: Fundamental tools in preventing the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.HIV testing and linkage to care: Early diagnosis and immediate access to treatment are key to preventing new infections and achieving viral suppression.Mother-to-child transmission prevention: Ensuring pregnant women living with HIV have access to antiretroviral therapy to protect their newborns.HIV, Global Health Security, and Human Rights Are InseparableHIV prevention is not just about health — it is about global stability, economic resilience, and human rights.Slashing funding for HIV programs weakens public health infrastructure, rolling back decades of hard-won progress and making people worldwide more vulnerable to other global health crises.The fight against HIV is intrinsically linked to sexual and reproductive health and rights, women's health, and LGBTQ rights. For example, the lives of transgender individuals are even more at risk due to the reduction of health and human rights-based services as a result of anti-trans and anti-DEI Executive Orders.Women and girls continue to bear a disproportionate burden of the HIV epidemic, and their health hangs in the balance in the wake of funding cuts. Every week, approximately 4,000 adolescent girls and young women contract HIV, the majority of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa. Pregnant women living with HIV require consistent treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission, yet funding shortfalls place these essential services at risk. Without sustained investment, millions of women and newborns face heightened health risks, undermining global progress toward ending HIV.Governments and donors must recognize that investing in HIV prevention is an investment in global health security. When we protect and strengthen HIV infrastructure, we also reinforce systems that respond to pandemics, reduce maternal mortality, and promote equity in healthcare.A Call to Action: The Time to Step Up is NowWe have the medical tools - including the addition of long-acting injectables - to end HIV as a public health crisis. We just need the funding and leadership.We call on policymakers in the U.S. government and donor governments worldwide to take urgent action:Sustain and increase funding for HIV prevention, treatment, and care. Public investment is essential to protect the communities most at risk and ensure that we don’t lose ground.Recognize the intersection of HIV with broader human rights issues. Supporting HIV programs also means protecting reproductive health, LGBTQ rights, and gender justice.We also call on philanthropy to lean in, not out. Now is not the time for donors to retreat. The role of private philanthropy has never been more critical in safeguarding communities and mobilizing new resources to fill funding gaps. Every investment today saves lives tomorrow.The Kalavai Initiative — a partnership of Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA), the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Global Philanthropy Project (GPP), and ILGA World — urges all stakeholders to act with urgency. Lives are at stake. The time to protect and expand HIV funding is now.Join Us in Taking ActionPolicymakers, donors, and advocates: Stand with us to protect public health, human rights, and the future of HIV prevention. Together, we can ensure that decades of progress are not lost, and that every person — regardless of who they are or where they live — has access to the lifesaving care they deserve.About the Kalavai Partners:ILGA World is a worldwide federation of more than 2,000 organisations from over 170 countries and territories campaigning for the human rights of people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics. https://ilga.orgThe International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Founded in 1952, it is now a movement of 150 member associations and collaborative partners with a presence in over 146 countries. https://www.ippf.org/Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA) unites philanthropic leaders to pursue a shared vision of a world without AIDS. Through research, advocacy, and collaboration, we work to mobilize and grow funding for the ever-changing fight against HIV. https://www.fcaaids.org/Global Philanthropy Project (GPP) is a collaboration of funders and philanthropic advisors working to expand global philanthropic support to advance the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people in the Global South and East. https://globalphilanthropyproject.org/

Eswatini vaginal ring
media center

| 24 August 2024

Eswatini to roll out first women-controlled HIV prevention product

Eswatini (27 August 2024) - IPPF’s Member Association in Eswatini, the Family Life Association of Eswatini (FLAS), is soon to roll out the first women-controlled HIV prevention product, the dapivirine vaginal ring (DVR). FLAS will be among the first organisations to offer the DVR outside implementation or pilot studies anywhere in the world. Made of flexible silicone, the ring is inserted into the vagina by a woman and slowly releases the antiretroviral drug dapivirine in the vagina over a one-month period, helping to reduce a woman’s risk of acquiring HIV. In 2023, in sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls accounted for 62% of all new HIV infections and every week, 3,100 adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 years became infected with HIV. Therefore, there continues to be an urgent need for HIV prevention methods that females can use to protect themselves. The DVR is a product women can control themselves and use without the knowledge or consent of their partners, unlike condoms, which men often refuse to use. The DVR is inserted into the vagina and left for a one-month period, where it can then be replaced each month for continued protection. Unlike daily oral PrEP, the DVR does not rely on remembering to take a pill each day and is also discreet as it stays inside the vagina throughout the month. The DVR does not prevent pregnancy or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so women choosing to use the ring may want to consider combining it with condoms and methods of contraception. The availability of the DVR is an exciting step in supporting women’s autonomy and choice in HIV prevention. This need for women-controlled HIV prevention products has long been advocated for, with the African Women Prevention Community Accountability Board launching the HIV Prevention Choice Manifesto in early 2023. The Choice Manifesto prioritises the principle of choice to ensure that women and girls have the right to choose which HIV prevention methods work for them. Currently the ring is available at selected facilities through implementation studies across six countries in East and Southern Africa; South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Uganda.  Diantha Pillay, Associate Director for Product Access for IPM South Africa NPC (an affiliate of the Population Council), said:  “It is encouraging to see the efforts made by FLAS and IPPF to support the choice agenda for HIV prevention for women and make effective HIV prevention methods, like the DVR, more widely accessible in a real-world setting. We hope this can pave the way for introduction of future pipeline products that speak to the needs of women.” The Population Council is currently developing a longer duration DVR that women would use for three months versus one month to significantly lower annual product costs and offer women a more convenient option to protect themselves. Thabo Lizwe Masuku, Programs Manager for FLAS, said: “Women have been telling us for a long time that  there is a need for a variety of methods for HIV prevention, since they are highly exposed. For women and girls to truly have choice about what works for them as they navigate different stages and circumstances of their lives, policy makers, donors, governments and implementers must ensure the mix of HIV prevention methods are available, accessible, and affordable. Access to the ring through our clinics in Eswatini now gives women choice and options to protect themselves against HIV.” IPPF is committed to ensuring that choice in HIV prevention is a reality for women and girls and aims to roll out the dapivirine vaginal rings at as many Member Associations as possible, as well as offer other HIV-prevention choices, as we work alongside our partners towards a future free of HIV in Africa and beyond. For more information and to speak to staff in Eswatini, please email media@ippf.org   Notes: The dapivirine vaginal ring has been recommended by the WHO since January 2021. (25) In clinical trials, the  ring was shown to reduce HIV infection by 35% in The Ring Study (26,27) and 27% in the ASPIRE Study. (28,29) Recent open-label studies show greater adherence to the ring, and modelling data suggest that HIV risk could be reduced by about 50%. (30) The dapivirine ring has received regulatory approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as from local medicines regulators in Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda, Eswatini, Lesotho, Botswana and is currently under regulatory review in a number of other countries Our Member Associations (MAs) that provide clinical services are required to provide comprehensive SRH services through our Integrated Package of Essential Services (IPES) which include services for sexual health and well-being, contraception, abortion care, sexually transmitted infections (STIs)/reproductive tract infections (RTIs), HIV, obstetrics and gynaecology, fertility support, and sexual and gender-based violence. IPPF’s new five-year strategy, Come Together, focuses on expanding choice. In support of this, we recently launched a special programme to expand our HIV prevention options, which aims to integrate the newest HIV prevention methods – the vaginal ring and injectable PrEP - into our comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services.  IPPF’s IMAP Statement on Biomedical HIV Prevention can be found here. About the Family Life Association of Eswatini (FLAS)  For over 30 years, the Family Life Association of Eswatini (FLAS) has provided sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services to the people of Eswatini (formally Swaziland). While family planning, antenatal, post-natal and post-abortion care form a key part of FLAS services, there’s a significant focus on HIV and AIDS programmes. Eswatini has some of the highest HIV and AIDS prevalence rates in the world. As a result, the prevention and management of HIV and AIDS, the provision of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), and the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) are central to FLAS’s work. FLAS has 15 service points, including three permanent clinics and three mobile facilities, staffed by a permanent team of 40 staff backed by 230 volunteers, 180 Youth Action Movement members and 29 peer educators. About the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952 at the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference. Today, we are a movement of 150 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 146 countries.Our work is wide-ranging, including comprehensive sex education, provision of contraceptives, safe abortion, and maternal care and responding to humanitarian crises.  We pride ourselves on being local through our members and global through our network. At the heart of our mission is the provision of – and advocacy in support of – integrated healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, gender, sex, income, and crucially no matter how remote. Our services are available to all, and reach the most marginalised groups in societies, including key and priority populations, youth, and people with disabilities. Most of our MAs have special programs to engage youth (10-24) inside and outside of school settings. Because our clinics offer comprehensive services, attending our clinics is non-stigmatizing and does not label people as having a particular disease or membership to a particular group. This model of services that are integrated and open to all, embedded in indigenous, locally owned organisations, is ideal for ensuring that the most vulnerable and marginalised groups can access the HIV prevention services they need. About the Population Council The Population Council is a leading research organization dedicated to building an equitable and sustainable world that enhances the health and well-being of current and future generations. The Council transforms global thinking on critical health and development issues through social science, public health, and biomedical research. We generate ideas, produce evidence, and design solutions to improve the lives of underserved populations around the world.  

Eswatini vaginal ring
media_center

| 27 August 2024

Eswatini to roll out first women-controlled HIV prevention product

Eswatini (27 August 2024) - IPPF’s Member Association in Eswatini, the Family Life Association of Eswatini (FLAS), is soon to roll out the first women-controlled HIV prevention product, the dapivirine vaginal ring (DVR). FLAS will be among the first organisations to offer the DVR outside implementation or pilot studies anywhere in the world. Made of flexible silicone, the ring is inserted into the vagina by a woman and slowly releases the antiretroviral drug dapivirine in the vagina over a one-month period, helping to reduce a woman’s risk of acquiring HIV. In 2023, in sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls accounted for 62% of all new HIV infections and every week, 3,100 adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 years became infected with HIV. Therefore, there continues to be an urgent need for HIV prevention methods that females can use to protect themselves. The DVR is a product women can control themselves and use without the knowledge or consent of their partners, unlike condoms, which men often refuse to use. The DVR is inserted into the vagina and left for a one-month period, where it can then be replaced each month for continued protection. Unlike daily oral PrEP, the DVR does not rely on remembering to take a pill each day and is also discreet as it stays inside the vagina throughout the month. The DVR does not prevent pregnancy or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so women choosing to use the ring may want to consider combining it with condoms and methods of contraception. The availability of the DVR is an exciting step in supporting women’s autonomy and choice in HIV prevention. This need for women-controlled HIV prevention products has long been advocated for, with the African Women Prevention Community Accountability Board launching the HIV Prevention Choice Manifesto in early 2023. The Choice Manifesto prioritises the principle of choice to ensure that women and girls have the right to choose which HIV prevention methods work for them. Currently the ring is available at selected facilities through implementation studies across six countries in East and Southern Africa; South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Uganda.  Diantha Pillay, Associate Director for Product Access for IPM South Africa NPC (an affiliate of the Population Council), said:  “It is encouraging to see the efforts made by FLAS and IPPF to support the choice agenda for HIV prevention for women and make effective HIV prevention methods, like the DVR, more widely accessible in a real-world setting. We hope this can pave the way for introduction of future pipeline products that speak to the needs of women.” The Population Council is currently developing a longer duration DVR that women would use for three months versus one month to significantly lower annual product costs and offer women a more convenient option to protect themselves. Thabo Lizwe Masuku, Programs Manager for FLAS, said: “Women have been telling us for a long time that  there is a need for a variety of methods for HIV prevention, since they are highly exposed. For women and girls to truly have choice about what works for them as they navigate different stages and circumstances of their lives, policy makers, donors, governments and implementers must ensure the mix of HIV prevention methods are available, accessible, and affordable. Access to the ring through our clinics in Eswatini now gives women choice and options to protect themselves against HIV.” IPPF is committed to ensuring that choice in HIV prevention is a reality for women and girls and aims to roll out the dapivirine vaginal rings at as many Member Associations as possible, as well as offer other HIV-prevention choices, as we work alongside our partners towards a future free of HIV in Africa and beyond. For more information and to speak to staff in Eswatini, please email media@ippf.org   Notes: The dapivirine vaginal ring has been recommended by the WHO since January 2021. (25) In clinical trials, the  ring was shown to reduce HIV infection by 35% in The Ring Study (26,27) and 27% in the ASPIRE Study. (28,29) Recent open-label studies show greater adherence to the ring, and modelling data suggest that HIV risk could be reduced by about 50%. (30) The dapivirine ring has received regulatory approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as from local medicines regulators in Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda, Eswatini, Lesotho, Botswana and is currently under regulatory review in a number of other countries Our Member Associations (MAs) that provide clinical services are required to provide comprehensive SRH services through our Integrated Package of Essential Services (IPES) which include services for sexual health and well-being, contraception, abortion care, sexually transmitted infections (STIs)/reproductive tract infections (RTIs), HIV, obstetrics and gynaecology, fertility support, and sexual and gender-based violence. IPPF’s new five-year strategy, Come Together, focuses on expanding choice. In support of this, we recently launched a special programme to expand our HIV prevention options, which aims to integrate the newest HIV prevention methods – the vaginal ring and injectable PrEP - into our comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services.  IPPF’s IMAP Statement on Biomedical HIV Prevention can be found here. About the Family Life Association of Eswatini (FLAS)  For over 30 years, the Family Life Association of Eswatini (FLAS) has provided sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services to the people of Eswatini (formally Swaziland). While family planning, antenatal, post-natal and post-abortion care form a key part of FLAS services, there’s a significant focus on HIV and AIDS programmes. Eswatini has some of the highest HIV and AIDS prevalence rates in the world. As a result, the prevention and management of HIV and AIDS, the provision of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), and the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) are central to FLAS’s work. FLAS has 15 service points, including three permanent clinics and three mobile facilities, staffed by a permanent team of 40 staff backed by 230 volunteers, 180 Youth Action Movement members and 29 peer educators. About the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952 at the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference. Today, we are a movement of 150 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 146 countries.Our work is wide-ranging, including comprehensive sex education, provision of contraceptives, safe abortion, and maternal care and responding to humanitarian crises.  We pride ourselves on being local through our members and global through our network. At the heart of our mission is the provision of – and advocacy in support of – integrated healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, gender, sex, income, and crucially no matter how remote. Our services are available to all, and reach the most marginalised groups in societies, including key and priority populations, youth, and people with disabilities. Most of our MAs have special programs to engage youth (10-24) inside and outside of school settings. Because our clinics offer comprehensive services, attending our clinics is non-stigmatizing and does not label people as having a particular disease or membership to a particular group. This model of services that are integrated and open to all, embedded in indigenous, locally owned organisations, is ideal for ensuring that the most vulnerable and marginalised groups can access the HIV prevention services they need. About the Population Council The Population Council is a leading research organization dedicated to building an equitable and sustainable world that enhances the health and well-being of current and future generations. The Council transforms global thinking on critical health and development issues through social science, public health, and biomedical research. We generate ideas, produce evidence, and design solutions to improve the lives of underserved populations around the world.  

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| 21 September 2023

IPPF Condemns the Arson Attacks on Schools Delivering Sex Education in Belgium

IPPF condemns the multiple school arsons across the French-speaking Wallonia region in Belgium over the past week, which have been connected to public protests against the compulsory “education in relationships, affective and sexual life” (EVRAS) program. These targeted attacks are evidence of a growing movement opposed to Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) curricula, and the duty of states to support and protect children in their sexual development. IPPF is deeply concerned that a small cadre of those with extremist views are targeting schools with violence, which serve as vital safe spaces for children and young people to become educated, empowered citizens.  In the face of global misinformation campaigns and attempts to silence the organizations and institutions providing high quality comprehensive sexuality education, IPPF affirms that these programs empower children and young people to protect their health and well-being and support them in developing healthy and positive relationships throughout their lives.  Dr. Alvaro Bermejo, IPPF Director General said:  “The violent attacks on schools in Belgium are proof of how anti-rights campaigners are multiplying around the world and fuelling divisions by spreading false or misleading information about existing education curricula. We know from decades of research and our own programmatic experience in this area that comprehensive sexuality education helps children and young people to understand and enjoy their sexuality, take responsibility for their own sexual and reproductive health and rights and respect other people’s. We stand with the educators in Belgium who are delivering on a sex education curriculum that promotes children and young people’s rights.”  Research shows that parents and young people agree that sexuality education should be offered in schools, and that parents are willing to join these programs, particularly as they help their children to navigate relationships and sexuality amid the complex challenges of the digital era. Many governments around the world, including Belgium, are making sexuality education programs a national priority to protect all children and young people from harm.  IPPF stands with the schools and educators delivering this vital education in Belgium and around the world, and we remain committed to providing children and young people with the knowledge to protect and promote their safety, health and wellbeing.  For media inquiries, contact media@ippf.org   Banner image: Shutterstock

belgium-school
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| 21 September 2023

IPPF Condemns the Arson Attacks on Schools Delivering Sex Education in Belgium

IPPF condemns the multiple school arsons across the French-speaking Wallonia region in Belgium over the past week, which have been connected to public protests against the compulsory “education in relationships, affective and sexual life” (EVRAS) program. These targeted attacks are evidence of a growing movement opposed to Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) curricula, and the duty of states to support and protect children in their sexual development. IPPF is deeply concerned that a small cadre of those with extremist views are targeting schools with violence, which serve as vital safe spaces for children and young people to become educated, empowered citizens.  In the face of global misinformation campaigns and attempts to silence the organizations and institutions providing high quality comprehensive sexuality education, IPPF affirms that these programs empower children and young people to protect their health and well-being and support them in developing healthy and positive relationships throughout their lives.  Dr. Alvaro Bermejo, IPPF Director General said:  “The violent attacks on schools in Belgium are proof of how anti-rights campaigners are multiplying around the world and fuelling divisions by spreading false or misleading information about existing education curricula. We know from decades of research and our own programmatic experience in this area that comprehensive sexuality education helps children and young people to understand and enjoy their sexuality, take responsibility for their own sexual and reproductive health and rights and respect other people’s. We stand with the educators in Belgium who are delivering on a sex education curriculum that promotes children and young people’s rights.”  Research shows that parents and young people agree that sexuality education should be offered in schools, and that parents are willing to join these programs, particularly as they help their children to navigate relationships and sexuality amid the complex challenges of the digital era. Many governments around the world, including Belgium, are making sexuality education programs a national priority to protect all children and young people from harm.  IPPF stands with the schools and educators delivering this vital education in Belgium and around the world, and we remain committed to providing children and young people with the knowledge to protect and promote their safety, health and wellbeing.  For media inquiries, contact media@ippf.org   Banner image: Shutterstock

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| 19 April 2023

Statement on the Outcome of the 56th Session on the Commission on Population and Development

The International Planned Parenthood Federation expresses its disappointment that the fifty-sixth session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD), held from 10-14 April 2023 at UN headquarters in New York, did not result in a resolution on the theme of Population, Education and Sustainable Development.   The Chair’s draft resolution for consideration on 14th April was the result of many weeks of intergovernmental discussions and represented a compromise to address the positions of all delegations. It was a balanced text based on previously agreed language and included critical elements related to this year’s priority theme, including ensuring a comprehensive response to the learning crises the world is facing today. Key issues including the need for gender-responsive policy development, a focus on marginalized communities, youth and adolescents, sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights were consensually included in the draft resolution, demonstrating global consensus on these issues. However, consensus on the document was unfortunately broken by a small minority of Member States who were unable to accept language pertaining to comprehensive education on human sexuality, which was language adopted at this very Commission in 2014, and which comes from the 1994 ICPD Programme of Action itself. It is disappointing that these few Member States found it more important to block agreed language than to adopt meaningful advancements in the area of education. The ramifications of the failure to adopt this resolution will have an impact on billions of young people, adolescents and girls worldwide who have experienced the largest disruption of education systems in history, where more than 90 % of the world’s children have had their education interrupted by COVID-19 and 263 million children and young people are still out of school (1 in 5). IPPF is, however, encouraged that the negotiations on this resolution, which took place over several weeks, demonstrated the on-going commitment of Member States to the the ICPD Programme of Action (PoA), the key actions for its further implementation, the declaration on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development, and resolutions and work of the Commission on Population and Development. We also welcome the plenary program of the 56th session of the CPD, which featured strong data on comprehensive sexuality education from UN agencies as evidence of its beneficial impact on children, adolescents and  young people. In addition (or equally important), the experience of national programs and the passionate voices of young people reaffirmed that comprehensive sexuality education is an essential tool to empower young people and adolescents to make informed choices about their bodies, lives and futures.  With a view towards the 30th anniversary of the ICPD PoA in 2024, we appreciate the commitment of Member States to continue working to deliver on the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and look forward to engaging in the national, regional, and global processes of ICPD+30, culminating in next year’s 57th session of the Commission on Population and Development.

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| 19 April 2023

Statement on the Outcome of the 56th Session on the Commission on Population and Development

The International Planned Parenthood Federation expresses its disappointment that the fifty-sixth session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD), held from 10-14 April 2023 at UN headquarters in New York, did not result in a resolution on the theme of Population, Education and Sustainable Development.   The Chair’s draft resolution for consideration on 14th April was the result of many weeks of intergovernmental discussions and represented a compromise to address the positions of all delegations. It was a balanced text based on previously agreed language and included critical elements related to this year’s priority theme, including ensuring a comprehensive response to the learning crises the world is facing today. Key issues including the need for gender-responsive policy development, a focus on marginalized communities, youth and adolescents, sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights were consensually included in the draft resolution, demonstrating global consensus on these issues. However, consensus on the document was unfortunately broken by a small minority of Member States who were unable to accept language pertaining to comprehensive education on human sexuality, which was language adopted at this very Commission in 2014, and which comes from the 1994 ICPD Programme of Action itself. It is disappointing that these few Member States found it more important to block agreed language than to adopt meaningful advancements in the area of education. The ramifications of the failure to adopt this resolution will have an impact on billions of young people, adolescents and girls worldwide who have experienced the largest disruption of education systems in history, where more than 90 % of the world’s children have had their education interrupted by COVID-19 and 263 million children and young people are still out of school (1 in 5). IPPF is, however, encouraged that the negotiations on this resolution, which took place over several weeks, demonstrated the on-going commitment of Member States to the the ICPD Programme of Action (PoA), the key actions for its further implementation, the declaration on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development, and resolutions and work of the Commission on Population and Development. We also welcome the plenary program of the 56th session of the CPD, which featured strong data on comprehensive sexuality education from UN agencies as evidence of its beneficial impact on children, adolescents and  young people. In addition (or equally important), the experience of national programs and the passionate voices of young people reaffirmed that comprehensive sexuality education is an essential tool to empower young people and adolescents to make informed choices about their bodies, lives and futures.  With a view towards the 30th anniversary of the ICPD PoA in 2024, we appreciate the commitment of Member States to continue working to deliver on the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and look forward to engaging in the national, regional, and global processes of ICPD+30, culminating in next year’s 57th session of the Commission on Population and Development.

ICPD image, an eye, a girl, two people carrying baskets on their heads
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| 10 November 2022

Sexual and reproductive justice to deliver the Nairobi commitments

Today, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is helping launch the second report of the High-Level Commission on the Nairobi Summit, also known as the International Conference on Population and Development 25 (ICPD 25). The Commission is an independent advisory board comprised of 26 members from different sectors tasked with monitoring progress on the ICPD Programme of Action and Nairobi Summit Commitments. The programme of action contains commitments from 179 countries to put the rights, needs and aspirations of individual human beings at the centre of sustainable development, part of which includes achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health for all. The report - ‘Sexual and reproductive justice as the vehicle to deliver the Nairobi Summit commitments’ - highlights sexual and reproductive justice as the key to the realization of the Nairobi Summit commitments. Sexual and reproductive justice is a universal concept. It includes the right to have or not have children, the right to parent one’s children in safe and sustainable environments, and the right to sexual autonomy and gender freedom. Monitoring the implementation of life-saving sexual and reproductive health and gender-responsive services is crucial to ensure accountability and human rights for all. However, while some progress has been made, many barriers persist, and millions worldwide still do not realize their sexual and reproductive rights. Progress on Nairobi Summit Commitments: Numerous country commitments made at the Nairobi Summit align with a sexual and reproductive justice framework. They pay explicit attention to marginalized and vulnerable populations, notably people with disabilities, refugees, migrants (particularly migrant women), young people and older persons. Indigenous peoples, people of African descent and other ethnic minority groups have received less attention. A slew of new reproductive rights legislation followed the Nairobi Summit, suggesting a basis for a sexual and reproductive justice framework. The high number of commitments prioritizing sexual and gender-based violence offers a powerful entry point for promoting sexual and reproductive justice. On the Summit’s Global Commitments, some improvement is evident in meeting unmet need for family planning. But no region has registered positive movement towards zero preventable maternal deaths. Greater access to family planning has yet to translate into better maternal health outcomes. There is some progress in offering comprehensive and age-responsive information and education on sexuality and reproduction and adolescent-friendly, comprehensive, quality and timely services. Certain regions and countries have advanced in providing timely, quality and disaggregated data. More must be done, but this creates opportunities for ensuring that data capture intersecting challenges and are used to inform laws, policies and programmes. Domestic and international finance is critical to sexual and reproductive justice but persistently lags commitments. More than 4 billion people globally will lack access to at least one key sexual and reproductive health service during their lives Dr Alvaro Bermejo, Director-General for the International Planned Parenthood Federation, said: “Three years on from the Nairobi Summit and while we have seen some progress in sexual and reproductive health and rights across countries like Colombia, Mexico and Thailand, globally, we remain far from reaching the commitments made at ICPD 25 - that all women and girls will have autonomy over their bodies and lives through universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). “With the devasting loss of abortion rights across the U.S having a disproportionate impact on poor women and women of colour, ongoing humanitarian crises across countries like Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Ukraine creating unliveable, unsafe and unsustainable conditions for millions, and the loss of billions of dollars of funding severely affecting access to sexual and reproductive health care for those most in need, 2022 continues to demonstrate the critical need to champion sexual and reproductive justice for all - recognizing the importance of intersecting oppressions on people’s ability to make decisions about their bodies, lives and futures. “At the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), we remain dedicated to helping countries deliver on the Nairobi commitments as we approach ICPD 30. Using our unique position as a locally-owned, globally connected organization, we will continue to work in solidarity with donors, governments, partners and communities to ensure that everyone, everywhere, can access high-quality SRH care, especially those who are most often excluded, locked out and left behind. “IPPF also urges governments to heed the Commission’s call to action and do more to achieve sexual and reproductive justice. This means tackling the economic, social and legal barriers that prevent its implementation, more financial investment, including in universal healthcare, increased solidarity with partners and the sense of urgency needed to get the job done. The lives and futures of millions depend on it.” For media enquiries, please contact Karmen Ivey on kivey@ippf.org or media@ippf.org   About the International Planned Parenthood Federation The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is a global service provider and advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.   For 70 years, IPPF, through its 108 Member Associations and seven partners, has delivered high-quality sexual and reproductive healthcare and helped advance sexual rights, especially for people with intersectional and diverse needs that are currently unmet. Our Member Associations and partners are independent organizations that are locally owned, which means the support and care they provide is informed by local expertise and context. We advocate for a world where people are provided with the information they need to make informed decisions about their sexual health and bodies. We stand up and fight for sexual and reproductive rights and against those who seek to deny people their human right to bodily autonomy and freedom. We deliver care that is rooted in rights, respect, and dignity - no matter what.

ICPD image, an eye, a girl, two people carrying baskets on their heads
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| 10 November 2022

Sexual and reproductive justice to deliver the Nairobi commitments

Today, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is helping launch the second report of the High-Level Commission on the Nairobi Summit, also known as the International Conference on Population and Development 25 (ICPD 25). The Commission is an independent advisory board comprised of 26 members from different sectors tasked with monitoring progress on the ICPD Programme of Action and Nairobi Summit Commitments. The programme of action contains commitments from 179 countries to put the rights, needs and aspirations of individual human beings at the centre of sustainable development, part of which includes achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health for all. The report - ‘Sexual and reproductive justice as the vehicle to deliver the Nairobi Summit commitments’ - highlights sexual and reproductive justice as the key to the realization of the Nairobi Summit commitments. Sexual and reproductive justice is a universal concept. It includes the right to have or not have children, the right to parent one’s children in safe and sustainable environments, and the right to sexual autonomy and gender freedom. Monitoring the implementation of life-saving sexual and reproductive health and gender-responsive services is crucial to ensure accountability and human rights for all. However, while some progress has been made, many barriers persist, and millions worldwide still do not realize their sexual and reproductive rights. Progress on Nairobi Summit Commitments: Numerous country commitments made at the Nairobi Summit align with a sexual and reproductive justice framework. They pay explicit attention to marginalized and vulnerable populations, notably people with disabilities, refugees, migrants (particularly migrant women), young people and older persons. Indigenous peoples, people of African descent and other ethnic minority groups have received less attention. A slew of new reproductive rights legislation followed the Nairobi Summit, suggesting a basis for a sexual and reproductive justice framework. The high number of commitments prioritizing sexual and gender-based violence offers a powerful entry point for promoting sexual and reproductive justice. On the Summit’s Global Commitments, some improvement is evident in meeting unmet need for family planning. But no region has registered positive movement towards zero preventable maternal deaths. Greater access to family planning has yet to translate into better maternal health outcomes. There is some progress in offering comprehensive and age-responsive information and education on sexuality and reproduction and adolescent-friendly, comprehensive, quality and timely services. Certain regions and countries have advanced in providing timely, quality and disaggregated data. More must be done, but this creates opportunities for ensuring that data capture intersecting challenges and are used to inform laws, policies and programmes. Domestic and international finance is critical to sexual and reproductive justice but persistently lags commitments. More than 4 billion people globally will lack access to at least one key sexual and reproductive health service during their lives Dr Alvaro Bermejo, Director-General for the International Planned Parenthood Federation, said: “Three years on from the Nairobi Summit and while we have seen some progress in sexual and reproductive health and rights across countries like Colombia, Mexico and Thailand, globally, we remain far from reaching the commitments made at ICPD 25 - that all women and girls will have autonomy over their bodies and lives through universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). “With the devasting loss of abortion rights across the U.S having a disproportionate impact on poor women and women of colour, ongoing humanitarian crises across countries like Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Ukraine creating unliveable, unsafe and unsustainable conditions for millions, and the loss of billions of dollars of funding severely affecting access to sexual and reproductive health care for those most in need, 2022 continues to demonstrate the critical need to champion sexual and reproductive justice for all - recognizing the importance of intersecting oppressions on people’s ability to make decisions about their bodies, lives and futures. “At the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), we remain dedicated to helping countries deliver on the Nairobi commitments as we approach ICPD 30. Using our unique position as a locally-owned, globally connected organization, we will continue to work in solidarity with donors, governments, partners and communities to ensure that everyone, everywhere, can access high-quality SRH care, especially those who are most often excluded, locked out and left behind. “IPPF also urges governments to heed the Commission’s call to action and do more to achieve sexual and reproductive justice. This means tackling the economic, social and legal barriers that prevent its implementation, more financial investment, including in universal healthcare, increased solidarity with partners and the sense of urgency needed to get the job done. The lives and futures of millions depend on it.” For media enquiries, please contact Karmen Ivey on kivey@ippf.org or media@ippf.org   About the International Planned Parenthood Federation The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is a global service provider and advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.   For 70 years, IPPF, through its 108 Member Associations and seven partners, has delivered high-quality sexual and reproductive healthcare and helped advance sexual rights, especially for people with intersectional and diverse needs that are currently unmet. Our Member Associations and partners are independent organizations that are locally owned, which means the support and care they provide is informed by local expertise and context. We advocate for a world where people are provided with the information they need to make informed decisions about their sexual health and bodies. We stand up and fight for sexual and reproductive rights and against those who seek to deny people their human right to bodily autonomy and freedom. We deliver care that is rooted in rights, respect, and dignity - no matter what.

CABLA
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| 27 June 2025

Amid Devastating Budget Cuts, Groundbreaking HIV Prevention Injectable Launches in Eswatini, Lesotho & Malawi

30 June 2025 - The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is proud to announce the roll out of CAB-LA (cabotegravir-long acting), a form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV, in Eswatini, and Malawi, and a pilot project in Lesotho - a major milestone in the fight against HIV. IPPF Member Associations (MAs) in the three countries - Family Life Association of Eswatini (FLAS), Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association (LPPA), and Family Planning Association of Malawi ( FPAM) will soon begin to distribute CAB-LA for HIV prevention to individuals who would like to use this form of HIV prevention.  CAB-LA, a long-acting injectable PrEP, is a game changer for HIV prevention. PrEP is an HIV prevention method where HIV-negative individuals take medication to significantly reduce their risk of acquiring HIV. Administered every 8 weeks, CAB-LA greatly reduces infection risk and does not rely on remembering to take a daily pill, addressing adherence challenges faced by some people using oral PrEP.  This roll-out comes when US budget cuts have severely impacted governments and organizations providing sexual and reproductive health services, HIV prevention, and humanitarian aid. These financial restrictions have significantly impacted access to essential sexual and reproductive health medications globally, compromising HIV prevention and treatment for many, especially those most in need. The arrival of CAB-LA is a major step forward in the fight against HIV/AIDS, providing longer-term protection, a more convenient option, and a discreet alternative to daily pills. Family Life Association of Eswatini, Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association, and the Family Planning Association of Malawi will be providing CAB-LA for PrEP through their static clinics and other public service delivery points. This effort underscores the vital role our MAs play in securing and delivering universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare. For more information, please contact media@ippf.orgAbout the International Planned Parenthood Federation  IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952 at the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference. Today, we are a movement of 158 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 153 countries.  Our work is wide-ranging, and includes services for sexual health and well-being, contraception, abortion care, sexually transmitted infections and reproductive tract infections, HIV, obstetrics and gynecology, fertility support, sexual and gender-based violence, comprehensive sex education, and responding to humanitarian crises. We pride ourselves on being local through our members and global through our network. At the heart of our mission is the provision of – and advocacy in support of – integrated healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, gender, sex, income, and, crucially no matter how remote.  

CABLA
media_center

| 30 June 2025

Amid Devastating Budget Cuts, Groundbreaking HIV Prevention Injectable Launches in Eswatini, Lesotho & Malawi

30 June 2025 - The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is proud to announce the roll out of CAB-LA (cabotegravir-long acting), a form of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV, in Eswatini, and Malawi, and a pilot project in Lesotho - a major milestone in the fight against HIV. IPPF Member Associations (MAs) in the three countries - Family Life Association of Eswatini (FLAS), Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association (LPPA), and Family Planning Association of Malawi ( FPAM) will soon begin to distribute CAB-LA for HIV prevention to individuals who would like to use this form of HIV prevention.  CAB-LA, a long-acting injectable PrEP, is a game changer for HIV prevention. PrEP is an HIV prevention method where HIV-negative individuals take medication to significantly reduce their risk of acquiring HIV. Administered every 8 weeks, CAB-LA greatly reduces infection risk and does not rely on remembering to take a daily pill, addressing adherence challenges faced by some people using oral PrEP.  This roll-out comes when US budget cuts have severely impacted governments and organizations providing sexual and reproductive health services, HIV prevention, and humanitarian aid. These financial restrictions have significantly impacted access to essential sexual and reproductive health medications globally, compromising HIV prevention and treatment for many, especially those most in need. The arrival of CAB-LA is a major step forward in the fight against HIV/AIDS, providing longer-term protection, a more convenient option, and a discreet alternative to daily pills. Family Life Association of Eswatini, Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association, and the Family Planning Association of Malawi will be providing CAB-LA for PrEP through their static clinics and other public service delivery points. This effort underscores the vital role our MAs play in securing and delivering universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare. For more information, please contact media@ippf.orgAbout the International Planned Parenthood Federation  IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952 at the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference. Today, we are a movement of 158 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 153 countries.  Our work is wide-ranging, and includes services for sexual health and well-being, contraception, abortion care, sexually transmitted infections and reproductive tract infections, HIV, obstetrics and gynecology, fertility support, sexual and gender-based violence, comprehensive sex education, and responding to humanitarian crises. We pride ourselves on being local through our members and global through our network. At the heart of our mission is the provision of – and advocacy in support of – integrated healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, gender, sex, income, and, crucially no matter how remote.  

Rutgers SE
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| 17 April 2025

Rutgers triumphs in landmark court case against lies, online hate and disinformation

17 April 2025 - 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 notorious for fuelling online hate and spreading disinformation. This ruling is a crucial step forward in protecting young people’s health, safety and well-being from harmful narratives designed to undermine their rights. Rutgers took legal action against Civitas Christiana, due to the persistent lies and slander that Civitas continued to spread about Rutgers and the Spring Fever Week. This is an annual campaign in the Netherlands, held in Spring, focused on resilience, heathy relationships and sexual health. The court ruled entirely in favour of Rutgers; all statements must be rectified. The statements by Civitas - made through their social media channels, mainstream media and direct outreach efforts - were not only found to be false, but also harmful and unlawful. This important decision affirms support for parents, teachers, and schools, all who are committed to ensuring children to grow up healthy, safe and happy and protected from disinformation and misinformation. Schools participate voluntarily in Spring Fever Week by providing structured, age-appropriate lessons on these topics to their primary school students. Rutgers took these legal steps to support parents, teachers, and schools, and to combat misleading and vexatious misinformation, as our work is unapologetically about child safety and protection. It’s about giving young people agency and keeping them safe from perpetrators. Young people without information and without bodily autonomy are unsafe. This case was about standing with and for the young people, parents, caregivers, educators and communities who are targeted and harmed by these toxic campaigns run by ultra-conservative groups. The court’s ruling sends a clear message: there is no place for hate and misinformation in public discourse, especially when it endangers the lives, safety and health of young people. “This legal case was not about a difference of opinion on education,” says Rutgers deputy director Luc Lauwers, “but about the spreading of fake news that puts children in danger rather than protecting them. Everyone has the right to their own values, beliefs, opinions, religious convictions, and way of life - including in matters of education and parenting. That is a fundamental pillar of our democratic legal system in the Netherlands. However, the freedom of expression and freedom of religion that Civitas Christiana appeals to are not without limits.” Victories like this matter deeply.  At a time when sexuality education is under coordinated attack by alt-right movements globally, this victory speaks volumes about the power of civil society organisations to stand firm, fight back, and defend truth, science and young people’s rights. Anti-rights groups work to erode trust, sow fear and promote regressive narratives that do real harm - particularly to young people.  Staying silent is not an option. Every time we speak up, seek justice and share the truth, we help build a society where young people are safe, informed and healthy. This ruling is a meaningful step, but our shared global responsibility continues.  For media inquiries, please contact: n.hoeve@rutgers.nl or media@ippf.org.About the International Planned Parenthood Federation  IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952 at the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference. Today, we are a movement of 158 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 153 countries.  Our work is wide-ranging, including comprehensive sex education, provision of contraceptive, safe abortion, and maternal care and responding to humanitarian crises. We pride ourselves on being local through our members and global through our network. At the heart of our mission is the provision of – and advocacy in support of – integrated healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, gender, sex, income, and crucially no matter how remote. About RutgersRutgers is the Dutch centre of knowledge and expertise on sexual health, safety and well-being for young people. We work to improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all (young) people in the Netherlands and in more than 29 countries around the world. In partnership with other organisations we advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights, promote public support and do (scientific) research.Together with partners, we work within countries and internationally to improve sexual rights, access to sexuality education and information, access to contraception and safe abortion services and to prevent sexual and gender-based violence.

Rutgers SE
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| 17 April 2025

Rutgers triumphs in landmark court case against lies, online hate and disinformation

17 April 2025 - 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 notorious for fuelling online hate and spreading disinformation. This ruling is a crucial step forward in protecting young people’s health, safety and well-being from harmful narratives designed to undermine their rights. Rutgers took legal action against Civitas Christiana, due to the persistent lies and slander that Civitas continued to spread about Rutgers and the Spring Fever Week. This is an annual campaign in the Netherlands, held in Spring, focused on resilience, heathy relationships and sexual health. The court ruled entirely in favour of Rutgers; all statements must be rectified. The statements by Civitas - made through their social media channels, mainstream media and direct outreach efforts - were not only found to be false, but also harmful and unlawful. This important decision affirms support for parents, teachers, and schools, all who are committed to ensuring children to grow up healthy, safe and happy and protected from disinformation and misinformation. Schools participate voluntarily in Spring Fever Week by providing structured, age-appropriate lessons on these topics to their primary school students. Rutgers took these legal steps to support parents, teachers, and schools, and to combat misleading and vexatious misinformation, as our work is unapologetically about child safety and protection. It’s about giving young people agency and keeping them safe from perpetrators. Young people without information and without bodily autonomy are unsafe. This case was about standing with and for the young people, parents, caregivers, educators and communities who are targeted and harmed by these toxic campaigns run by ultra-conservative groups. The court’s ruling sends a clear message: there is no place for hate and misinformation in public discourse, especially when it endangers the lives, safety and health of young people. “This legal case was not about a difference of opinion on education,” says Rutgers deputy director Luc Lauwers, “but about the spreading of fake news that puts children in danger rather than protecting them. Everyone has the right to their own values, beliefs, opinions, religious convictions, and way of life - including in matters of education and parenting. That is a fundamental pillar of our democratic legal system in the Netherlands. However, the freedom of expression and freedom of religion that Civitas Christiana appeals to are not without limits.” Victories like this matter deeply.  At a time when sexuality education is under coordinated attack by alt-right movements globally, this victory speaks volumes about the power of civil society organisations to stand firm, fight back, and defend truth, science and young people’s rights. Anti-rights groups work to erode trust, sow fear and promote regressive narratives that do real harm - particularly to young people.  Staying silent is not an option. Every time we speak up, seek justice and share the truth, we help build a society where young people are safe, informed and healthy. This ruling is a meaningful step, but our shared global responsibility continues.  For media inquiries, please contact: n.hoeve@rutgers.nl or media@ippf.org.About the International Planned Parenthood Federation  IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952 at the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference. Today, we are a movement of 158 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 153 countries.  Our work is wide-ranging, including comprehensive sex education, provision of contraceptive, safe abortion, and maternal care and responding to humanitarian crises. We pride ourselves on being local through our members and global through our network. At the heart of our mission is the provision of – and advocacy in support of – integrated healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, gender, sex, income, and crucially no matter how remote. About RutgersRutgers is the Dutch centre of knowledge and expertise on sexual health, safety and well-being for young people. We work to improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all (young) people in the Netherlands and in more than 29 countries around the world. In partnership with other organisations we advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights, promote public support and do (scientific) research.Together with partners, we work within countries and internationally to improve sexual rights, access to sexuality education and information, access to contraception and safe abortion services and to prevent sexual and gender-based violence.

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| 02 April 2025

The Urgent Need to Protect HIV Prevention and Global Health Investments

Joint statement by FCAA, IPPF, and ILGA-World from the Kalavai Partnership31 March 2025 -  We call on policymakers, governments, and philanthropy to protect and expand HIV funding and not to turn their backs on vulnerable populations.The world is at a crossroads in the fight against HIV. For decades, dedicated investments in HIV prevention, treatment, and care have saved millions of lives and helped stabilize communities. Yet today, these gains are at risk. Critical funding from the U.S. government and other donor nations is under threat, jeopardizing the very infrastructure that has driven progress.In fact, new analyses published by amfAR and The Lancet demonstrate the catastrophic toll cuts to both the U.S. CDC Division of HIV Prevention and foreign aid from the US, the Netherlands, Britain, and other nations, predicting up to 2.9 million more HIV-related deaths before 2030 and essentially undoing all progress achieved since 2000.This crisis no longer knows borders. Now is the time to act—before we lose ground that cannot easily be regained.HIV Prevention Saves Lives—We Must Not Step BackHIV prevention is one of the most cost-effective and impactful investments in global health. It reduces new infections, alleviates the burden on healthcare systems, and safeguards the well-being of vulnerable communities. U.S. government funding for global HIV programs has been a lifeline for communities disproportionately affected by HIV, including women and children, LGBTQ people, sex workers, and people who use drugs. Yet today, political and financial pressures threaten these programs, putting lives and progress in jeopardy.HIV prevention includes a broad range of essential interventions:Access to PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis): A highly effective HIV prevention medication that significantly reduces the risk of transmission.Comprehensive sexual health education: Ensuring individuals have the knowledge and resources to protect themselves and their partners.Harm reduction services: Including needle exchange programs and opioid substitution therapy for people who use drugs.Access to condoms and lubricants: Fundamental tools in preventing the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.HIV testing and linkage to care: Early diagnosis and immediate access to treatment are key to preventing new infections and achieving viral suppression.Mother-to-child transmission prevention: Ensuring pregnant women living with HIV have access to antiretroviral therapy to protect their newborns.HIV, Global Health Security, and Human Rights Are InseparableHIV prevention is not just about health — it is about global stability, economic resilience, and human rights.Slashing funding for HIV programs weakens public health infrastructure, rolling back decades of hard-won progress and making people worldwide more vulnerable to other global health crises.The fight against HIV is intrinsically linked to sexual and reproductive health and rights, women's health, and LGBTQ rights. For example, the lives of transgender individuals are even more at risk due to the reduction of health and human rights-based services as a result of anti-trans and anti-DEI Executive Orders.Women and girls continue to bear a disproportionate burden of the HIV epidemic, and their health hangs in the balance in the wake of funding cuts. Every week, approximately 4,000 adolescent girls and young women contract HIV, the majority of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa. Pregnant women living with HIV require consistent treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission, yet funding shortfalls place these essential services at risk. Without sustained investment, millions of women and newborns face heightened health risks, undermining global progress toward ending HIV.Governments and donors must recognize that investing in HIV prevention is an investment in global health security. When we protect and strengthen HIV infrastructure, we also reinforce systems that respond to pandemics, reduce maternal mortality, and promote equity in healthcare.A Call to Action: The Time to Step Up is NowWe have the medical tools - including the addition of long-acting injectables - to end HIV as a public health crisis. We just need the funding and leadership.We call on policymakers in the U.S. government and donor governments worldwide to take urgent action:Sustain and increase funding for HIV prevention, treatment, and care. Public investment is essential to protect the communities most at risk and ensure that we don’t lose ground.Recognize the intersection of HIV with broader human rights issues. Supporting HIV programs also means protecting reproductive health, LGBTQ rights, and gender justice.We also call on philanthropy to lean in, not out. Now is not the time for donors to retreat. The role of private philanthropy has never been more critical in safeguarding communities and mobilizing new resources to fill funding gaps. Every investment today saves lives tomorrow.The Kalavai Initiative — a partnership of Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA), the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Global Philanthropy Project (GPP), and ILGA World — urges all stakeholders to act with urgency. Lives are at stake. The time to protect and expand HIV funding is now.Join Us in Taking ActionPolicymakers, donors, and advocates: Stand with us to protect public health, human rights, and the future of HIV prevention. Together, we can ensure that decades of progress are not lost, and that every person — regardless of who they are or where they live — has access to the lifesaving care they deserve.About the Kalavai Partners:ILGA World is a worldwide federation of more than 2,000 organisations from over 170 countries and territories campaigning for the human rights of people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics. https://ilga.orgThe International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Founded in 1952, it is now a movement of 150 member associations and collaborative partners with a presence in over 146 countries. https://www.ippf.org/Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA) unites philanthropic leaders to pursue a shared vision of a world without AIDS. Through research, advocacy, and collaboration, we work to mobilize and grow funding for the ever-changing fight against HIV. https://www.fcaaids.org/Global Philanthropy Project (GPP) is a collaboration of funders and philanthropic advisors working to expand global philanthropic support to advance the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people in the Global South and East. https://globalphilanthropyproject.org/

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| 31 March 2025

The Urgent Need to Protect HIV Prevention and Global Health Investments

Joint statement by FCAA, IPPF, and ILGA-World from the Kalavai Partnership31 March 2025 -  We call on policymakers, governments, and philanthropy to protect and expand HIV funding and not to turn their backs on vulnerable populations.The world is at a crossroads in the fight against HIV. For decades, dedicated investments in HIV prevention, treatment, and care have saved millions of lives and helped stabilize communities. Yet today, these gains are at risk. Critical funding from the U.S. government and other donor nations is under threat, jeopardizing the very infrastructure that has driven progress.In fact, new analyses published by amfAR and The Lancet demonstrate the catastrophic toll cuts to both the U.S. CDC Division of HIV Prevention and foreign aid from the US, the Netherlands, Britain, and other nations, predicting up to 2.9 million more HIV-related deaths before 2030 and essentially undoing all progress achieved since 2000.This crisis no longer knows borders. Now is the time to act—before we lose ground that cannot easily be regained.HIV Prevention Saves Lives—We Must Not Step BackHIV prevention is one of the most cost-effective and impactful investments in global health. It reduces new infections, alleviates the burden on healthcare systems, and safeguards the well-being of vulnerable communities. U.S. government funding for global HIV programs has been a lifeline for communities disproportionately affected by HIV, including women and children, LGBTQ people, sex workers, and people who use drugs. Yet today, political and financial pressures threaten these programs, putting lives and progress in jeopardy.HIV prevention includes a broad range of essential interventions:Access to PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis): A highly effective HIV prevention medication that significantly reduces the risk of transmission.Comprehensive sexual health education: Ensuring individuals have the knowledge and resources to protect themselves and their partners.Harm reduction services: Including needle exchange programs and opioid substitution therapy for people who use drugs.Access to condoms and lubricants: Fundamental tools in preventing the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.HIV testing and linkage to care: Early diagnosis and immediate access to treatment are key to preventing new infections and achieving viral suppression.Mother-to-child transmission prevention: Ensuring pregnant women living with HIV have access to antiretroviral therapy to protect their newborns.HIV, Global Health Security, and Human Rights Are InseparableHIV prevention is not just about health — it is about global stability, economic resilience, and human rights.Slashing funding for HIV programs weakens public health infrastructure, rolling back decades of hard-won progress and making people worldwide more vulnerable to other global health crises.The fight against HIV is intrinsically linked to sexual and reproductive health and rights, women's health, and LGBTQ rights. For example, the lives of transgender individuals are even more at risk due to the reduction of health and human rights-based services as a result of anti-trans and anti-DEI Executive Orders.Women and girls continue to bear a disproportionate burden of the HIV epidemic, and their health hangs in the balance in the wake of funding cuts. Every week, approximately 4,000 adolescent girls and young women contract HIV, the majority of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa. Pregnant women living with HIV require consistent treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission, yet funding shortfalls place these essential services at risk. Without sustained investment, millions of women and newborns face heightened health risks, undermining global progress toward ending HIV.Governments and donors must recognize that investing in HIV prevention is an investment in global health security. When we protect and strengthen HIV infrastructure, we also reinforce systems that respond to pandemics, reduce maternal mortality, and promote equity in healthcare.A Call to Action: The Time to Step Up is NowWe have the medical tools - including the addition of long-acting injectables - to end HIV as a public health crisis. We just need the funding and leadership.We call on policymakers in the U.S. government and donor governments worldwide to take urgent action:Sustain and increase funding for HIV prevention, treatment, and care. Public investment is essential to protect the communities most at risk and ensure that we don’t lose ground.Recognize the intersection of HIV with broader human rights issues. Supporting HIV programs also means protecting reproductive health, LGBTQ rights, and gender justice.We also call on philanthropy to lean in, not out. Now is not the time for donors to retreat. The role of private philanthropy has never been more critical in safeguarding communities and mobilizing new resources to fill funding gaps. Every investment today saves lives tomorrow.The Kalavai Initiative — a partnership of Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA), the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Global Philanthropy Project (GPP), and ILGA World — urges all stakeholders to act with urgency. Lives are at stake. The time to protect and expand HIV funding is now.Join Us in Taking ActionPolicymakers, donors, and advocates: Stand with us to protect public health, human rights, and the future of HIV prevention. Together, we can ensure that decades of progress are not lost, and that every person — regardless of who they are or where they live — has access to the lifesaving care they deserve.About the Kalavai Partners:ILGA World is a worldwide federation of more than 2,000 organisations from over 170 countries and territories campaigning for the human rights of people with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, and sex characteristics. https://ilga.orgThe International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Founded in 1952, it is now a movement of 150 member associations and collaborative partners with a presence in over 146 countries. https://www.ippf.org/Funders Concerned About AIDS (FCAA) unites philanthropic leaders to pursue a shared vision of a world without AIDS. Through research, advocacy, and collaboration, we work to mobilize and grow funding for the ever-changing fight against HIV. https://www.fcaaids.org/Global Philanthropy Project (GPP) is a collaboration of funders and philanthropic advisors working to expand global philanthropic support to advance the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) people in the Global South and East. https://globalphilanthropyproject.org/

Eswatini vaginal ring
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| 24 August 2024

Eswatini to roll out first women-controlled HIV prevention product

Eswatini (27 August 2024) - IPPF’s Member Association in Eswatini, the Family Life Association of Eswatini (FLAS), is soon to roll out the first women-controlled HIV prevention product, the dapivirine vaginal ring (DVR). FLAS will be among the first organisations to offer the DVR outside implementation or pilot studies anywhere in the world. Made of flexible silicone, the ring is inserted into the vagina by a woman and slowly releases the antiretroviral drug dapivirine in the vagina over a one-month period, helping to reduce a woman’s risk of acquiring HIV. In 2023, in sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls accounted for 62% of all new HIV infections and every week, 3,100 adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 years became infected with HIV. Therefore, there continues to be an urgent need for HIV prevention methods that females can use to protect themselves. The DVR is a product women can control themselves and use without the knowledge or consent of their partners, unlike condoms, which men often refuse to use. The DVR is inserted into the vagina and left for a one-month period, where it can then be replaced each month for continued protection. Unlike daily oral PrEP, the DVR does not rely on remembering to take a pill each day and is also discreet as it stays inside the vagina throughout the month. The DVR does not prevent pregnancy or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so women choosing to use the ring may want to consider combining it with condoms and methods of contraception. The availability of the DVR is an exciting step in supporting women’s autonomy and choice in HIV prevention. This need for women-controlled HIV prevention products has long been advocated for, with the African Women Prevention Community Accountability Board launching the HIV Prevention Choice Manifesto in early 2023. The Choice Manifesto prioritises the principle of choice to ensure that women and girls have the right to choose which HIV prevention methods work for them. Currently the ring is available at selected facilities through implementation studies across six countries in East and Southern Africa; South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Uganda.  Diantha Pillay, Associate Director for Product Access for IPM South Africa NPC (an affiliate of the Population Council), said:  “It is encouraging to see the efforts made by FLAS and IPPF to support the choice agenda for HIV prevention for women and make effective HIV prevention methods, like the DVR, more widely accessible in a real-world setting. We hope this can pave the way for introduction of future pipeline products that speak to the needs of women.” The Population Council is currently developing a longer duration DVR that women would use for three months versus one month to significantly lower annual product costs and offer women a more convenient option to protect themselves. Thabo Lizwe Masuku, Programs Manager for FLAS, said: “Women have been telling us for a long time that  there is a need for a variety of methods for HIV prevention, since they are highly exposed. For women and girls to truly have choice about what works for them as they navigate different stages and circumstances of their lives, policy makers, donors, governments and implementers must ensure the mix of HIV prevention methods are available, accessible, and affordable. Access to the ring through our clinics in Eswatini now gives women choice and options to protect themselves against HIV.” IPPF is committed to ensuring that choice in HIV prevention is a reality for women and girls and aims to roll out the dapivirine vaginal rings at as many Member Associations as possible, as well as offer other HIV-prevention choices, as we work alongside our partners towards a future free of HIV in Africa and beyond. For more information and to speak to staff in Eswatini, please email media@ippf.org   Notes: The dapivirine vaginal ring has been recommended by the WHO since January 2021. (25) In clinical trials, the  ring was shown to reduce HIV infection by 35% in The Ring Study (26,27) and 27% in the ASPIRE Study. (28,29) Recent open-label studies show greater adherence to the ring, and modelling data suggest that HIV risk could be reduced by about 50%. (30) The dapivirine ring has received regulatory approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as from local medicines regulators in Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda, Eswatini, Lesotho, Botswana and is currently under regulatory review in a number of other countries Our Member Associations (MAs) that provide clinical services are required to provide comprehensive SRH services through our Integrated Package of Essential Services (IPES) which include services for sexual health and well-being, contraception, abortion care, sexually transmitted infections (STIs)/reproductive tract infections (RTIs), HIV, obstetrics and gynaecology, fertility support, and sexual and gender-based violence. IPPF’s new five-year strategy, Come Together, focuses on expanding choice. In support of this, we recently launched a special programme to expand our HIV prevention options, which aims to integrate the newest HIV prevention methods – the vaginal ring and injectable PrEP - into our comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services.  IPPF’s IMAP Statement on Biomedical HIV Prevention can be found here. About the Family Life Association of Eswatini (FLAS)  For over 30 years, the Family Life Association of Eswatini (FLAS) has provided sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services to the people of Eswatini (formally Swaziland). While family planning, antenatal, post-natal and post-abortion care form a key part of FLAS services, there’s a significant focus on HIV and AIDS programmes. Eswatini has some of the highest HIV and AIDS prevalence rates in the world. As a result, the prevention and management of HIV and AIDS, the provision of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), and the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) are central to FLAS’s work. FLAS has 15 service points, including three permanent clinics and three mobile facilities, staffed by a permanent team of 40 staff backed by 230 volunteers, 180 Youth Action Movement members and 29 peer educators. About the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952 at the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference. Today, we are a movement of 150 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 146 countries.Our work is wide-ranging, including comprehensive sex education, provision of contraceptives, safe abortion, and maternal care and responding to humanitarian crises.  We pride ourselves on being local through our members and global through our network. At the heart of our mission is the provision of – and advocacy in support of – integrated healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, gender, sex, income, and crucially no matter how remote. Our services are available to all, and reach the most marginalised groups in societies, including key and priority populations, youth, and people with disabilities. Most of our MAs have special programs to engage youth (10-24) inside and outside of school settings. Because our clinics offer comprehensive services, attending our clinics is non-stigmatizing and does not label people as having a particular disease or membership to a particular group. This model of services that are integrated and open to all, embedded in indigenous, locally owned organisations, is ideal for ensuring that the most vulnerable and marginalised groups can access the HIV prevention services they need. About the Population Council The Population Council is a leading research organization dedicated to building an equitable and sustainable world that enhances the health and well-being of current and future generations. The Council transforms global thinking on critical health and development issues through social science, public health, and biomedical research. We generate ideas, produce evidence, and design solutions to improve the lives of underserved populations around the world.  

Eswatini vaginal ring
media_center

| 27 August 2024

Eswatini to roll out first women-controlled HIV prevention product

Eswatini (27 August 2024) - IPPF’s Member Association in Eswatini, the Family Life Association of Eswatini (FLAS), is soon to roll out the first women-controlled HIV prevention product, the dapivirine vaginal ring (DVR). FLAS will be among the first organisations to offer the DVR outside implementation or pilot studies anywhere in the world. Made of flexible silicone, the ring is inserted into the vagina by a woman and slowly releases the antiretroviral drug dapivirine in the vagina over a one-month period, helping to reduce a woman’s risk of acquiring HIV. In 2023, in sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls accounted for 62% of all new HIV infections and every week, 3,100 adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 years became infected with HIV. Therefore, there continues to be an urgent need for HIV prevention methods that females can use to protect themselves. The DVR is a product women can control themselves and use without the knowledge or consent of their partners, unlike condoms, which men often refuse to use. The DVR is inserted into the vagina and left for a one-month period, where it can then be replaced each month for continued protection. Unlike daily oral PrEP, the DVR does not rely on remembering to take a pill each day and is also discreet as it stays inside the vagina throughout the month. The DVR does not prevent pregnancy or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), so women choosing to use the ring may want to consider combining it with condoms and methods of contraception. The availability of the DVR is an exciting step in supporting women’s autonomy and choice in HIV prevention. This need for women-controlled HIV prevention products has long been advocated for, with the African Women Prevention Community Accountability Board launching the HIV Prevention Choice Manifesto in early 2023. The Choice Manifesto prioritises the principle of choice to ensure that women and girls have the right to choose which HIV prevention methods work for them. Currently the ring is available at selected facilities through implementation studies across six countries in East and Southern Africa; South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Uganda.  Diantha Pillay, Associate Director for Product Access for IPM South Africa NPC (an affiliate of the Population Council), said:  “It is encouraging to see the efforts made by FLAS and IPPF to support the choice agenda for HIV prevention for women and make effective HIV prevention methods, like the DVR, more widely accessible in a real-world setting. We hope this can pave the way for introduction of future pipeline products that speak to the needs of women.” The Population Council is currently developing a longer duration DVR that women would use for three months versus one month to significantly lower annual product costs and offer women a more convenient option to protect themselves. Thabo Lizwe Masuku, Programs Manager for FLAS, said: “Women have been telling us for a long time that  there is a need for a variety of methods for HIV prevention, since they are highly exposed. For women and girls to truly have choice about what works for them as they navigate different stages and circumstances of their lives, policy makers, donors, governments and implementers must ensure the mix of HIV prevention methods are available, accessible, and affordable. Access to the ring through our clinics in Eswatini now gives women choice and options to protect themselves against HIV.” IPPF is committed to ensuring that choice in HIV prevention is a reality for women and girls and aims to roll out the dapivirine vaginal rings at as many Member Associations as possible, as well as offer other HIV-prevention choices, as we work alongside our partners towards a future free of HIV in Africa and beyond. For more information and to speak to staff in Eswatini, please email media@ippf.org   Notes: The dapivirine vaginal ring has been recommended by the WHO since January 2021. (25) In clinical trials, the  ring was shown to reduce HIV infection by 35% in The Ring Study (26,27) and 27% in the ASPIRE Study. (28,29) Recent open-label studies show greater adherence to the ring, and modelling data suggest that HIV risk could be reduced by about 50%. (30) The dapivirine ring has received regulatory approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as from local medicines regulators in Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda, Eswatini, Lesotho, Botswana and is currently under regulatory review in a number of other countries Our Member Associations (MAs) that provide clinical services are required to provide comprehensive SRH services through our Integrated Package of Essential Services (IPES) which include services for sexual health and well-being, contraception, abortion care, sexually transmitted infections (STIs)/reproductive tract infections (RTIs), HIV, obstetrics and gynaecology, fertility support, and sexual and gender-based violence. IPPF’s new five-year strategy, Come Together, focuses on expanding choice. In support of this, we recently launched a special programme to expand our HIV prevention options, which aims to integrate the newest HIV prevention methods – the vaginal ring and injectable PrEP - into our comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services.  IPPF’s IMAP Statement on Biomedical HIV Prevention can be found here. About the Family Life Association of Eswatini (FLAS)  For over 30 years, the Family Life Association of Eswatini (FLAS) has provided sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services to the people of Eswatini (formally Swaziland). While family planning, antenatal, post-natal and post-abortion care form a key part of FLAS services, there’s a significant focus on HIV and AIDS programmes. Eswatini has some of the highest HIV and AIDS prevalence rates in the world. As a result, the prevention and management of HIV and AIDS, the provision of voluntary counselling and testing (VCT), and the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) are central to FLAS’s work. FLAS has 15 service points, including three permanent clinics and three mobile facilities, staffed by a permanent team of 40 staff backed by 230 volunteers, 180 Youth Action Movement members and 29 peer educators. About the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952 at the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference. Today, we are a movement of 150 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 146 countries.Our work is wide-ranging, including comprehensive sex education, provision of contraceptives, safe abortion, and maternal care and responding to humanitarian crises.  We pride ourselves on being local through our members and global through our network. At the heart of our mission is the provision of – and advocacy in support of – integrated healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, gender, sex, income, and crucially no matter how remote. Our services are available to all, and reach the most marginalised groups in societies, including key and priority populations, youth, and people with disabilities. Most of our MAs have special programs to engage youth (10-24) inside and outside of school settings. Because our clinics offer comprehensive services, attending our clinics is non-stigmatizing and does not label people as having a particular disease or membership to a particular group. This model of services that are integrated and open to all, embedded in indigenous, locally owned organisations, is ideal for ensuring that the most vulnerable and marginalised groups can access the HIV prevention services they need. About the Population Council The Population Council is a leading research organization dedicated to building an equitable and sustainable world that enhances the health and well-being of current and future generations. The Council transforms global thinking on critical health and development issues through social science, public health, and biomedical research. We generate ideas, produce evidence, and design solutions to improve the lives of underserved populations around the world.  

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media center

| 21 September 2023

IPPF Condemns the Arson Attacks on Schools Delivering Sex Education in Belgium

IPPF condemns the multiple school arsons across the French-speaking Wallonia region in Belgium over the past week, which have been connected to public protests against the compulsory “education in relationships, affective and sexual life” (EVRAS) program. These targeted attacks are evidence of a growing movement opposed to Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) curricula, and the duty of states to support and protect children in their sexual development. IPPF is deeply concerned that a small cadre of those with extremist views are targeting schools with violence, which serve as vital safe spaces for children and young people to become educated, empowered citizens.  In the face of global misinformation campaigns and attempts to silence the organizations and institutions providing high quality comprehensive sexuality education, IPPF affirms that these programs empower children and young people to protect their health and well-being and support them in developing healthy and positive relationships throughout their lives.  Dr. Alvaro Bermejo, IPPF Director General said:  “The violent attacks on schools in Belgium are proof of how anti-rights campaigners are multiplying around the world and fuelling divisions by spreading false or misleading information about existing education curricula. We know from decades of research and our own programmatic experience in this area that comprehensive sexuality education helps children and young people to understand and enjoy their sexuality, take responsibility for their own sexual and reproductive health and rights and respect other people’s. We stand with the educators in Belgium who are delivering on a sex education curriculum that promotes children and young people’s rights.”  Research shows that parents and young people agree that sexuality education should be offered in schools, and that parents are willing to join these programs, particularly as they help their children to navigate relationships and sexuality amid the complex challenges of the digital era. Many governments around the world, including Belgium, are making sexuality education programs a national priority to protect all children and young people from harm.  IPPF stands with the schools and educators delivering this vital education in Belgium and around the world, and we remain committed to providing children and young people with the knowledge to protect and promote their safety, health and wellbeing.  For media inquiries, contact media@ippf.org   Banner image: Shutterstock

belgium-school
media_center

| 21 September 2023

IPPF Condemns the Arson Attacks on Schools Delivering Sex Education in Belgium

IPPF condemns the multiple school arsons across the French-speaking Wallonia region in Belgium over the past week, which have been connected to public protests against the compulsory “education in relationships, affective and sexual life” (EVRAS) program. These targeted attacks are evidence of a growing movement opposed to Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) curricula, and the duty of states to support and protect children in their sexual development. IPPF is deeply concerned that a small cadre of those with extremist views are targeting schools with violence, which serve as vital safe spaces for children and young people to become educated, empowered citizens.  In the face of global misinformation campaigns and attempts to silence the organizations and institutions providing high quality comprehensive sexuality education, IPPF affirms that these programs empower children and young people to protect their health and well-being and support them in developing healthy and positive relationships throughout their lives.  Dr. Alvaro Bermejo, IPPF Director General said:  “The violent attacks on schools in Belgium are proof of how anti-rights campaigners are multiplying around the world and fuelling divisions by spreading false or misleading information about existing education curricula. We know from decades of research and our own programmatic experience in this area that comprehensive sexuality education helps children and young people to understand and enjoy their sexuality, take responsibility for their own sexual and reproductive health and rights and respect other people’s. We stand with the educators in Belgium who are delivering on a sex education curriculum that promotes children and young people’s rights.”  Research shows that parents and young people agree that sexuality education should be offered in schools, and that parents are willing to join these programs, particularly as they help their children to navigate relationships and sexuality amid the complex challenges of the digital era. Many governments around the world, including Belgium, are making sexuality education programs a national priority to protect all children and young people from harm.  IPPF stands with the schools and educators delivering this vital education in Belgium and around the world, and we remain committed to providing children and young people with the knowledge to protect and promote their safety, health and wellbeing.  For media inquiries, contact media@ippf.org   Banner image: Shutterstock

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media center

| 19 April 2023

Statement on the Outcome of the 56th Session on the Commission on Population and Development

The International Planned Parenthood Federation expresses its disappointment that the fifty-sixth session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD), held from 10-14 April 2023 at UN headquarters in New York, did not result in a resolution on the theme of Population, Education and Sustainable Development.   The Chair’s draft resolution for consideration on 14th April was the result of many weeks of intergovernmental discussions and represented a compromise to address the positions of all delegations. It was a balanced text based on previously agreed language and included critical elements related to this year’s priority theme, including ensuring a comprehensive response to the learning crises the world is facing today. Key issues including the need for gender-responsive policy development, a focus on marginalized communities, youth and adolescents, sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights were consensually included in the draft resolution, demonstrating global consensus on these issues. However, consensus on the document was unfortunately broken by a small minority of Member States who were unable to accept language pertaining to comprehensive education on human sexuality, which was language adopted at this very Commission in 2014, and which comes from the 1994 ICPD Programme of Action itself. It is disappointing that these few Member States found it more important to block agreed language than to adopt meaningful advancements in the area of education. The ramifications of the failure to adopt this resolution will have an impact on billions of young people, adolescents and girls worldwide who have experienced the largest disruption of education systems in history, where more than 90 % of the world’s children have had their education interrupted by COVID-19 and 263 million children and young people are still out of school (1 in 5). IPPF is, however, encouraged that the negotiations on this resolution, which took place over several weeks, demonstrated the on-going commitment of Member States to the the ICPD Programme of Action (PoA), the key actions for its further implementation, the declaration on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development, and resolutions and work of the Commission on Population and Development. We also welcome the plenary program of the 56th session of the CPD, which featured strong data on comprehensive sexuality education from UN agencies as evidence of its beneficial impact on children, adolescents and  young people. In addition (or equally important), the experience of national programs and the passionate voices of young people reaffirmed that comprehensive sexuality education is an essential tool to empower young people and adolescents to make informed choices about their bodies, lives and futures.  With a view towards the 30th anniversary of the ICPD PoA in 2024, we appreciate the commitment of Member States to continue working to deliver on the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and look forward to engaging in the national, regional, and global processes of ICPD+30, culminating in next year’s 57th session of the Commission on Population and Development.

website-blue-banner
media_center

| 19 April 2023

Statement on the Outcome of the 56th Session on the Commission on Population and Development

The International Planned Parenthood Federation expresses its disappointment that the fifty-sixth session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD), held from 10-14 April 2023 at UN headquarters in New York, did not result in a resolution on the theme of Population, Education and Sustainable Development.   The Chair’s draft resolution for consideration on 14th April was the result of many weeks of intergovernmental discussions and represented a compromise to address the positions of all delegations. It was a balanced text based on previously agreed language and included critical elements related to this year’s priority theme, including ensuring a comprehensive response to the learning crises the world is facing today. Key issues including the need for gender-responsive policy development, a focus on marginalized communities, youth and adolescents, sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights were consensually included in the draft resolution, demonstrating global consensus on these issues. However, consensus on the document was unfortunately broken by a small minority of Member States who were unable to accept language pertaining to comprehensive education on human sexuality, which was language adopted at this very Commission in 2014, and which comes from the 1994 ICPD Programme of Action itself. It is disappointing that these few Member States found it more important to block agreed language than to adopt meaningful advancements in the area of education. The ramifications of the failure to adopt this resolution will have an impact on billions of young people, adolescents and girls worldwide who have experienced the largest disruption of education systems in history, where more than 90 % of the world’s children have had their education interrupted by COVID-19 and 263 million children and young people are still out of school (1 in 5). IPPF is, however, encouraged that the negotiations on this resolution, which took place over several weeks, demonstrated the on-going commitment of Member States to the the ICPD Programme of Action (PoA), the key actions for its further implementation, the declaration on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development, and resolutions and work of the Commission on Population and Development. We also welcome the plenary program of the 56th session of the CPD, which featured strong data on comprehensive sexuality education from UN agencies as evidence of its beneficial impact on children, adolescents and  young people. In addition (or equally important), the experience of national programs and the passionate voices of young people reaffirmed that comprehensive sexuality education is an essential tool to empower young people and adolescents to make informed choices about their bodies, lives and futures.  With a view towards the 30th anniversary of the ICPD PoA in 2024, we appreciate the commitment of Member States to continue working to deliver on the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and look forward to engaging in the national, regional, and global processes of ICPD+30, culminating in next year’s 57th session of the Commission on Population and Development.

ICPD image, an eye, a girl, two people carrying baskets on their heads
media center

| 10 November 2022

Sexual and reproductive justice to deliver the Nairobi commitments

Today, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is helping launch the second report of the High-Level Commission on the Nairobi Summit, also known as the International Conference on Population and Development 25 (ICPD 25). The Commission is an independent advisory board comprised of 26 members from different sectors tasked with monitoring progress on the ICPD Programme of Action and Nairobi Summit Commitments. The programme of action contains commitments from 179 countries to put the rights, needs and aspirations of individual human beings at the centre of sustainable development, part of which includes achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health for all. The report - ‘Sexual and reproductive justice as the vehicle to deliver the Nairobi Summit commitments’ - highlights sexual and reproductive justice as the key to the realization of the Nairobi Summit commitments. Sexual and reproductive justice is a universal concept. It includes the right to have or not have children, the right to parent one’s children in safe and sustainable environments, and the right to sexual autonomy and gender freedom. Monitoring the implementation of life-saving sexual and reproductive health and gender-responsive services is crucial to ensure accountability and human rights for all. However, while some progress has been made, many barriers persist, and millions worldwide still do not realize their sexual and reproductive rights. Progress on Nairobi Summit Commitments: Numerous country commitments made at the Nairobi Summit align with a sexual and reproductive justice framework. They pay explicit attention to marginalized and vulnerable populations, notably people with disabilities, refugees, migrants (particularly migrant women), young people and older persons. Indigenous peoples, people of African descent and other ethnic minority groups have received less attention. A slew of new reproductive rights legislation followed the Nairobi Summit, suggesting a basis for a sexual and reproductive justice framework. The high number of commitments prioritizing sexual and gender-based violence offers a powerful entry point for promoting sexual and reproductive justice. On the Summit’s Global Commitments, some improvement is evident in meeting unmet need for family planning. But no region has registered positive movement towards zero preventable maternal deaths. Greater access to family planning has yet to translate into better maternal health outcomes. There is some progress in offering comprehensive and age-responsive information and education on sexuality and reproduction and adolescent-friendly, comprehensive, quality and timely services. Certain regions and countries have advanced in providing timely, quality and disaggregated data. More must be done, but this creates opportunities for ensuring that data capture intersecting challenges and are used to inform laws, policies and programmes. Domestic and international finance is critical to sexual and reproductive justice but persistently lags commitments. More than 4 billion people globally will lack access to at least one key sexual and reproductive health service during their lives Dr Alvaro Bermejo, Director-General for the International Planned Parenthood Federation, said: “Three years on from the Nairobi Summit and while we have seen some progress in sexual and reproductive health and rights across countries like Colombia, Mexico and Thailand, globally, we remain far from reaching the commitments made at ICPD 25 - that all women and girls will have autonomy over their bodies and lives through universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). “With the devasting loss of abortion rights across the U.S having a disproportionate impact on poor women and women of colour, ongoing humanitarian crises across countries like Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Ukraine creating unliveable, unsafe and unsustainable conditions for millions, and the loss of billions of dollars of funding severely affecting access to sexual and reproductive health care for those most in need, 2022 continues to demonstrate the critical need to champion sexual and reproductive justice for all - recognizing the importance of intersecting oppressions on people’s ability to make decisions about their bodies, lives and futures. “At the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), we remain dedicated to helping countries deliver on the Nairobi commitments as we approach ICPD 30. Using our unique position as a locally-owned, globally connected organization, we will continue to work in solidarity with donors, governments, partners and communities to ensure that everyone, everywhere, can access high-quality SRH care, especially those who are most often excluded, locked out and left behind. “IPPF also urges governments to heed the Commission’s call to action and do more to achieve sexual and reproductive justice. This means tackling the economic, social and legal barriers that prevent its implementation, more financial investment, including in universal healthcare, increased solidarity with partners and the sense of urgency needed to get the job done. The lives and futures of millions depend on it.” For media enquiries, please contact Karmen Ivey on kivey@ippf.org or media@ippf.org   About the International Planned Parenthood Federation The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is a global service provider and advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.   For 70 years, IPPF, through its 108 Member Associations and seven partners, has delivered high-quality sexual and reproductive healthcare and helped advance sexual rights, especially for people with intersectional and diverse needs that are currently unmet. Our Member Associations and partners are independent organizations that are locally owned, which means the support and care they provide is informed by local expertise and context. We advocate for a world where people are provided with the information they need to make informed decisions about their sexual health and bodies. We stand up and fight for sexual and reproductive rights and against those who seek to deny people their human right to bodily autonomy and freedom. We deliver care that is rooted in rights, respect, and dignity - no matter what.

ICPD image, an eye, a girl, two people carrying baskets on their heads
media_center

| 10 November 2022

Sexual and reproductive justice to deliver the Nairobi commitments

Today, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is helping launch the second report of the High-Level Commission on the Nairobi Summit, also known as the International Conference on Population and Development 25 (ICPD 25). The Commission is an independent advisory board comprised of 26 members from different sectors tasked with monitoring progress on the ICPD Programme of Action and Nairobi Summit Commitments. The programme of action contains commitments from 179 countries to put the rights, needs and aspirations of individual human beings at the centre of sustainable development, part of which includes achieving universal access to sexual and reproductive health for all. The report - ‘Sexual and reproductive justice as the vehicle to deliver the Nairobi Summit commitments’ - highlights sexual and reproductive justice as the key to the realization of the Nairobi Summit commitments. Sexual and reproductive justice is a universal concept. It includes the right to have or not have children, the right to parent one’s children in safe and sustainable environments, and the right to sexual autonomy and gender freedom. Monitoring the implementation of life-saving sexual and reproductive health and gender-responsive services is crucial to ensure accountability and human rights for all. However, while some progress has been made, many barriers persist, and millions worldwide still do not realize their sexual and reproductive rights. Progress on Nairobi Summit Commitments: Numerous country commitments made at the Nairobi Summit align with a sexual and reproductive justice framework. They pay explicit attention to marginalized and vulnerable populations, notably people with disabilities, refugees, migrants (particularly migrant women), young people and older persons. Indigenous peoples, people of African descent and other ethnic minority groups have received less attention. A slew of new reproductive rights legislation followed the Nairobi Summit, suggesting a basis for a sexual and reproductive justice framework. The high number of commitments prioritizing sexual and gender-based violence offers a powerful entry point for promoting sexual and reproductive justice. On the Summit’s Global Commitments, some improvement is evident in meeting unmet need for family planning. But no region has registered positive movement towards zero preventable maternal deaths. Greater access to family planning has yet to translate into better maternal health outcomes. There is some progress in offering comprehensive and age-responsive information and education on sexuality and reproduction and adolescent-friendly, comprehensive, quality and timely services. Certain regions and countries have advanced in providing timely, quality and disaggregated data. More must be done, but this creates opportunities for ensuring that data capture intersecting challenges and are used to inform laws, policies and programmes. Domestic and international finance is critical to sexual and reproductive justice but persistently lags commitments. More than 4 billion people globally will lack access to at least one key sexual and reproductive health service during their lives Dr Alvaro Bermejo, Director-General for the International Planned Parenthood Federation, said: “Three years on from the Nairobi Summit and while we have seen some progress in sexual and reproductive health and rights across countries like Colombia, Mexico and Thailand, globally, we remain far from reaching the commitments made at ICPD 25 - that all women and girls will have autonomy over their bodies and lives through universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). “With the devasting loss of abortion rights across the U.S having a disproportionate impact on poor women and women of colour, ongoing humanitarian crises across countries like Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Ukraine creating unliveable, unsafe and unsustainable conditions for millions, and the loss of billions of dollars of funding severely affecting access to sexual and reproductive health care for those most in need, 2022 continues to demonstrate the critical need to champion sexual and reproductive justice for all - recognizing the importance of intersecting oppressions on people’s ability to make decisions about their bodies, lives and futures. “At the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), we remain dedicated to helping countries deliver on the Nairobi commitments as we approach ICPD 30. Using our unique position as a locally-owned, globally connected organization, we will continue to work in solidarity with donors, governments, partners and communities to ensure that everyone, everywhere, can access high-quality SRH care, especially those who are most often excluded, locked out and left behind. “IPPF also urges governments to heed the Commission’s call to action and do more to achieve sexual and reproductive justice. This means tackling the economic, social and legal barriers that prevent its implementation, more financial investment, including in universal healthcare, increased solidarity with partners and the sense of urgency needed to get the job done. The lives and futures of millions depend on it.” For media enquiries, please contact Karmen Ivey on kivey@ippf.org or media@ippf.org   About the International Planned Parenthood Federation The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is a global service provider and advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.   For 70 years, IPPF, through its 108 Member Associations and seven partners, has delivered high-quality sexual and reproductive healthcare and helped advance sexual rights, especially for people with intersectional and diverse needs that are currently unmet. Our Member Associations and partners are independent organizations that are locally owned, which means the support and care they provide is informed by local expertise and context. We advocate for a world where people are provided with the information they need to make informed decisions about their sexual health and bodies. We stand up and fight for sexual and reproductive rights and against those who seek to deny people their human right to bodily autonomy and freedom. We deliver care that is rooted in rights, respect, and dignity - no matter what.