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Gender equality

Gender equality is a human right. It is also essential for eradicating poverty and improving the lives of future generations. Gender equality is at the heart of all our programming and advocacy work. IPPF pushes for legal and policy reforms which combat female genital mutilation (FGM), early forced marriage and other forms of gender discrimination.

Articles by Gender equality

IPPF Japan Trust Fund
30 March 2017

Japan Trust Fund

The Japan Trust Fund (JTF) represents a visionary partnership that began in 2000 between the Government of Japan and IPPF. Together, we invest in programmes that prioritize health equity, gender equality, and human security for all. Traditionally a driving force behind IPPF's efforts to support the integrated HIV prevention programmes of our Member Associations in Africa and Asia, JTF has adjusted to reflect changing global health priorities. We attach importance to universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights - an essential contributor to universal health coverage and the global development goals.     These projects have transformed the lives of people most vulnerable to HIV and high risk of maternal and child mortality. Equally, it ensures that as a donor, the GOJ’s response to HIV remains people-centred and contributes to human security.      

Front cover of FPOP Emergency publication
19 January 2017

Family Planning Organization of Philippines: In Case of Emergency

Philippines is currently ranked third by a United Nations report in the list of countries most prone to disasters, with a long history of earthquakes, storms, floods, droughts and rising sea levels, leading to severe damage and loss of life. The Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP) has gone from being a newcomer in the humanitarian community to being a leader in implementing the Minimum Initial Service Package of Sexual and Reproductive Health in crisis and post-crisis settings (MISP) in the Philippines.

Myanmar IPPF staff emergency
06 July 2015

Stepping up information and services during emergencies

IPPF Member Associations through the SPRINT Initiative have strengthened partnerships with various agencies to increase SRH services to disaster affected populations. UNFPA trained nurses of the Vanuatu Family Health Association (VFHA) on how to insert Jadelle® implants; provided a vehicle for o u t r e a c h p r o g r a m s , 100 dignity kits for distribution and two tents for outreach camps in the aftermath of Typhoon Pam. VFHA also worked with the Association for Aid and Relief (AAR) Japan in the provision of a 6,000 liter water tank for safe drinking water for North Tanna VFHA Clinic. The Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association (MMCWA) is collaborating well with the Kachin State Health Department and UNFPA in the provision of SRH services through the basic health service medical missions to 40 IDP camps located in Myit Kyi Na and Waing Maw districts of Kachin State. SPRINT supported the direct procurement of UNFPA RH Kits and SPRINT Community Medical Mission Kits. These kits complemented the medical commodities that were being offered to the internally displaced population (IDPs) in the camps. In response to the Mount Sinabung volcanic eruption, the Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association (IPPA) in coordination with local authorities, distributed dignity and hygiene kits to the affected population. IPPA North Sumatera chapter is exerting extra efforts to be more involved in responding to the needs of the community, especially regarding access to SRH information and services. There is no guarantee when the eruption will end. While the government is focused on food distribution and shelter, the main problem that the villagers face is loss of land. Being farmers, this renders them jobless. Children and youth have also been identified as being at risk as they have been in the camps for almost 2 years. IPPA has carried out site mapping and identified NGOs and volunteer groups who can be potential partners in delivering more services.

sprint IPPF
05 October 2016

SPRINT: Sexual and reproductive health in crisis and post-crisis situations

The SPRINT Initiative provides one of the most important aspects of humanitarian assistance that is often forgotten when disaster and conflicts strike. Ensuring access to essential life-saving SRH services for women, men and children in times of crises, a time when services are most needed yet are not prioritised or recognised by key humanitarian responders, SPRINT delivers practical solutions for girls and women, trains humanitarian workers to deal with pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health and the aftermath of rape and violence. Besides working to ensure emergency humanitarian programs in the field respond to such needs, SPRINT engages in political processes, working towards raising awareness, strengthening coordination, and building capacities to provide SRH services in crises. Saving lives is the core of the SPRINT Initiative. SPRINT Initiative is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) under Australian Government and managed by International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). Sprint partners Sprint objectives

Girls Decide landing image
30 June 2016

Girls Decide

This programme addresses critical challenges faced by young women around sexual health and sexuality. It has produced a range of advocacy, education and informational materials to support research, awareness-raising, advocacy and service delivery.    Girls Decide is about the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women. Around the world, girls aged 10 to 19 account for 23% of all disease associated with pregnancy and childbirth. An estimated 2.5 million have unsafe abortions every year. Worldwide, young women account for 60% of the 5.5 million young people living with HIV and/or AIDS. Girls Decide has produced a range of advocacy, education and informational materials to support work to improve sexual health and rights for girls and young women. These include a series of films on sexual and reproductive health decisions faced by 6 young women in 6 different countries. The films won the prestigious International Video and Communications Award (IVCA). When girls and young women have access to critical lifesaving services and information, and when they are able to make meaningful choices about their life path, they are empowered. Their quality of life improves, as does the well-being of their families and the communities in which they live. Their collective ability to achieve internationally agreed development goals is strengthened. Almost all IPPF Member Associations provide services to young people and 1 in every 3 clients is a young person below the age of 25. All young women and girls are rights-holders and are entitled to sexual and reproductive rights. As a matter of principle, the IPPF Secretariat and Member Associations stand by girls by respecting and fulfilling their right to high quality services; they stand up for girls by supporting them in making their own decisions related to sexuality and pregnancy; they stand for sexual and reproductive rights by addressing the challenges faced by young women and girls at local, national and international levels.

vanuatu
27 August 2015

Cyclone Pam hits The Happiest Place on Earth: Humanitarian Mission to Vanuatu Open Primary tabs configuration options Primary tabs

The Happy Planet Index has declared Vanuatu Archipelago ‘the happiest place on earth’ with its picturesque shoreline and friendly people. But unfortunately, Vanuatu - the Land Eternal- is a country with one of the highest disaster risks in the world. On Friday 13th of March 2015 cyclone PAM hit Vanuatu's southern provinces of Shefa and Tafea, causing widespread devastation. International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), through its SPRINT initiative (supported by DFAT of Australian government), immediately responded providing life-saving reproductive health services with the help of its Member Association- Vanuatu Family Health Association (VFHA). The VFHA team, with Vanuatu Ministry of Health and United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA), established medical and reproductive health camps in the islands (North Tanna, Epi, North Efate) and remote villages. After the cyclone struck, the island people were left without any access to healthcare, leaving pregnant women especially vulnerable. Around the world, it is estimated that 60% of maternal deaths and 45% of newborn deaths take place in fragile contexts. So, many of these Vanuatu women and their babies are at high risk of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, violence against women and girls is a growing social and economic issue in Vanuatu. The Vanuatu National Prevalence Study of 2010 reports that at least 60 % of the women experience physical or sexual violence and 30% experience childhood sexual abuse while under the age of 15 years. During a crisis situation, this violence is exacerbated. Aditi Ghosh, Acting Director, IPPF-SPRINT joined the VFHA team on their mission to the devastated Tanna Island. “The journey to Tanna was along a long, rocky mud track through deserted woodland, called the land of wild horses. Finally, after two hours, we reached a small village called Launatke, which had a few thatched houses scattered around the forest. We were welcomed warmly by locals. They sang a cyclone Pam song for us in local Launatke tribal language “the power of the storm was so strong that it destroyed everything…”. The VFHA team had turned a youth centre into a medical clinic. We listened to people telling us about the hardships they had faced during the cyclone. Julia, a young women in early 20’s– a mother of four, told us that she conceived her second baby immediately after she stopped breast feeding her first and the same pattern was repeated with the following two pregnancies. Her youngest child was five months old and she was worried she would get pregnant again …… but the cyclone gave her the opportunity get advice from the VFHA nurses. Now, she said, she can focus on taking care of her four young children without the fear of an unexpected pregnancy. We heard many similar stories throughout the afternoon. Next morning, we woke to thundering rain and a blanket of thick fog. We were headed for Labasilis village – a three hour trek through hills and forest. The medicine and supplies were packed in a waterproof bag and we set off - a team of seven including two doctors and two nurses. Keeping balance in slippery mud was a real challenge, everyone decided to walk barefoot for better grip. I was relieved to learn that Tanna doesn’t have poisonous insects or snakes. On our way, a team member told us that pregnant women have to be carried along this road, and then taken by truck the nearest clinic. How do these women survive through this journey? Not surprising that most women prefer to deliver at the village with the help of local (and untrained) birth attendants. No sterilized knives to cut the umbilical cord, instead they use sharpened bamboo. We heard an amazing story of resiliance .. like the one about the woman who while working on her field suddenly felt labor pains. She came back home, delivered on her own, covered the baby with a cloth at home and returned to the field to finish her work. After two hours we reached Loeala vama. I could see a few makeshift tarpaulin houses, a few damaged thatched houses. After providing some quick services in that village, we continued our walk along the slippery road towards our destination.   The fog has become thicker now, covering the whole area. It was difficult to see even the team members ahead of me. Finally, after another hour of we reached our final destination – Labasilis village. There was an UNICEF tent, where we started to set up our outreach medical camp. Though it was an open tent, we partitioned a corner with a cloth for privacy. Soon I could see a stream of people coming towards us, over the hills. I was told that the surrounding villages had been informed about today’s camp and permission to visit given by the village chiefs. That day we saw more than 190 clients – treating a range of ailments from cold, fever, wounds, pneumonia to pregnancy tests, newborn, antenatal and postnatal check-ups, plus family planning counseling and services. We saw many young parents- many with four or more children. Someone joked that here boys will have babies before they have beards. We could see for ourselves, how true that was. I also noticed a young shy pregnant woman, with small baby on her lap, who quietly asked the nurse if she could talk to her in private. Her name was Natalie. She had been prescribed Jadelle (Long Acting Reversible Contraception), when she visited the clinic two months ago. But, when she returned to her village, people scared her by saying the medicine was for wild horses and somehow they removed the Jadelle implant from her arm. And now she is again pregnant, unwillingly. Heading back to the airport in the pouring rain I thought about wild horses, old wives tales and how Natalie will cope with her new pregnancy.

IPPF Japan Trust Fund
30 March 2017

Japan Trust Fund

The Japan Trust Fund (JTF) represents a visionary partnership that began in 2000 between the Government of Japan and IPPF. Together, we invest in programmes that prioritize health equity, gender equality, and human security for all. Traditionally a driving force behind IPPF's efforts to support the integrated HIV prevention programmes of our Member Associations in Africa and Asia, JTF has adjusted to reflect changing global health priorities. We attach importance to universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights - an essential contributor to universal health coverage and the global development goals.     These projects have transformed the lives of people most vulnerable to HIV and high risk of maternal and child mortality. Equally, it ensures that as a donor, the GOJ’s response to HIV remains people-centred and contributes to human security.      

Front cover of FPOP Emergency publication
19 January 2017

Family Planning Organization of Philippines: In Case of Emergency

Philippines is currently ranked third by a United Nations report in the list of countries most prone to disasters, with a long history of earthquakes, storms, floods, droughts and rising sea levels, leading to severe damage and loss of life. The Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP) has gone from being a newcomer in the humanitarian community to being a leader in implementing the Minimum Initial Service Package of Sexual and Reproductive Health in crisis and post-crisis settings (MISP) in the Philippines.

Myanmar IPPF staff emergency
06 July 2015

Stepping up information and services during emergencies

IPPF Member Associations through the SPRINT Initiative have strengthened partnerships with various agencies to increase SRH services to disaster affected populations. UNFPA trained nurses of the Vanuatu Family Health Association (VFHA) on how to insert Jadelle® implants; provided a vehicle for o u t r e a c h p r o g r a m s , 100 dignity kits for distribution and two tents for outreach camps in the aftermath of Typhoon Pam. VFHA also worked with the Association for Aid and Relief (AAR) Japan in the provision of a 6,000 liter water tank for safe drinking water for North Tanna VFHA Clinic. The Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association (MMCWA) is collaborating well with the Kachin State Health Department and UNFPA in the provision of SRH services through the basic health service medical missions to 40 IDP camps located in Myit Kyi Na and Waing Maw districts of Kachin State. SPRINT supported the direct procurement of UNFPA RH Kits and SPRINT Community Medical Mission Kits. These kits complemented the medical commodities that were being offered to the internally displaced population (IDPs) in the camps. In response to the Mount Sinabung volcanic eruption, the Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association (IPPA) in coordination with local authorities, distributed dignity and hygiene kits to the affected population. IPPA North Sumatera chapter is exerting extra efforts to be more involved in responding to the needs of the community, especially regarding access to SRH information and services. There is no guarantee when the eruption will end. While the government is focused on food distribution and shelter, the main problem that the villagers face is loss of land. Being farmers, this renders them jobless. Children and youth have also been identified as being at risk as they have been in the camps for almost 2 years. IPPA has carried out site mapping and identified NGOs and volunteer groups who can be potential partners in delivering more services.

sprint IPPF
05 October 2016

SPRINT: Sexual and reproductive health in crisis and post-crisis situations

The SPRINT Initiative provides one of the most important aspects of humanitarian assistance that is often forgotten when disaster and conflicts strike. Ensuring access to essential life-saving SRH services for women, men and children in times of crises, a time when services are most needed yet are not prioritised or recognised by key humanitarian responders, SPRINT delivers practical solutions for girls and women, trains humanitarian workers to deal with pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health and the aftermath of rape and violence. Besides working to ensure emergency humanitarian programs in the field respond to such needs, SPRINT engages in political processes, working towards raising awareness, strengthening coordination, and building capacities to provide SRH services in crises. Saving lives is the core of the SPRINT Initiative. SPRINT Initiative is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) under Australian Government and managed by International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). Sprint partners Sprint objectives

Girls Decide landing image
30 June 2016

Girls Decide

This programme addresses critical challenges faced by young women around sexual health and sexuality. It has produced a range of advocacy, education and informational materials to support research, awareness-raising, advocacy and service delivery.    Girls Decide is about the sexual and reproductive health and rights of girls and young women. Around the world, girls aged 10 to 19 account for 23% of all disease associated with pregnancy and childbirth. An estimated 2.5 million have unsafe abortions every year. Worldwide, young women account for 60% of the 5.5 million young people living with HIV and/or AIDS. Girls Decide has produced a range of advocacy, education and informational materials to support work to improve sexual health and rights for girls and young women. These include a series of films on sexual and reproductive health decisions faced by 6 young women in 6 different countries. The films won the prestigious International Video and Communications Award (IVCA). When girls and young women have access to critical lifesaving services and information, and when they are able to make meaningful choices about their life path, they are empowered. Their quality of life improves, as does the well-being of their families and the communities in which they live. Their collective ability to achieve internationally agreed development goals is strengthened. Almost all IPPF Member Associations provide services to young people and 1 in every 3 clients is a young person below the age of 25. All young women and girls are rights-holders and are entitled to sexual and reproductive rights. As a matter of principle, the IPPF Secretariat and Member Associations stand by girls by respecting and fulfilling their right to high quality services; they stand up for girls by supporting them in making their own decisions related to sexuality and pregnancy; they stand for sexual and reproductive rights by addressing the challenges faced by young women and girls at local, national and international levels.

vanuatu
27 August 2015

Cyclone Pam hits The Happiest Place on Earth: Humanitarian Mission to Vanuatu Open Primary tabs configuration options Primary tabs

The Happy Planet Index has declared Vanuatu Archipelago ‘the happiest place on earth’ with its picturesque shoreline and friendly people. But unfortunately, Vanuatu - the Land Eternal- is a country with one of the highest disaster risks in the world. On Friday 13th of March 2015 cyclone PAM hit Vanuatu's southern provinces of Shefa and Tafea, causing widespread devastation. International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), through its SPRINT initiative (supported by DFAT of Australian government), immediately responded providing life-saving reproductive health services with the help of its Member Association- Vanuatu Family Health Association (VFHA). The VFHA team, with Vanuatu Ministry of Health and United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA), established medical and reproductive health camps in the islands (North Tanna, Epi, North Efate) and remote villages. After the cyclone struck, the island people were left without any access to healthcare, leaving pregnant women especially vulnerable. Around the world, it is estimated that 60% of maternal deaths and 45% of newborn deaths take place in fragile contexts. So, many of these Vanuatu women and their babies are at high risk of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, violence against women and girls is a growing social and economic issue in Vanuatu. The Vanuatu National Prevalence Study of 2010 reports that at least 60 % of the women experience physical or sexual violence and 30% experience childhood sexual abuse while under the age of 15 years. During a crisis situation, this violence is exacerbated. Aditi Ghosh, Acting Director, IPPF-SPRINT joined the VFHA team on their mission to the devastated Tanna Island. “The journey to Tanna was along a long, rocky mud track through deserted woodland, called the land of wild horses. Finally, after two hours, we reached a small village called Launatke, which had a few thatched houses scattered around the forest. We were welcomed warmly by locals. They sang a cyclone Pam song for us in local Launatke tribal language “the power of the storm was so strong that it destroyed everything…”. The VFHA team had turned a youth centre into a medical clinic. We listened to people telling us about the hardships they had faced during the cyclone. Julia, a young women in early 20’s– a mother of four, told us that she conceived her second baby immediately after she stopped breast feeding her first and the same pattern was repeated with the following two pregnancies. Her youngest child was five months old and she was worried she would get pregnant again …… but the cyclone gave her the opportunity get advice from the VFHA nurses. Now, she said, she can focus on taking care of her four young children without the fear of an unexpected pregnancy. We heard many similar stories throughout the afternoon. Next morning, we woke to thundering rain and a blanket of thick fog. We were headed for Labasilis village – a three hour trek through hills and forest. The medicine and supplies were packed in a waterproof bag and we set off - a team of seven including two doctors and two nurses. Keeping balance in slippery mud was a real challenge, everyone decided to walk barefoot for better grip. I was relieved to learn that Tanna doesn’t have poisonous insects or snakes. On our way, a team member told us that pregnant women have to be carried along this road, and then taken by truck the nearest clinic. How do these women survive through this journey? Not surprising that most women prefer to deliver at the village with the help of local (and untrained) birth attendants. No sterilized knives to cut the umbilical cord, instead they use sharpened bamboo. We heard an amazing story of resiliance .. like the one about the woman who while working on her field suddenly felt labor pains. She came back home, delivered on her own, covered the baby with a cloth at home and returned to the field to finish her work. After two hours we reached Loeala vama. I could see a few makeshift tarpaulin houses, a few damaged thatched houses. After providing some quick services in that village, we continued our walk along the slippery road towards our destination.   The fog has become thicker now, covering the whole area. It was difficult to see even the team members ahead of me. Finally, after another hour of we reached our final destination – Labasilis village. There was an UNICEF tent, where we started to set up our outreach medical camp. Though it was an open tent, we partitioned a corner with a cloth for privacy. Soon I could see a stream of people coming towards us, over the hills. I was told that the surrounding villages had been informed about today’s camp and permission to visit given by the village chiefs. That day we saw more than 190 clients – treating a range of ailments from cold, fever, wounds, pneumonia to pregnancy tests, newborn, antenatal and postnatal check-ups, plus family planning counseling and services. We saw many young parents- many with four or more children. Someone joked that here boys will have babies before they have beards. We could see for ourselves, how true that was. I also noticed a young shy pregnant woman, with small baby on her lap, who quietly asked the nurse if she could talk to her in private. Her name was Natalie. She had been prescribed Jadelle (Long Acting Reversible Contraception), when she visited the clinic two months ago. But, when she returned to her village, people scared her by saying the medicine was for wild horses and somehow they removed the Jadelle implant from her arm. And now she is again pregnant, unwillingly. Heading back to the airport in the pouring rain I thought about wild horses, old wives tales and how Natalie will cope with her new pregnancy.