Stories

In the scorching heat of the Khazana refugee camp on the outskirts of Peshawar in Northwest Pakistan, women are lining up, waiting for their turn to receive medical care. Among them are women who have walked long distances, carrying their children to reach the campsite. The medical camp, run by the Rahnuma-Family Planning Association of Pakistan (R-FPAP), a Member Association of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), provides a range of services, including general health check-ups and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services.  Shazia was among the many women waiting in line at the mobile medical camp. When she learned about RFPAP's community awareness sessions, she decided to overcome fear and cultural taboo and attend. "My previous short-term family planning method didn't work for me, and it resulted in an unintended pregnancy. The community awareness session in a women-friendly space convinced me to consult with the medical team and choose a long-term family-planning option," she explains.  Sadia, a 28-year-old mother of four who had fled her home in Afghanistan, had no access to family planning services since leaving her country. "With four children, providing for them is becoming extremely challenging, I cannot afford to have any more. The mobile medical camps have enabled me to access a long-term family planning method and other needed services," she says.  Pakistan is home to 1.4 million Afghan refugees displaced by decades of war. Women in refugee camps face significant challenges in accessing essential healthcare services, including SRH, putting them at greater risk of maternal mortality, unintended pregnancies, and unsafe abortions. To address these issues, R-FPAP provides SRH services through mobile medical camps in four districts in Balochistan. Between August 2022 and January 2023, R-FPAP organised 247 medical camps to cater to the SRH needs of Afghan refugees, successfully providing a total of 140,545 SRH services to 13,303 individuals.  Supported by the Australian Government-funded RESPOND project, the medical camps primarily serve women and girls, who comprise more than 90% of their clients. Most women are married with children. They require SRH services such as obstetric, gynaecological, and antenatal care, sexually transmitted infections (STI) testing, and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) support. Women in refugee camps in Pakistan face a higher risk of SGBV, leading to physical and psychological harm, unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Stigma surrounding SRH issues in many communities exacerbates this problem, making it challenging for women to seek support. There is a critical need for accessible, affordable SRH services in Pakistan, especially for women facing cultural and societal barriers to healthcare.  "The RESPOND project has taken a crucial step in the right direction by providing safe spaces for Afghan refugee survivors of GBV, where they can feel safe and receive the support they need. Long-standing inequities have perpetuated harm and left survivors feeling isolated. However, we are making progress by increasing awareness and offering confidential and specialised services,” says Dr Anjum Rizvi, Director Program Management Division, R-FPAP.  The program's impact is evident, with over 18,000 survivors of GBV receiving support and referrals to specialist services. The medical camps are instrumental in providing essential SRH services to Afghan refugees, women and girls, helping to improve their overall health and well-being. As the women leave the camp, they do so with a renewed sense of hope and confidence, knowing they have the support they need to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. Story by: Malarvili Meganathan, Communications, Voice and Media Advisor, IPPF [email protected] Anjum Rizvi, Director Program Management Division, R-FPAP. [email protected] For more updates on our work, follow IPPF ESEAOR on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Aulia, a 15-year-old student from East Java, Indonesia, struggles to manage her menstrual hygiene while attending school, resulting in missed classes and reluctance to seek help from teachers or peers due to shame and stigma. Aulia's experience is typical for many adolescent girls worldwide, depriving them of opportunities to reach their full potential.      A recent survey in Indonesia conducted by the United Nations revealed that 1 in 5 adolescent girls encounter obstacles in accessing sanitary products due to high costs or limited mobility, while 1 in 10 feel ashamed or lack privacy when managing menstruation. To tackle these issues, the Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association (IPPA), a Member Association of IPPF, and UNICEF have joined forces to implement a program to raise awareness among young people about menstrual hygiene management and reproductive health. The project seeks to provide extensive information on reproductive health and menstrual hygiene management, promote open communication between stakeholders and young people, advocate for better school sanitation facilities, and equip adolescents with the necessary resources to manage their menstrual hygiene confidently. The joint initiative between IPPA and UNICEF aims to educate 100,000 youths on menstrual hygiene management and reproductive health while encouraging 50,000 adolescents to use the Oky app. With the support of the Australian-funded Indo-Pacific Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights COVID-19 Response (C-Surge) program, the Oky Application will be scaled up as part of the initiative. The digital tool is designed to provide youth-friendly Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) information and help adolescents confidently manage their periods while supporting informed decision-making.      Aulia, who started using the app recently, shared her experience "I used to feel embarrassed talking about my period or asking questions about my body, but the Oky app has taught me so much about reproductive health in a way that is easy to understand. I feel more empowered and informed now." Meanwhile, Niken Takoy, 14, from East Nusa Tenggara, said that “the app's informative encyclopedia feature and easy-to-recognize icons have made the learning experience enjoyable and accessible.”  The joint initiative includes online workshops and sensitisation campaigns through youth centres and schools. It will be implemented across ten provinces in Indonesia: Jakarta, West Java, East Java, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, Riau, Bali, East Nusa Tenggara, and Riau Islands. The program also features peer-to-peer learning models to facilitate knowledge sharing among young people. "Through a youth-centred approach free from fear, discrimination, and stigma, IPPA and UNICEF are determined to promote knowledge and open communication on the significance of menstrual hygiene management and the implementation of reproductive health rights in schools,” Eko Maryadi, Executive Director, IPPA.   Through empowering adolescent girls like Aulia and Niken to manage their menstrual hygiene and access crucial information, the joint initiative is making a profound impact on the lives of young people in Indonesia, enabling them to break free from shame and stigma and reach their full potential. To download the app click here https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oky.id Story by: Malarvili Meganathan, Communication, Voice and Media Advisor, IPPF ESEAOR [email protected] & Halimah Irna, National Program Coordinator, Oky, Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association (IPPA) [email protected] For more updates on our work, follow IPPF ESEAOR on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The Cook Islands has removed a law that criminalizes homosexuality, in a huge victory for the local LGBTI+ community.  Our local Member Association, the Cook Islands Family Welfare Association (CIFWA), has been integral to the advocacy around this law reform, which has faced many hurdles since the movement kicked off in 2017. Staff and volunteers at CIFWA have worked in step with Pride Cook Islands and the Te Tiare Association (TTA), two of the biggest LGBTI+ advocacy organizations in the country, to end discrimination and promote human rights. Meet some of the inspiring people behind this historic movement.

On the island of Rarotonga, the main island of the Cook Islands in the South Pacific, a little white van makes its rounds on the palm-tree lined circular road. The van, run by the Cook Islands Family Welfare Association (CIFWA), stops off at condom distribution points along the way, refilling the condom stock.  Dean Tangata, a 26-year-old humanitarian focal point for CIFWA and a registered nurse, is behind the wheel.  "Our condom dispensers get emptied so quickly!” said Dean. “We refill them twice a week.”   On Rarotonga, the locals refer to a system called ‘coconut wireless’ - a local phrase meaning to communicate quickly by word-of-mouth. This means that discretion is key to encourage people to practise safe sex and use condoms.  According to the Cook Islands Ministry of Health 2014, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common in the Cook Islands. A study conducted in 2006 showed a 22% prevalence rate of chlamydia; 46% of these cases were in people between the ages of 15 and 29 years. After a robust intervention campaign, a repeat survey in 2012 showed a 50% decrease in prevalence. This is why CIFWA instigated a condom dispenser system, placing handmade dispensers (that an industrious staff member made from cutting holes in piping) inside bathrooms in restaurants around the island. “We’re the ‘sex people’ - the ‘sex workers’ who roll up in our condom car,” says Dean, smiling.

There was hope at the start of 2022 that this year would bring more security and stability than in the previous year.  Instead, we’ve been presented with some enormous challenges to sexual and reproductive health and rights - from conflicts, to climate crises, to the rollback of rights and the rise in opposition movements in many countries around the world. But at IPPF, we won’t let the opposition define us. We choose not to remember 2022 solely for its setbacks. Here, we highlight some stories of positive change from our colleagues, clients and partners around the world.