The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has today revealed it has sent a pre-action letter to the Government following the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's (FCDO) termination of IPPF’s ACCESS project funding, based on the Government’s unlawful decision to cut the foreign aid budget.  The UK's foreign aid spending is enshrined at 0.7% of GNI in the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015. The Government’s cuts, which reduce aid contributions to 0.5% of Gross National Income (GNI) and amount to a staggering £4.5 billion, will have a catastrophic impact on millions of the world's most vulnerable people, especially women and girls who have now been consigned to a bleak and uncertain future.  Having sought legal advice, IPPF believe that the Government's unilateral decision to reduce the percentage of GNI without amending the primary legislation under the International Development (Official Development Assistance Target) Act 2015 is unlawful, making any decision of the FCDO based on the cuts unlawful too. Under the proposed aid reduction, the IPPF is expected to lose £14.2 million in funding over the next three years despite an Accountable Grant Agreement (AGA) with the FCDO to support sexual and reproductive health service delivery until December 2023. Under the AGA, the FCDO was committed to providing up to £21 million for the U.K. Aid Connect ACCESS Consortium's efforts to enhance the sexual and reproductive health rights of some of the world's most marginalised and underserved people, including those living in extreme poverty, those living in humanitarian crises and those affected by HIV and AIDS. The consortium, led by the IPPF, specifically focused on providing support to groups in Lebanon, Mozambique, Nepal and Uganda. The vote taken on Tuesday in the House of Commons was not capable of legally amending the primary legislation,  a necessary step for making the cuts lawful. Unless the Government reverses its position, IPPF will proceed with filing for a judicial review. Dr Alvaro Bermejo, Director-General of the International Planned Parenthood Federation, said: "Since IPPF became aware of the Government's plans to slash the U.K.'s aid budget, it has taken every opportunity to demonstrate the unlawfulness of these cuts and the catastrophic impact they will have on millions of women, girls and marginalized people worldwide, and the thousands of lives that will be lost in the process.  "Sadly, the Government has not heeded our warnings, instead choosing to terminate the ACCESS grant. This means IPPF has been forced to send a pre-action letter to the Secretary of State, seeking an urgent review of the decision. We were further disappointed with yesterday’s motion in the House of Commons to introduce long lasting changes without going through due legislative process. "IPPF has not taken this decision lightly. This action is about fighting the injustice of the Government's ruling on behalf of the women and girls we serve and honouring the intent of IPPF and its member associations." In addition to the decision IPPF is seeking to have reviewed, the Government’s unlawful cuts to the foreign aid budget have had wider effects on IPPF. In total, IPPF could lose up to £72 million in funding over the next three years despite a commitment from the FCDO to support sexual and reproductive health care delivery. The loss of funding for IPPF means massive reductions and the potential closure of the U.K.'s flagship WISH (Women's Integrated Sexual Health) programme. This hugely successful initiative delivers life-saving contraception and sexual and reproductive health services for women and girls in some of the world's poorest and most marginalized communities. If allowed to continue operating until 2023, it would prevent an additional 7.5 million unintended pregnancies, 2.7 million unsafe abortions and 22,000 maternal deaths. Without additional funding, IPPF will be forced to close services in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Cote D'Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda, Mozambique, Nepal and Lebanon and may be forced to close services in an additional nine countries, withdrawing support for sexual and reproductive health services from approximately 4,500 service delivery points globally. Sadly, it will also mean the loss of over 480 IPPF staff supporting SRH service delivery in the FCDO supported countries. IPPF invites the Secretary of State to reinstate the aid budget and confirm the Government's commitment to the 0.7% aid target as a means of keeping its legally binding promises to millions of people worldwide. Notes to Editors: The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is a UK based charity committed to providing sexual and reproductive support to the world's most under-served communities. The IPPF operates in 142 countries, relies on volunteers and regularly receives financial support for national governments to support their global work.  Under the FCDO's unlawful reduction of UK foreign aid contributions to 0.5% of Gross National Income, the IPPF is expected to lose £14.2 million earmarked for support to vulnerable communities in Lebanon, Mozambique, Nepal and Uganda. The IPPF’s case against the Government is independently financed and no taxpayer money is being used to fund legal costs. END  For media queries please contact Regional Communications Manager Himanshi Matta; [email protected]   

Population Control Bill released by the Uttar Pradesh state government this month is neither evidence based nor aligned with principles of reproductive freedom and sexual rights. The bill proposes to offer multiple incentives to families that follow the two-child norm, and additional increments for those who have just one child. However, anyone in violation could be debarred from contesting local body elections, applying for government jobs or receiving any government subsidy. It overlooks the country’s commitments made at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD)+25 in the 2019, which states ‘reproductive rights rest on the recognition of the basic right of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children and to have the information and means to do so, and the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health’. “This is not the first time in India that the government has considered implementation of coercive population control policies. Time and again evidence has shown that such policies are not effective and have adverse outcomes. India’s family planning programes have seen great success and we request the government to not go down this dangerous path and instead continue its investment in increasing access to family planning health services,” said IPPF South Asia Regional Director Sonal Mehta.   We appeal to the civil society & sexual reproductive and health rights advocates to challenge this undemocratic, discriminatory, anti-rights bill. The draft bill is open for public feedback and recommendations. Suggestions can be submitted via email [email protected] till the 19th of July, 2021. We urge the Government of India to honour its commitments towards an equitable, sexual and reproductive rights based environment for each individual in the country.   END  

The Government of the United Kingdom’s decision to cut the aid budget comes as a double whammy for countries in South Asia region, where the public health system is under stress due to the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. The funding cut by the UK government comes just five months after US President Joe Biden repealed the Global Gag Rule, which was reinstated by former President Donald Trump in 2017.  The global gag rule had pushed organizations like IPPF and its Member Associations to scale down the life-saving abortion services, contraception, maternal health, and HIV prevention and treatment services. The significant loss of funding for International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF, a federation of 141 Family Planning Associations across the world) – totalling around £72 million (approximately $100 million USD) – has meant massive reductions to the sexual and reproductive health services to young people and mainly vulnerable women globally. In South Asia, UK funding supported the flagship WISH (Women’s Integrated Sexual Health) programme. This initiative delivered life-saving contraception and sexual and reproductive health services for thousands of women and girls in some of the world's poorest and most marginalized communities, including Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. The cuts also mean the closure of the ACCESS programe, which provided an evidence-based response to the specific sexual and reproductive health needs of marginalized communities. It was designed to work specifically in complex and challenging environments, including humanitarian settings in Nepal, Lebanon, Mozambique, and Uganda and was only six months into its implementation. ACCESS was designed to work alongside WISH to ensure that no one is left behind. The funding cut will impact the sexual and reproductive rights of around 5.9 million people in Pakistan in the next two years (2022-23). The discontinuation of funding by the end of this year is estimated to result in: 696,280 unintended pregnancies 1,188 maternal deaths and 76,366 unsafe abortions across Pakistan Syed Kamal Shah, Chief Executive Officer at Rahnuma-Family Planning Association of Pakistan, said: “This funding cut has significantly impacted IPPF and will affect the sexual and reproductive rights of millions of people in Pakistan in the next two years (2022-23), resulting in hundreds of thousands of unintended pregnancies, thousands of unsafe abortions and over a thousand maternal deaths – it is a betrayal to women and girls across Pakistan. Most private and public health centres were not operating during the pandemic, but we were able to continue providing sexual and reproductive health services due to the funding support, this cut will make it impossible to respond if we face another wave." Family Planning Association of Nepal, another affected organization estimates that more than 120,000 people from marginalized and vulnerable communities in disaster affected areas would be impacted by the termination of the ACCESS programme. Around 35 full-time staff and 100 part-time staff will also lose their job due to the cuts. Branch Manager at Family Planning Association of Nepal responded when asked about the effects on the ground: “ACCESS was a ray of hope during this difficult situation [the global pandemic]. This comes at a time when most sexual and reproductive health indicators (maternal mortality rates to unmet contraceptive needs) are on the decline, and people are being deprived of health services. Turning our backs during this pandemic, when communities are in dire need of health services, is not only cruel but also against the core values of being a healthcare provider.” Ms Sonal Mehta, IPPF Regional Director at South Asia Regional Office, criticized the move of FCDO (UK government) by highlighting donor accountability: “Our partners in the region had just started recovering after the US government’s decision to repeal the Global Gag rule, but UK cuts have pushed us back to where we started.  If NGOs don’t perform, donors make us accountable, but what do we do if donor countries suddenly change their policies without thinking about the people who depend on their support? We cannot just wait like this, too many lives are at risk.” END For media queries please contact South Asia Regional Communication Manager Himanshi Matta, +91-8860182310; [email protected]  

Our teams and families, based in India, at the International Planned Parenthood Federation’s South Asia Regional Office have been coping with the new wave of COVID-19. We, like millions of people in India, are trying to comfort each other by providing support through the resources available to us during these difficult times. No country has been spared during this pandemic, but it has highlighted major health inequalities and uncovered fragile healthcare systems, with those in the developing countries facing bigger health inequality gaps.  We hope to see an effective rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine in India and other countries in South Asia like Pakistan and Bangladesh where the situation is alarming. Mere availability will not be enough. There is a pressing need for vaccination education programes and campaigns to educate citizens over infection control. International Planned Parenthood Federation’s (IPPF) South Asia Regional Director Sonal Mehta said: “In these trying times, we stand in solidarity with our team based in India and friends working with the Member Association Family Planning Association of India. We offer our condolences to the thousands of families who have lost their loved ones during this crisis in India. At this moment, the health system in India is stretched, thousands of healthcare workers are risking their lives to provide treatment. We are keen to support and provide the much-needed vaccine education. Action is also required to break the chain of transmission, address the shortage of vaccine in the country and roll-out mass campaigns to encourage citizens to take the vaccine dose." IPPF will also continue to work with our Member Association Family Planning Association of India to provide humanitarian assistance to communities in need.  We are committed to supporting all health workers and supports the World Health Organization’s Vaccine Equity Declaration, which encourages countries to accelerate the equitable rollout of vaccines in every country, starting with health workers and those at highest risk for COVID-19. 

India becomes a leading advocate for abortion rights in South Asia region The passage of Medical Abortion of Termination (Amendment) Bill 2020 in the upper house of Indian parliament is a progressive decision and victory for women’s rights. We congratulate the Indian government and the civil society. India has now become the only country in South Asia region to provide abortion beyond 20 weeks. This will have an impact beyond India’s borders-- for the region-wide movement on legal, accessible and safe abortion. The change in Section 3 of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, allows to extend the upper limit for medical termination of pregnancy to 24 weeks, from the present stipulation of 20 weeks, for certain categories of women. These categories will include 'vulnerable women', rape survivors, victims of incest, pregnancies with foetal abnormalities and minors. While this win inspires us and other sexual and reproductive rights organizations, we hope action is taken to ensure all inequalities in access to abortion are addressed--- not only the polices but services are also designed to meet the needs of all.  Dr Kalpana Apte, Secretary General of Family Planning Association of India (IPPF Member Association in India), said: "The amendments to the MTP Act were much awaited and they would advance the reproductive healthcare agenda for women. The expanded access to safe abortions up to 24 weeks is great enabler helping women to exercise their reproductive rights. However, the full potential of these amendments can only become a reality if followed by appropriate systems strengthening. FPA India is committed to work towards translating these amendments as reality through grassroots level collective action."    ENDS  For media queries please contact Regional Communications Manager Himanshi Matta; [email protected]  

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has been recognized as one of the top-performing global health organizations for its commitment to putting gender equality into practice by the 2021 Global Health 50/50 Report (GH5050).  The report, “Gender equality: Flying blind in a time of crisis,” reviews the gender-related policies and practices of global organizations active in global health. It has placed IPPF in the top 5% of over 200 global health organizations reviewed. The organizations were assessed on four key areas: commitment to gender equality, gender equality and diversity policies at work, gender and geography of gender health leadership and gender responsive of health policy and programes. IPPF's Board Member & Transgender Activist Abhina Aher said;  "I am thrilled to see the GH5050 report place IPPF among the top 5% of the organizations across 201 organizations --in the global health space-- committed to gender equality and social justice. As a leading SRHR organization, IPPF is committed to creating a dynamic, futuristic, community centric and inclusive response. It is important to address the structural barriers especially for transwomen to create a more enabling environment for sustained access to health services." IPPF’s Global Lead for Gender & Inclusion Seri Wendoh said: “We are delighted that IPPF has been recognized for its progress and commitment to gender equality and inclusion by Global 50/50 2021. Ensuring IPPF is a progressive, inclusive and safe place for women and gender non-conforming people to work is a testament to the hard work and determination of individuals across IPPF. As a global healthcare organization with a focus on women and girls, it is only right and decent that we continue to look inwardly and improve at every step - as the report states: gender inequality is not inevitable - it’s something that we as people can help dismantle.” Manuelle Hurwitz, IPPF Director of Institutional Delivery said:  “To be classed as a very high scorer in the Global 50/50 2021 report  is an honour and is testament to the commitment of IPPF to gender equality and inclusion. I am proud of the work we are doing to invest and amplify women leaders at IPPF as we establish our Women in Leadership Initiative and of the ground-breaking work done by IPPF Member Associations to ensure gender equality, inclusion and diversity is an integral part of their advocacy, programmes and management.” IPPF’s Director-General Dr Alvaro Bermejo said: “I’m pleased to see that IPPF is a high scorer in the 2021 Global Health 50/50 report. But the report shows there is much more work to be done to dismantle the structural legacy of gender inequality, in order to truly advance gender-equality, diversity and inclusion in global health. We know that the majority of the workforce in our organizations are women, we know they are majority of our service users, and most importantly we know we must promote women at the top with determination because the gap everywhere is so very large. And in order to achieve parity one day, global health organizations need to act with urgency to make sure they have more women than men in positions of leadership. IPPF must and will lead by example, we will not shy away from our responsibility and commitment to shaping a future that has gender equality and female empowerment at the centre.” Kent Buse and Sarah Hawkes, Co-Directors, Global Health 50/50 said:  “On behalf of Global Health 50/50, we would like to congratulate IPPF for their strong performance in the 2021 Gender and Health Index. By taking deliberate and transparent actions IPPF keeps the pressure on themselves and others in the sector to continue pushing for change, and provides much needed hope that we can achieve gender equality in our quest for health, dignity and social justice for all.’  IPPF is committed to promoting feminist leadership at all levels of the organization. Our gender equality policy recognizes that progress to this end requires transformative complementary actions to promote women’s rights and empowerment, including addressing gender gaps, unequal policies and discrimination that have historically disadvantaged women and girls.