News

The COVID-19 epidemic is one of the greatest challenges our Federation has faced. It is a global emergency affecting us all, without distinction. It is already clear that its impact will be unprecedented in every area of life; our ability as a Federation to deliver sexual and reproductive healthcare and our ability to defend and advance the rights of women and girls is already facing enormous strain. At the same time, the work we all do will be more important than ever. The weight of this health emergency will fall disproportionately on the poor and underprivileged, as every crisis does. Those are the very people we all strive to serve. As Director-General of this Federation, I want to be clear that supporting all our Member Associations through this pandemic is our priority. IPPF has established a COVID-19 Taskforce, which will coordinate the work of the IPPF Secretariat in understanding the stresses being placed on all our Member Associations and delivering as much direct help as possible to those in need. It will also identify opportunities to modernize our service offering, making sure we stay abreast of the rapidly changing landscape. There is an obvious need to expand access to no-touch services, and self-management of SRH care.  We are making the strongest possible case for additional resourcing to help combat the humanitarian need this crisis will create. I am very aware of the additional risk experienced by healthcare providers, and want staff feeling supported during what is likely to be the most challenging year they have ever faced.  And we will continue to amplify those efforts through our advocacy and communications – reinforcing that support for the people we serve is more urgent now than ever. I want to thank every worker and every volunteer continuing to do their very best to provide vital sexual and reproductive healthcare, even at risk to themselves. The entire Federation stands together at this most difficult of times. In support and in solidarity, Dr Alvaro Bermejo IPPF Director-General

The International Planned Parenthood Federation - East, South East Asia and Oceania Region - (IPPF ESEAOR) announces the arrival of Tomoko Fukuda as its new Regional Director beginning 1st of June 2019. Ms. Fukuda is the first IPPF Regional Director from Japan. With her joining ESEAOR, she brings to IPPF her extensive network experience including past stints as General Secretary of the Japan CSO Network on Global Health; Local Coordinator of the G20 Gender Working Group; Steering Committee Member of the Asia Pacific Alliance (APA) on SRHR; and as an Advisory Group Member of the Civil Society Engagement Mechanism for Universal Health Coverage - UHC2030. Ms. Fukuda was the Advocacy Manager of the Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP) up until May 2019. After joining the organization in 1995, initially she was in charge of development assistance projects in countries such as Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Timor-Leste. Globally, she focused on technical transfer on health promotion and behavior change communication related to sexual reproductive health and rights (SRHR). During her role as Advocacy Manager, she was a part of global advocacy efforts on UHC, as well as advocacy for SRHR surrounding the G7 and G20. Ms. Fukuda said, “In a rapidly changing society, the role sought by Member Associations is changing. We want to support each Member Association to provide appropriate, timely and affordable information and services and contribute to the achievement of UHC. As IPPF, we will vigorously raise the voice for the realization of sexual reproductive rights for all people.” Tomoko Fukuda was born in Tokyo, Japan. She spent her childhood years in the Philippines together with her parents. She graduated from International Christian University, College of Liberal Arts. IPPF is a global service provider and a leading advocate of SRHR for all. We are a worldwide movement of national organizations working with and for communities and individuals in more than 170 countries. IPPF works towards a world where women, men, and young people everywhere are free to make choices about their sexuality and well-being without discrimination – free to decide when to have children, free to pursue healthy sexual lives, and to live without the fear of having unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. A world where gender or sexuality are no longer a source of inequality or stigma.  IPPF ESEAOR is supporting 22 Member Associations and three (3) Collaborating Partners in a total of twenty-five countries.

The International Planned Parenthood Federation along with its 134 Member Associations all over the globe, call on the government of Brunei to immediately stop the implementation of the Islamic Penal Code which severely punishes consensual same-sex acts, pregnancy out of wedlock, access to abortion and adultery.  IPPF believes that such Penal Code is in direct violation of fundamental freedom and international human rights instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).  IPPF, as a human rights defender, strongly oppose any violation of fundamental human rights. As rightly said by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, the new penal code would “mark a serious setback for human rights protections for the people of Brunei if implemented”.  Further, such laws disproportionately discriminate against the most marginalized in our society, the women, girls and people of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, increasing the risk of further inequality, stigma and violence towards these groups.  We urge the government of Brunei to protect the sexual and reproductive health and rights of all women and girls, and LGBTI communities - to be equal in rights and before the law – ensuring the rights to privacy, freedom of expression and free from violence and harassment are upheld. IPPF and its Member Associations will continue to fight for change to ensure all people can live free from sexual and reproductive coercion, and all forms of gender-based violence. IPPF through its member associations shall remain vigilant to oppose such harmful and regressive laws all over the world. 

IPPF-ESEAOR, through its Member-Associations, actively participated in the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of 2013 Asian and Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Population and Development held in Bangkok from the 26th to the 28th of November 2018. The three-day intergovernmental meeting was organised by the United Nation’s Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).  This MTR was a follow-up to the 6th Asian and Pacific Ministerial Declaration on Population and Development which took place in 2013 in the effort to monitor the framework in the region. The MTR reaffirmed the commitment towards the implementation of the Programme of Action (PoA) of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for 2030 at both the national and regional levels. Prior to this, a two-day youth forum and Civil Society Organisations (CSO) Forum also took place in Bangkok.  The youth forum was held to discuss the progress of ICPD implementation while the Civil Society Organisations (CSO) Forum was held to chart the way forward and identify key priority areas to accelerate progress implementation of the ICPD Programme of Actions, as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  Two youth representatives received ESEAOR’s full support to participate in this forum where they urged member States to recognise and reaffirm human rights, gender equality, equity, social inclusion, and justice, as well as youth empowerment and leadership, as central to sustainable development, and closing with a call for meaningful discourse on young people’s needs and aspirations.  The CSO Forum, on the other hand, underscored that, while there had been significant progress in sexual and reproductive health policies in the region, implementation continued to be a challenge, particularly for marginalized and vulnerable groups.  Throughout this three-day meeting, IPPF ESEAOR had been a powerful force – eight (8) ESEAOR MAs were part of the government delegation and have influenced the language of sexual and reproductive health and rights in the national statements. These MAs were also been invited to the consultation process to input the country report to the ICPD +25 review in 2019.  In the statement of the Cook Island delegation, Cook Islands Family Welfare Association (CIFWA) and its critical role in the training of educators on comprehensive sexuality education were mentioned. There were specific contributions from the MAs, on Comprehensive Sexuality Education or its similar forms (Cambodia, Cook Islands, New Zealand, Malaysia, Tonga); addressing Gender Based Violence (Kiribati), and elimination of FGM (Indonesia), which were highlighted in the national statements.  The MA’s close relationship with its government has facilitated this participation in the delegation. MAs are considered technical experts on SRHR given their knowledge of the local contexts, and their long-standing work with the vulnerable and marginalised groups both on direct service provision and on advocacy for the recognition and respect of human rights. 

On 29th of October 2018, Dr Alvaro launched the inaugural Niu Vaka Pacific Strategy (2019-2022) in Suva, Fiji. Developed for the Pacific by the Pacific, Niu Vaka moves away from providing short-term project funding to support member associations across the Pacific in a holistic and integrated way to build their capacity and sustainability, enabling them to reach more people and to ensure they can continue to do so into the future. The Niu Vaka strategy takes its name from two ideas which are central to the identity of Pacific Islanders: the niu (the coconut) and the Vaka (the canoe). Pronounced ‘new’, the niu represents the next chapter in IPPF’s Pacific voyage. Every part of the niu and the palm tree, often referred to as the tree of life, has a use in the Pacific – not a bit goes to waste. A powerful symbol of resilience and renewal, the niu floats between Pacific islands and puts down roots where it lands. The Vaka, used by ancient Pacific Islanders to journey vast distances between islands, also links Pacific islands together, symbolising our shared history, collective Pacific identity and the united vision of IPPF’s Niu Vaka strategy. As we expand the reach of sexual and reproductive health services across the Pacific, we draw inspiration from the Vaka and the lengths our ancestors went to ensure the well-being of their families. Together, the niu and the Vaka represent sustainability, resourcefulness and resilience, ideals that the Niu Vaka strategy embodies. As we embark on this new voyage, we remember the intrepid seafaring traditions of the Pacific and the resilience of the niu. To read and learn more on the Pacific Strategy, click here.

The Executive Director of the SFHA was appointed by the Hon Minister of the MOH to represent Nursing & Midwifery in the Medical Council for three (3) years – from July 2017 – June 2020. The appointment was approved by the Cabinet in June 2017. The representative for Nursing & Midwifery to the Medical Council is usually the ACEO of Nursing & Midwifery, who oversees the nursing practice. This appointment was a ministerial directive which really reflects the appreciation of the work of SFHA by the government, and the close relationship between SFHA and MOH. The roles of the council will be guided by the Healthcare Professionals Registration and Standards Act, and the Medical Practitioners Act. A Career Pathway and Professional Development Framework for Medical Practitioners in Samoa was developed in April 2016. This frameworks will help guide the medical profession through their lives of service to the people of Samoa and all those who seek medical help and assistance. The members of the council include four (4) Medical Practitioners, one (1) Nurse Midwife, one (1) representative from a government ministry, and one (1) community leader. The ex-officials are the CEO of MOH and the Registrar of Medical, Nursing and Allied professions.