Dear friend,

As the holiday season approaches, I am reminded of many heart-warming moments from the past year. First and foremost, the IPPF/WHR family has grown tremendously – literally! In the last year and half there have been 8 new babies born to IPPF/WHR staff, and one grandchild! Our expanding family serves as a continual reminder of the importance of our work, to ensure that all people have access to the sexual and reproductive health services they need to care for themselves and their families.

Looking back on 2009, I am overjoyed by the support and encouragement we received from the online membership. Earlier in the year the FreeChoiceSavesLives website was updated to improve the site’s look and feel. Throughout the year periodic updates were sent, keeping you informed of the latest sexual and reproductive health and rights news and achievements from the region.

We were particularly elated that (thanks to advocacy efforts over the last few years), President Obama rescinded the Global Gag Rule in January. Many of you joined in expressing gratitude for the repeal.  This year has represented a major shift in US Family Planning policy under the Obama Administration. In addition to the repeal of the Gag Rule, various appointments, the announcement of a Global Health Initiative and increased funding for family planning demonstrated the notably different outlook of the current administration – open to the world, open to NGOs, open minded – but nonetheless subject to certain constraints. Yet much remains to be done, at home and abroad.

This year, the IPPF/WHR network made important strides across the region. In September we launched the “Mesoamerica Project for Comprehensive Sexuality Education and Youth Friendly Services in Central America,” within the framework of the landmark Mexico City Ministerial Declaration “Preventing through Education.” The inaugural meeting of the Mesoamerican Coalition was held a year after the Ministerial Declaration was endorsed by 30 Latin American and Caribbean Health Ministers and 26 Education Ministers, signaling that the political landscape, after facing strident opposition, is changing in favor of sexual rights for all and setting the stage to curb alarming rates of teenage pregnancy and maternal mortality. We were thrilled by the enthusiastic participation at the meeting and the subsequent media coverage.

In November, youth representatives from the region gathered to participate at the ‘V Latin American and Caribbean Forum on HIV/AIDS and STIs’ in Lima, Peru. This was a unique opportunity to discuss best practices in addressing prevention, treatment, research, and policies on HIV/AIDS and to promote civil society and youth participation. IPPF/WHR formed part of Fuerza Joven Perú, (Youth Force Peru, YFP) working to facilitate dialogue around youth activism and HIV/AIDS. Several youth representatives were interviewed by Peruvian media outlets and a march for universal access was organized. At the close of the Forum, IPPF/WHR board member and YFP participant, Jovana Rios, presented the well-received YFP Declaration emphasizing universal access to sexual and reproductive health services through a human rights lens.

Another milestone was the conclusion of Improving the SRH and Rights of Street Youth and other Youth in Especially Difficult Situations in Bolivia, Guatemala and Peru, a project to improve access to services, develop knowledge and life skills, and increase advocacy around the human rights and sexual and reproductive health needs of vulnerable youth. It is worth taking a minute to watch a short film on the positive impact IPPF/WHR associations have on young people in the region.

We also expanded the use of social media tools to promote community-driven information sharing! This includes Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. I encourage you to visit these sites and the homepage to help expand our collaborative community of activists and supporters.

In the coming year we hope to bring you even closer to the cutting-edge work we are doing to improve the quality of life for people throughout the Americas.  We will certainly count on you, our community, to let us know what you think about FreeChoiceSavesLives. Please share your thoughts!

In the holiday spirit, I wish to extend my sincere appreciation for your support in helping to realize the IPPF/WHR mission. On behalf of everyone here, I wish you a happy and healthy holiday season and all the best in 2010!

Sincerely,

Carmen Barroso
Regional Director
International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region