Sam Ntelamo, Head of IPPFAR Sub Office to the African Union and ECA Support Statement - 4th SDGs Youth Summit- Media Launch and stakeholders' forum - 28 October 2021   Minister, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Planning and Development Commission. UN Resident Coordinator, Ethiopia UN Resident Coordinator, Ghana Director, Technology, Climate Change, and Natural Resource Management Division, UN Association of Ethiopia The Youth Summit Team, Youth Advocates  for Ghana Distinguish participants, and guests Allow me to begin by extending my warm appreciation to everyone from the Youth Advocates Ghana and all stakeholders,  who have been working on the preparation of the 4th SDGs Youth Summit., IPPFAR supports this process which ensures to engage more young people in the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As you all know, the 2030 Agenda is an important political consensus document declaring UN Member States’ intent to work collectively towards achieving people-centered sustainable development. It includes many commitments about gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment, and sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. Both  goals on health (SDG 3) and gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment (SDG 5) include targets relating to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights. Equally, the Agenda 2063 is another guiding framework to African Union Member States, Civil society, and everyone else. It is an important guiding document that will help to achieve the Africa we want, and to achieve the African Development objectives through its Aspiration 6: which calls for: An Africa, whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children. We implore on African countries to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the SDGs in building economies that can sustain their development aspirations. This agenda  identifies areas the need to strengthen capacity and capacity-enabling approaches for a range of stakeholders, including international partners. It offers policymakers a new approach to development — one that puts Africans in the driver's seat. If well implemented, the SGDs have the potential  to improve people's lives in ways that are consistent with the African Union vision of an Africa capable of achieving its development. IPPF reaffirms its commitment to support the successful attainment of the goals, particularly those related SRHR and gender equality among the targets. Through our Member Associations regionally, we are now more than ever, focused on ensuring that governments make good on their commitments and implement the targets to improve the livelohoods of the citizens. In supporting our Member Associations work, we have produced a range of guides and information sheets to popularize the SDGs and how they can use them to make a change. In conclusion, I fully support the efforts of Youth Advocates Ghana and all partners, and stakeholders as they seek external support in their quest to raise young people voices through platforms like these, which provides space for them to discuss their Health and Well-being, human rights,  sexual reproductive health rights, and education and their rights to have a good future with dignity, respect, and inclusivity without leaving NO ONE BEHIND.  The media Launch is only a first step towards the main event of the Summit which will host African Youth to share their perspectives and to exchange their experiences, and concerns when it comes to the SDGs goals achievement with policymakers and leaders. I wish all the best for all the team, and in the end. I thank you.

Organised by the African Union Commission, the African Girls' Summit aims to accelerate the realisation of girls' rights, including the elimination of harmful practices such as female genital mutilation, early marriage, and breast-bandaging, as well as their rights to education and sexual and reproductive health. This is the third summit under this theme, the first edition having been held in Lusaka, Zambia from 26 to 27 November 2015, and the 2nd summit in Accra, Ghana from 21 to 24 November 2018. During the opening ceremony, the Representative of the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Violence against Children, Ms. Najat Maalla M'Jid, shared a strong message: "We must keep in mind that Africa's children and youth are Africa's capital, Africa's richest source of wealth, with a population that is growing and is expected to reach 830 million by 2050". In his speech, Niger’s Head of State, Mr. Mohamed Bazoum, said that the theme of the summit confirms "the commitment of African countries to work together for human development on the continent by relying in particular on women and youth.” According to him, "We have, through this meeting, the opportunity to analyse, monitor and better guide the actions of our States in terms of protection of the human rights of girls who constitute an important part of the population of our countries.”   IPPF participated through the intervention of its African Regional Director, Ms. Marie-Evelyne Pétrus-Barry, during two panels, respectively on the themes: "The impact of COVID-19 on women and girls: an integrated response" and "Young people engage with Member States to end harmful practices". During these exchanges, the Regional Director reaffirmed "IPPF's commitment to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, to protect their rights and to ensure the provision of and access to the services and information necessary to protect their health and well-being". She stressed the devastating impact of harmful practices on women's and girls' sexual and reproductive health, as well as their mental and psychosocial health: "Female genital mutilation and child marriage are both linked to high rates of maternal mortality and low use of family planning leading to unwanted pregnancies. They deprive women of the opportunity to be educated, to become imaginative, innovative and creative, to open up to new possibilities, and to enjoy the full benefits of decent work for themselves and their families.”   She also noted the work of its Member Associations in being innovative and resilient to the challenges of COVID-19. "They have, among other things, simultaneously developed telemedicine, door-to-door and their mobile clinics to meet the SRH needs of confined women, digitised sex education for young people deprived of school, etc." She also celebrated the work of young people and thanked them for their actions in promoting sexual and reproductive rights on the continent: "Thank you young women and men, thank you for all you are doing today, and for the many things you will still accomplish. I have great admiration for you, and I think I speak for many people of my age when I say that we admire you and are ready to learn from you.” It is IPPF's duty to support young people, especially young women and girls, and to give them all the support they need to realize and implement their collective commitments to sexual and reproductive rights. IPPF is, and will remain, at their side.

Today, IPPF Africa Region joins fellow pan-Africans in celebrating the ‘Africa Day’. This is a day marked on 25 May each year to commemorate the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which later became the African Union. The day provides an opportunity to recite the political and socio-economic achievements of African governments and African citizens. This year’s theme is dubbed: Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want. According to the African Union, ‘The purpose of commemorating Africa Day with the youths is to serve as a platform for showcasing Africa’s talent through the arts, culture, heritage, innovation and entrepreneurship, while at the same time making available the space for networking among the youths and invited stakeholders.’ The IPPF Africa Region has a vibrant youth volunteer network known as the Youth Action Movement (YAM), whose activities include creating awareness on sexual reproductive health rights (SRHR) information and services to their peers. Among the key approaches they use to do so is through music, art, song, dance, poetry, skits and other such performances, which are popular among young people. The YAM members creatively blend in SRHR messages within their performances, which help their peers easily understand important information being shared. Often, this leads to an uptake in young people’s access to youth-friendly centers in the IPPF Member Associations in their countries, from where they get more information and services pertaining to their sexual and reproductive health.    Notably, this year’s commemoration, just like last year, comes amidst the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, and which has led to loss of lives over the world, including in Africa. However, unlike last year, this year’s Africa Day celebrations come at a time when there is hope, owing to the COVID-19 vaccine, which is purposed to significantly reduce people’s adverse effects to coronavirus. Many African governments have demonstrated great efforts in ensuring as many of their citizens receive the COVID-19 vaccine. On this day, we celebrate the various strides that African governments have made in developing and implementing policies geared towards the improvement of the livelihoods, health and well-being of the African people. For more information about the work of IPPF Africa Region, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. 

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) welcomes the news of President Biden’s decision to keep his promise and repeal the harmful Global Gag Rule (GGR) - also known as the Mexico City Policy.    Since its expanded reintroduction in 2017 by the previous administration, the Global Gag Rule has contributed to an increase in unintended and high-risk pregnancies, unsafe abortions – culminating in unnecessary maternal deaths. For IPPF, 53 healthcare projects in 32 countries were impacted by GGR, with some Member Associations losing up to 60% of their funding.   IPPF’s Director-General, Dr Alvaro Bermejo said:    “I welcome the decision by President Biden to repeal the Global Gag Rule. The expanded reintroduction of the gag was callously designed to deny women the right to decide what happens to their body. Whilst we know this policy is intended as a tool to attack abortion care by the anti-choice movement, not only has it led to reproductive coercion, it has cut deeper into healthcare provision: from HIV prevention programs to maternal health to contraceptive access – no one was spared the fallout of this policy.   “What lies ahead of us is years of work to undo the harm caused by Global Gag Rule, and to build back a better and stronger relationship with the U.S. – one where our work is not under threat from future anti-sexual and reproductive health administrations. To protect the rights of future generations of women and girls, we ask that the Biden-Harris administration take the necessary steps to permanently repeal the Global Gag Rule. Without a permanent repeal, the global gag remains a constant threat to women, girls, youth and marginalized communities. Reproductive rights, bodily autonomy and the human right to decide what happens to your body cannot be at the mercy of a pen stroke.   “IPPF looks on with hope and welcomes the opportunity to work closely with the Biden-Harris administration to protect and advance sexual and reproductive healthcare for all.”   And President and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Alexis McGill Johnson said:  “Over the past four years, the United States didn’t just fail to support global reproductive health care access — it actively blocked it. Today, we applaud the beginning of a new chapter, as the Biden-Harris administration puts an end to the devastating global gag rule, which has prevented millions of people around the world from receiving essential health care. We look forward to working alongside the administration and Congress to pass the Global HER Act, to permanently protect access to sexual and reproductive health care across the globe from changes in White House political control. It is long past time that the United States proudly declares to the world that reproductive rights are human rights.”     IPPF would like to thank the international community who stepped in and stepped up to help fill the funding gap that was left by the Global Gag Rule. Together, we will continue to fight and deliver sexual and reproductive health and rights.

8 March 2021. Today, IPPF Africa Region joins the rest of the world in celebrating the International Women’s Day (IWD). This is a day set aside to reflect, assess, honor and recognize the important role that women play in society. It is a day to celebrate the social, economic and political achievements of women across the world. This year, the IWD theme is ‘Women in Leadership’. Incidentally, this year’s IWD comes at a time when the world is celebrating the recent appointment of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the World Trade Organization’s Director General. She becomes the first woman and the first African to ever hold this influential position. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment is a significant step towards gender equality, more so where by 2030, the world is expected to have achieved gender equality as set out in the Sustainable Development Goals. In the African political scene, we celebrate the achievements of women who have held the powerful positions of Heads of State; Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia, Joyce Banda of Malawi, and Catherine Samba-Panza of the Central African Republic. In African Parliaments, the efforts of countries like Rwanda, South Africa, Senegal and Namibia have affirmatively taken steps to increase the representation of women. Though this is not enough for the continent, it is still worth noting. This year’s IWD also comes at a time when the world is reeling from the effects of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Various players in both the public and private sectors have been involved in curbing the spread of the disease and mitigating its' effects. In different capacities, women have led their countries’ national responses to COVID-19. Most notably are the 12 women Ministers of Health from the countries of Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Tanzania, Somalia, Republic of Congo, Egypt, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau, Liberia and Burkina Faso, whose leadership in these influential dockets is significant. At the grassroots level, women led and continue to lead hundreds of community initiatives in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. They are frontline workers, mobilizers services, community health volunteers and have been involved in the production of millions of sanitizers, masks and protective gear. Initiatives such as Wheels for Life, a free taxi service in Kenya championed by Dr. Jemimah Kariuki saved the lives of hundreds of pregnant women who needed delivery services during the curfew hours. At the IPPF Africa Region, we remain committed to advancing women’s leadership across all levels. 41% of our Member Associations (MAs) have women as Executive Directors, while 47% of the Youth Action Movement (YAM) - IPPF Africa Region volunteer youth governance arm,  have young women as their Presidents. We have put in place organizational structures, policies and practices that have ensured that women’s growth and success in leadership is not curtailed and we are determined to continue and do better. While Africa has achieved notable progress in women in leadership positions, we still have a long way to go. There is still a lot more to do to ensure women are treated as equals in positions of power. IPPFAR reiterates its commitment to the achievement of gender equality in the continent.

10 December 2020. IPPF Africa Region joins the world in marking the International Human Rights Day. This year, the theme of the international human rights day is: “Recover Better – Stand up for Human Rights”. During these dire times of the pandemic, human rights violations have continued everywhere in the world. In Africa, numerous incidents of use of excessive force, arbitrary arrests or detention, restrictions on civic space, and blanket denial of the right to seek asylum during the implementation of COVID-19 prevention measures have been reported. For example, in Kenya, the manner of enforcement of emergency measures by police amplifi­ed negative human rights impacts, and led to deaths, injuries, sexual and gender-based violence and hundreds of arrests. In South Africa, the army and the police were accused of shooting, beating, teargassing and water bombing people suspected of violating lockdown measures. The same was witnessed in Ivory Coast where police clashed with citizens who were protesting against the establishment of a coronavirus testing center in the capital city of Abidjan. While public health protocols and control measures are indeed necessary, they should not come at the expense of people’s human rights. According to UN Women, prior to the pandemic, violence against women across the world was already alarmingly high, with nearly one in five women (18%) experience violence in the past 12 months at the hands of an intimate male partner. With COVID-19, an increased reporting of domestic violence has surfaced, with a staggering 40% rise in some countries. The pandemic has forced victims to stay at home with their abusers, leaving them with few opportunities to seek shelter or solace. Access to vital sexual and reproductive health services, including for women subjected to violence, have become more limited. Other services, such as hotlines, crisis centers, shelters, legal aid, and protection services have been scaled back, further reducing access to the few sources of help that women in abusive situations might have. Victims in the world’s poorest countries, especially those with already-existing humanitarian crises, are the most vulnerable. As the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights recently stated : «COVID 19 is a test of societies, of governments, of communities and of individuals. Now is the time for solidarity and cooperation to tackle the virus, and to mitigate the effects, often unintended, of measures designed to halt the spread of the virus. Respect for human rights across the spectrum, including economic, social, cultural, and civil and political rights, will be fundamental to the success of the public health response and recovery from the pandemic.». The norms and principles of human rights should guide governments’ responses to COVID-19, with these rights strengthening the public health response to the pandemic. People’s fundamental human rights, such as the right to life and duty to protect life and the right to health and access to healthcare, that are enshrined in Constitutions and embedded in various international instruments must be respected, regardless of the prevailing circumstances. IPPF Africa Region takes this opportunity to call upon all relevant authorities to ensure that everyone’s human rights are respected, protected and fulfilled in the response to the pandemic.