At the March for Women's Lives

IPPF/WHR protesters in front of Washington Monument

Members of IPPF/WHR's Board

IPPF/WHR's Director of Communications, temporarily incommunicado to protest the Global Gag Rule

March rally in front of the Capitol

IPPF/WHR representative, gagged in protest of Global Gag Rule

FreeChoiceSavesLives.org / IPPF/WHR group

 FreeChoiceSavesLives.org protesters

And more FreeChoiceSavesLives.org protesters... 

New IPPF/WHR Initiatives

Fighting the Spread of HIV/AIDS in Youth

In the Caribbean, HIV is the leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 44, representing a serious social, economic, and public health crisis. Teenagers are particularly vulnerable to infection, and need appropriate education, testing, and treatment options. In response to these needs and in line with its commitment to working with young people, IPPF/WHR has been implementing a three-year project in communities in El Salvador and the Dominican Republic.

In El Salvador, the focus of the project has been on expanding existing HIV services for youth, including testing and treatment. IPPF/WHR’s affiliate maintains three voluntary HIV testing sites in the country, which also offer pre and post-test counseling. A successful partnership has been established with factories in the free-trade zone in order to reach young people in their workplace with information and referrals to testing sites. For HIV-positive youth in El Salvador, stigmatization of the illness and limited access to antiretroviral drugs remain obstacles to receiving proper care. IPPF/WHR’s association is collaborating with the Ministry of Health or other governmental agencies, (often the only providers of antiretroviral drugs) to refer youth to the proper treatment. All clinic staff has received sensitization training to address stigmatization and create a welcoming environment for youth. While counseling is available in a limited basis, there is still a great need for licensed professionals to help young people facing HIV in their lives.

In the Dominican Republic, the focus of the initiative has been on education and prevention efforts. Young people have been particularly receptive to education efforts from their peers so IPPF/WHR has trained 80 volunteer youth between the ages of 12 and 22 on issues in sexual and reproductive health within a human rights gender perspective. These youth promoters give talks on HIV prevention and transmission, refer their peers to services available to them, and distribute free coupons to access these services (contraceptives, HIV testing, gynecological exams, etc.). In its work through high schools and community organizations, the project has equipped thousands of youth in the Dominican Republic with the skills and services they need to maintain healthful and informed sexual lives in a time of HIV/AIDS.

Click here to learn more about IPPF/WHR's work on HIV/AIDS.

Working to Improve Post-Abortion Care 

Unsafe abortion is a problem that affects 4 million women in the Latin American and Caribbean region each year.  To address this problem, IPPF/WHR has started a two-year initiative to sensitize and train staff in services related to unwanted pregnancy and post-abortion care. In collaboration with Catholics for a Free Choice, service providers in IPPF associations in Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Guyana, and Venezuela are receiving training on how to counsel in cases of unwanted pregnancy and how to provide medical, psychological, and follow-up contraceptive services for women who have undergone incomplete and unsafe abortions.

In regions where abortion is highly restricted and rarely talked about in the public sphere, the training also includes a sensitization component, which educates all association staff and administration on the abortion laws in their countries and the severe effects of unsafe abortion on women’s health. While abortion is illegal in the majority of cases (with the exception of Guyana where abortion is unrestricted), nearly all countries allow legal abortion in cases when a pregnancy endangers the health of a woman or is a result of a rape. In other countries, such as Mexico, legislation varies by state and abortion is permitted under other circumstances, such as economic need. However, even in the exceptional cases where abortion is legal, the appropriate knowledge and infrastructure to support women in their choices often do not exist in Latin America. IPPF/WHR is educating service providers on the particular legislation of their countries and preparing them to offer services and referrals in cases where abortion is legal. This regional project represents a significant step in facing the public health problem of unsafe abortion from a legislative and health perspective in countries where discussions of reproductive rights and health have been moderated by representatives of the Catholic Church.