Located in the bustling heart of Iloilo City is the RAJAH Community Centre, a dynamic hub with a meaningful mission. RAJAH stands for "Raising Awareness for Junior Advocates on HIV." Established in 2019 by the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP), this centre provides a safe space for HIV testing and support services, free from stigma.  The centre provides counselling and a range of supportive initiatives tailored to its diverse community. What sets this centre apart from other HIV diagnostic and treatment facilities is its unique operational model, primarily driven by volunteers. Many of these volunteers are part of the LGBTIQ+ communities they serve.  Mona Liza S. Diones, the Chapter Program Manager of FPOP Iloilo, noted that a significant number of potential clients still hesitate due to fears associated with visiting a treatment facility. “At RAJAH, we're working to change this perception by providing essential services that promote comfort and eliminate prejudice.”  The centre is a crucial service point that complements existing facilities run by local government units. In partnership with the Department of Health, it provides continuous HIV services, including telemedicine, mobile clinics, and the distribution of essential items such as PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis) and condoms. PrEP is an oral pill that reduces the risk of contracting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken correctly. Onsite HIV testing is available for individuals aged 15 and above, following the guidelines of the HIV and AIDS Policy Act in the Philippines, which allows those between 15 to 18 to access testing without parental or guardian consent.  As of January 2023, the Philippines recorded 110,736 cases of HIV. The number of people with HIV is projected to rise by 200%, from 158,400 in 2022 to 364,000 by 2030. 

In a significant development towards improving access to contraception and advancing reproductive rights in the Asia-Pacific region, the Contraceptive Policy Atlas for Asia and the Pacific Region 2023 was officially launched at a side event during the 7th Asian and Pacific Population Conference (APPC) in Bangkok, Thailand.  The event was organised by the International Planned Parenthood Federation – East and South East Asia and Oceania Region (IPPF ESEAOR) in partnership with the FP 2030 Asia Pacific Hub and the European Parliamentary Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Rights (EPF).  Civil society organisations, youth leaders, development partners, private institutions, and government representatives came together with a shared mission: to drive change by discussing current policies, identifying gaps, and enhancing data collection for contraceptive programs and access in the region.

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), in partnership with UNFPA, UNICEF, PLAN International, and Organon, convened a pivotal Regional Policy Dialogue on Unintended Pregnancies in Southeast Asia. This two-day event, held in Bali, Indonesia, from October 19-20, brought together over 100 key stakeholders, including youth leaders, youth networks, government representatives, development partners and private institutions. The discussions during the two-day event were multifaceted, encompassing topics such as analysing data and trends related to unintended pregnancy among adolescents in Southeast Asia, exploring evidence-based approaches to tackle this challenge, and evaluating existing policies while identifying gaps and opportunities. All of this was done through a youth-oriented and intergenerational lens. The event aimed to foster collaboration, partnerships, and greater accountability among stakeholders to collectively address adolescent pregnancy, recognising the importance of a unified effort in ensuring the well-being of young individuals in the region. Tomoko Fukuda, Regional Director, IPPF East, Southeast Asia and Oceania Region (ESEAOR), emphasised unwavering commitment to addressing the sexual and reproductive health challenges young people face in the region. She stated, "Our focus goes beyond mere statistics; it's about ensuring every girl has the choice, the right, and the support she needs. Unintended pregnancies are a stark reminder of broader systemic gaps, and we are dedicated to addressing them. Anjali Sen, Country Representative, UNFPA Indonesia, said, “Adolescent pregnancy is a global concern, but its impact is profoundly felt in Southeast Asia. It is a challenge that affects not only the health and well-being of young girls but also the socio-economic development of our nations.”   Adolescent pregnancy, particularly adolescent girls, significantly affects young individuals' health and well-being. It often leads to reduced educational opportunities and limited employment and economic advancement prospects. This perpetuates cycles of disadvantage, inequality, poverty, and adverse health outcomes that impact young girls, their families, and their communities. 

In a remarkable show of unity and dedication, 95 dynamic delegates and youth leaders representing 24 Member Associations from the East, Southeast Asia, and Oceania Region convened in Bali, Indonesia, from October 16-18. This gathering, "Convergence For Change: Regional Meeting and Youth Forum," was a transformative platform for engaging presentations, insightful panel discussions, and a rich exchange of ideas. To be impactful in a changing world, IPPF must also evolve. This is the essence of Strategy 2028: The transformation of IPPF to effectively champion Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) for those who have been marginalised or excluded, with a strong focus on people-centred care, advancing the sexuality agenda, fostering solidarity for change, and nurturing the federation.  Tomoko Fukuda, IPPF ESEAOR Regional Director, set the tone for this momentous occasion with a resounding call to "bring the power together" and embark on a bold, forward-looking journey to address new challenges and opposition head-on. Strategy 2028 sets a new course that may be more challenging but ultimately leads to the same clear destination.

It’s a scene like many others around the world: a loving family pour over childhood photos, giggling and reminiscing about the memories. This particular scene takes place amongst the swaying palm trees and soft breeze rolling over the island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, and the child they are cooing over – then named Nathanial – is now a beautiful transgender woman, Natalia.   Born in New Zealand to Cook Islanders parents, 36-year-old Natalia (Talia) Lajpold, says she has always known she was female. Talia grew up in Australia and began her transitioning process at the age of 15. In the last year of her schooling, Talia decided to wear the girl’s uniform to school but was met with disapproval from the school authorities.   "A lot of people think [being transgender] is a choice but if I had a choice, I would choose for things to be normal, the way I was born. Because it’s really hard. High school was hard."   Being bullied by her peers as well as facing disapproval from teachers made school the primary source of rejection Talia faced as a young transgender girl. Throughout her childhood, she was criticised for her personality, interests and behaviour for being ‘too feminine.’  “Tutors and teachers would express concern. All her friends are girls and they thought something was wrong with her. They knew what it was, but they just didn’t want to name it or acknowledge it. Interestingly, we took her to an Anglican counselling service and the counsellor admitted that there’s nothing wrong with her,” shared Talia’s mother, Carolyn.  Despite the rejection Talia faced, she received immense love and support from her family and local LGBTQIA+ friendly organisations.   “I want to be a girl,” Talia once said to her mom. She also decided to write a letter to her dad.  Although Talia was initially worried about her father’s response about her desire to transition, Talia’s father assured her of his unconditional love. “You’re my child, why would I not support you? It doesn’t matter what you want to be, you just be yourself,” said Talia’s father, Jodef.  When the school didn’t approve of her transitioning, Talia’s family transferred her to a beauty school, where she started working as a young woman.  Now living in Rarotonga, the capital of the Cook Islands, Talia receives services from IPPF’s Member Association, the Cook Islands Family Welfare Association (CIFWA), including a prescription for hormone replacement therapy. She has also recently undergone gender-affirming surgery in Bangkok.  Since moving to the Cook Islands, Talia has seen immense support and acceptance towards the LGBTQIA+ community. Pride flags are on display throughout the island to endorse the recent decriminalization of homosexuality in April. Despite the Act never having never been applied, its symbolic nature meant that LGBTQIA+ people felt victimised and discriminated against as the law propagates a message of intolerance.  The rainbow community are integral to Cook Island’s culture. Known as Akava'ine, transgender women in the Cook Islands’ Māori culture hold cultural and societal significance where they are upheld as holders of knowledge, culture, compositions, and choreography. Talia has embraced the word Akava’ine as inspiration for the name of her homemade jewellery line.  Valery Wichman, the President of Te Tiare Association (TTA), one of the three main rainbow associations in the Cook Islands credited with advocating for the passing of the bill, explained: “Culturally and socially, we are accepted. We contribute to our community. We are considered masters of an art. It is a privileged position to have in our culture.”   Similarly, Dean Tangata, who is the Humanitarian Focal Point for CIFWA, added the significant role trans women have in the Cook Islands culture. According to Dean, “As soon as there is any event, the first people you seek out are the transgender community. You have to book them early as they are the costume makers. That's the position they hold in our cultural society - and it is a high status.”  Talia’s parents say they often receive questions about their child’s transitioning process, and they emphasise the importance of education about gender fluidity and the need to normalize LGBTQIA+ people and cultures within our communities. Talia, like many others, believes that this bill is an important milestone in reaching a brighter and more inclusive future.    Post uploaded on: ippf.org

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.