Members News

This section brings you the latest news from EuroNGOs member organisations. If you are interested in becoming a member, please go to the Membership criteria page or contact the secretariat.

Rainbo Recognised by European Federation for its Work on Empowering Women in Africa and the Diaspora

Rainbo has become the 2006 winner of the prestigious Social and Humanitarian Award given by the European Federation of Black Women Business Owners (EFBWBO), www.efbwbo.net .

The award was presented on 27 October at the annual summit and awards ceremony of the EFBWBO in London. Rainbo has received international attention for developing an innovative and unique approach to tackling the issue of female genital mutilation or cutting (FGM/C). In 1999 it launched Amanitare, which is The African Partnership for the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for Women and Girls, and the first ever Pan African Network that places sexual and reproductive health and rights at the heart of the economic and social development of Africa. See http://www.rainbo.org/.

ACPD and Women's Groups in Canada Applaud Call for New United Nations Agency on Women

Action Canada for population and development (ACPD) and a wide range of women's groups in Canada endorse the recommendation by a high level UN panel to establish a new independent women-specific agency at the United Nations. For more information see:

Marie Stopes International Announces Global Conference on Abortion

In October 2007, international sexual and reproductive health agency, Marie Stopes International, will hold a major international conference in London focusing on abortion. The event, to be held on 23-24 October at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster, will mark the 40th anniversary of the Abortion Act in the UK. The conference: Safe Abortion – Whose right? Whose choice? Who cares? (working title) will confront both international and national issues associated with unsafe abortion, focusing on rights, advocacy and funding. For more information, please email press@mariestopes.org.uk.

In October, a new All-Party Parliamentarian Group to promote SRHR was launched at the Danish Parliament. All seven parties in Parliament are represented in the network, and at the launch more politicians showed an interest in the network, which is open to all members of Parliament. To date 19 MPs have become members of the network. The DFPA is very pleased with the establishment of this network, as it is hoped that the establishment of the network can further secure the commitment to SRHR in Denmark's national and international policies. The initiative for the network was taken at the 'No Sex-Conference' arranged by the DFPA in June this year. The Danish Family Planning Association will act as supporting secretariat for the network in this initial phase. For more information: www.sexogsamfund.dk.

International Conference: "From Theory to Action: Policies and Sexual and Reproductive Rights Today", 20 October 2006, Madrid, Spain

The Spanish Interest Group on Population, Development and Reproductive Health (SIG), is organising a seminar for discussion and debate in the field of SRHR. Discussions will focus on the old and new meanings of sexual and reproductive rights and the way in which these rights are being recognized (or not) in public health, social and development policies. It is expected that the conference will contribute to renovate and amplify political and public support for sexual and reproductive rights in Spain, both at the internal and external level. For more information, see the conference leaflet.

Seminar on Health, Education, Reproductive Health Supplies and EU Development Policies, 3 October 2006, Brussels, Belgium

The Seminar is an activity of a consortium of European NGOs, including EuroNGOs members, working on sexual and reproductive health and rights and advocating for the implementation of the International Conference on Population and Development Plan of Action (ICPD) in order to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. For more information, please contact countdown@ippfen.org.

Marie Stopes International Calls on the UK Government to Support Africa's Commitment to Family Planning, 27 September 2006

Earlier this week in Maputo, Mozambique, a special session of the African Union (AU) Conference of Ministers of Health adopted a new Plan of Action to tackle the floundering Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) related to reductions in poverty, maternal and child mortality and HIV/AIDS. The goals, they agreed, would not be achieved without significant improvements in the sexual and reproductive health of the people of Africa. Marie Stopes International (MSI), one of the largest sexual and reproductive health organisations in the world, welcomes the initiative by African leaders at the Maputo conference to reposition family planning to the top of the development agenda. The AU plan comes at a time when competing priorities in health budgets, such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis have dramatically reduced the priority given to family planning, and when provisions for contraception and maternal healthcare have lost out from some donor nations due to political conservatism.

Read full press release.

The Intimate Link: Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV

APA hosted a satellite event on 'The Intimate Link: sexual and reproductive health and HIV' at the XVI International AIDS Conference held in Toronto, Canada on 13-18 August 2006. EuroNGOs sponsored the participation of Caroline Haworth from Interact Worldwide. The satellite  gave an overview of various perspectives related to integration and linkage of Sexual & Reproductive Health and Rights and HIV/AIDS. Caroline presented research on some of challenges on integration and linkage from Interact's programming portfolio, based on research done for them by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The meeting was well attended by a combination of advocates and programming personnel, both southern and international. 

IEPFPD Becomes EPF!

The Inter-European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development(IEPFPD) recently changed its name into  European Parliamentary Forum for Population and Development (EPF). The website – www.iepfpd.org – and email addresses will remain the same until further notice.

OEGF Flyer on Women and Migration

The Austrian Family Planning Association has produced a flyer on "Migration and Women" to coincide with the lauch of the 2006 State of the World Population in Vienna. Copies of the flyer can be downloaded at http://www.oegf.at/dokumente/flyer_migration_frauen.pdf. For hard copies please contact Elisabeth Pracht.

Asia-Europe Young Decision Makers Conference in conjunction with ASEM6, 7-8 September 2006, Helsinki, Finland,

On 7-8 September, young Parliamentarians and members of the youth sections of political parties from Asia and Europe will meet in Helsinki, Finland to discuss sexual and reproductive health and rights, the role and concerns of young people and the need for resource mobilization at all levels. The conference is part of the Young Decision-Makers initiative and is being organized by Väestöliitto (the Family Federation of Finland) and the European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development. The conference will coincide with the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM6), which will be attended by Heads of State and government officials, and the Asia Europe People's Forum (AEPF) for NGOs from both continents. For more information contact Hilkka Vuorenmaa, Development Cooperation Coordinator, Vaestoliitto.

IFPD Produces and Broadcasts Video Clip on UNFPA and Safe Motherhood

In order to raise awareness about the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and its mission, the International Foundation for Population and Development (IFPD), Switzerland, has decided – in agreement and collaboration with UNFPA – to produce and  broadcast a video clip dealing with one aspect of UNFPA's commitment towards maternal health: safe motherhood. The clip focuses on pointing out the high number of maternal deaths in developing countries and the means, both simple and cost-effective, needed to prevent most of these deaths. It points out UNFPA's action in over 140 countries around the world and encourages the public to get involved. IFPD organised the airing of the clip in major cities in the French speaking part of Switzerland from November to December 2005. The broadcasting of the clip in the German speaking part of Switzerland is under preparation. IFPD now wishes to make the clip available to its partners of the EuroNGOs network for advocacy purposes in their own countries.The clip is currently available in French and German. According to its partners' interest, IFPD will consider the production of an English version. A second clip dealing with one of UNFPA's core activities is being planned and will be produced over the coming months. For more information contact Ms Cristina Marich, General Secretary, cmarich@ifpd.org. Read more about this initiative here.

ACPD and Canadian Launch of 2006 Sate of the World Population, 6 September 2006, Ottawa 

A week before the United Nations High-Level Dialogue on Migration in New York, Action Canada for Population and Development (ACPD) will host in Ottawa the Canadian launch of the 2006 State of the World Population Report. The launch will feature keynote speakers including the editor of this year's report, Patricia Leidl, from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and Victor Piché, a top Canadian expert in the field of International Migration and professor at the University of Montréal. Find out more at http://www.acpd.ca/acpd.cfm/en/section/Home.

This briefing paper prepared by Interact Worldwide synthesises and explains the key arguments, provides evidence through case studies, and importantly – in keeping with the Time to Deliver theme of the XVI International AIDS Conference – elaborates a Call to Action. You are invited to sign on to support the Call. Download the publication and / or Sign on to support the Call at: http://www.interactworldwide.org/calltoaction.asp.

The Inter-European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development has been granted special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC). IEPFPD will now be able to designate official representatives to the United Nations headquarters in New York and offices in Geneva and Vienna as well as attend and in some cases participate in UN meetings through oral and written statements. For more information on IEPFPD's role in promoting parliamentary involvement in the UN system, please visit: http://www.iepfpd.org/index.asp?ID=349.

Lancement de la Plate-forme " VIVE LA VIE " !

Suite à l'appel du Collectif 'Papa, Maman et moi' à faire du 25 juillet prochain la première journée européenne contre l'avortement, les 4 fédérations de centres de planning familial en Communauté française de Belgique ont pris l'initiative de mettre en place une plate-forme de vigilance par rapport aux risques actuels de dérives extrémistes et de recul des droits en matière de vie affective et sexuelle, ceci singulièrement en matière de droit à l'avortement : " Vive la vie ! " Communiqué de presse. Une pétition en est également en ligne à: http://www.petitiononline.com/lavie/petition.html.

Global condom crisis continues to threaten lives of million

Read the press release Interact Worldwide has issued for World Population Day, highlighting ongoing problems due to lack of access to condoms.  You can download a copy of publication referred to - Condom shortage: counting the cost in lives - from the Interact website at www.interactworldwide.org.

This conference on the opposition towards sexual and reproductive health and rights was organised on 6 June by the Danish FPA. The aim of the conference was to raise awareness of Danish MPs, civil society, media and the public on the opposition towards SRHR, by focusing on the American international ‘abstinence-only' policy and its consequences, as well as on the opposition towards SRHR in Europe. An important outcome of the conference was the establishment of a new network among the participating MPs, with the aim of, among other things, closely monitoring the implementation of the new Danish SRHR strategy, launched a week before the conference. Read more about the No sex Conference on DFPA's website: http://www.sexogsamfund.dk/Default.asp?ID=3093&Purge=True (In Danish). For further information contact Jacqueline Bryld: jb@sexogsamfund.dk.

APA Roundtable at IPCI, November 2006, Bangkok, Thailand

The Asia Pacific Alliance (APA) Secretariat will be organising a roundtable dialogue in November 2006 in Bangkok between NGOs and parliamentarians attending the International Parliamentarians' Conference on the Implementation of the ICPD Programme of Action (IPCI). For further information on IPCI, go to: http://www.asiapacificalliance.org.

"Women and HIV/AIDS"

This joint publication by OEGF, WPF and ProFamilia Germany is now available in English. For hard copies please contact e.pracht@oegf.at.

ARHA's Analysis of Australia's White Paper on Overseas Aid Program

ARHA has prepared an analysis of the Australian government White Paper on the Australian Government's Overseas Aid Program.  The paper sets the broad objectives for the aid program over the medium term (ten years).  ARHA's analysis of the contents of the paper is available on their website at http://www.arha.org.au/. The White Paper, is available at http://www.ausaid.gov.au/.

APA Partners Study Tour in PNG, 8 - 15 April 2006

Organised by New Zealand APA partners FPAID and DRC, the week-long study tour focused on issues relating to poverty, including HIV/AIDS, gender inequality, maternal and child health, and the environment. In particular, the study tour aimed to raise awareness among particpants of the importance of good sexual and reproductive health in achieving the Millennium Development Goals in the Pacific. See: http://www.asiapacificalliance.org/.

IEPFPD and European MPs Visit Ethiopian Reproductive Health Projects

From 8 to 13 May,  IEPFPD organised a study trip for 13 European Parliamentarians to Ethiopia to gain a first hand account of s in a developing country and a better understanding of how SRHR fits in with Ethiopia's plans development, for attaining the MDGs and how European donors are supporting Ethiopia's development. IEPFPD has been working with UNFPA, DSW, Equilibres et Populations, IPPF European Network, Interact Worldwide, Marie Stopes International, Sex og Samfund, RFSU, Vaestoliitto and WPF to make this trip possible. See: http://www.iepfpd.org/.

Request for Proposals: Advocacy for Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health - Deadline: 14 July 2006

The Summit Foundation (http://www.summitfdn.org/) invites members of EuroNGOs to submit proposals for advocacy work in their respective countries, or across the European Union, geared toward increasing attention to and funding for youth sexual and reproductive health in the overseas development assistance of these countries. While the proposals may include various advocacy strategies and tools, interested organizations may wish to use as a resource an advocacy toolkit developed by Advocates for Youth and the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), based on the National Research Council publication, Growing up Global: The Changing Transitions to Adulthood in Developing Countries. The full report and its executive summary can be viewed at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11174.html. Access the full RfP here.

Recommendations on Migration and SRHR

These recommendations were formulated at the International Seminar on Migration and Development hosted by the Belgian Platform on Population and Development on 13 March 2006 in Brussels, Belgium.

Openness about Sexuality Important for People and Societies

Participants of the international conference “What about sex?” organised by Youth Incentives and World Population Foundation on 6-7 March 2006 in Utrecht, The Netherlands, called for increased dialogue on sexuality as a means to empower people to make responsible choices. Sexual health and sexuality are rarely discussed at the policy, programme and grassroots levels. However, evidence shows that countries that adopt an open and comprehensive approach to sexuality, information and services achieve better health outcomes. Read the Call for Action.

New MSI Report on Sex, Marriage and Reproductive Health among Pakistani Adolescents

In Pakistan, low levels of knowledge about sexual and reproductive health (SRH) are a major barrier to people accessing services, and the information available remains limited, with women and young people being particularly marginalised. Marie Stopes International has now published a report on research into the knowledge, attitudes and practice of young people in Pakistan towards SRH issues. Read more.

MFPF celebrates its 50th anniversary

The French Movement for Family Planning invites former and current partners to join them on 18 March 2006 at the Maison de la Mutualité in Paris for a day of reflection, memories, testimonies, debates and festivities! For full details see: http://www.planning-familial.org/50ansmfpf/index.htm.

Finnish-Baltic Roundtable on Development and SRHR, 23-24 January, Riga, Latvia

A Finnish-Baltic Roundtable on Development and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights jointly organised by Väestöliitto, the Baltic Family Planning Associations and IEPFPD was held on 23-24 January in Riga, Latvia. The purpose of the meeting was to foster dialogue and explore opportunities for collaboration among policy makers from Finland and the Baltic States in the area of development cooperation and SRHR. The event concluded with the adoption of a Parliamentary Statement of Commitment which calls for greater inclusion of SRHR in international development policies of Baltic countries and within EU policies.

SRHR advocates express their concern on the decreasing priority of development policies within the EU's political agenda in a joint letter to the Austrian Presidency.

Democratic Stand Against Catholic Bishop's Abuse of Power – The Lithuanian Parliament Says No, Brussels, 26 November 2005

A Lithuanian MP has been permitted to participate in a fact-finding mission to Peru and Brazil, co-organized by the Inter-European parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (IEPFPD) and the organization Catholics for a Free Choice, despite demands from the Catholic Bishop of Lithuania, Archbishop Sigitas Tamkievicius, that she should