2014 was our third year implementing IPPF’s three Change Goals – Unite, Deliver and Perform. We have monitored the trajectory of our growth in performance to date, and are already seeing remarkable success in all three areas, as presented in our Annual Performance Report 2014-2015.   Member Associations and collaborative partners in 55 countries contributed to 81 changes in policy or legislation that support or defend sexual and reproductive health and rights. At the regional and global levels, IPPF’s advocacy contributed to 18 changes, of which 12 were advances in safeguarding sexual and reproductive health and rights in the post-2015 development framework. With the delivery of 149.3 million services in 2014, we are on track to achieve our ambitious target of doubling the number of sexual and reproductive health services provided between 2010 and 2015.   Over eight in ten clients who accessed services were poor and vulnerable, while almost half of our services went to young people. IPPF’s achievements in 2014 contribute to a strong performance culture where decisions are based on data, organizational learning happens at all levels, technical support is provided to increase effectiveness, and investments are made to support communities most in need.

The second report in our Vision 2020 series, this publication, "SRHR- the key to gender equality and women’s empowerment" sets out how SRHR is critical to gender equality and women’s empowerment across three dimensions. It explores how ensuring universal access to SRHR can promote economic growth, social equity and political participation. Pathways of empowerment This report examines the links between sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender equality. It explores the different pathways of empowerment that girls and women experience, and analyzes how these pathways are affected by sexual and reproductive health and rights. Policy focus and attention given to gender equality and women’s empowerment has been growing over the last decade, and there are some areas where links are established more conclusively. Although there is strong documentation on the health benefits of investment in sexual and reproductive health, until recently the non‑medical benefits, such as higher levels of social and political participation, have been largely ignored, partly because they are difficult to measure. While the social and economic implications of sexual and reproductive health and rights are often overlooked, they are no less real. More attention is needed to explore the links between sexual and reproductive health and rights and other critical areas relating to gender equality, such as the representation of women in political and public life. Methodology and priority themes For the purposes of this report, and in line with accepted wisdom on emerging areas of priority, we focus on the following core areas relating to gender equality: 1) equality in social development, 2) economic participation and 3) participation in political and public life. Within each area, we discuss key links with sexual and reproductive health and rights as well as identifying ways in which these links contribute to empowerment experienced by girls and women. IPPF carried out desk reviews of existing policy research: over 350 references were reviewed on the following focus areas: „ sexual and reproductive health and rights and the social development of girls and women (including health, education, and freedom from sexual and gender-based violence)  sexual and reproductive health and rights and women’s economic participation sexual and reproductive health and rights and women’s participation in political and public life    Resources were gathered for review using three main methods:  1) electronic database searching,  2) cross-referencing of reference lists of related articles and reviews and  3) consultation with experts in the fields of sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender equality.  Papers were prioritized for inclusion if they met a number of criteria: if they appeared to provide a clear international policy overview of key review themes and evidence given from a rights-based perspective, with statistically proven linkages, case studies and/or findings from qualitative studies; were published recently, and within the last 10 years; were published in English; corresponded most closely to agreed keyword searches; and were cited widely.  During the first phase, these methods were used to search the libraries of an agreed group of multi‑lateral institutions; key donors and governments; non‑governmental organizations working in the fields of sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality and development; and key global and regional partnerships. Findings were then verified and enriched, with gaps identified and filled, using searches in relevant public health and gender journals, along with regional and national policy reports and studies that fitted the search criteria closely and/or that came recommended.  

Men are husbands, partners, fathers, brothers and sons, and their lives are intertwined with that of women, children and other men. Across the world, rigid gender norms, and harmful perceptions of what it means to be a man have far reaching consequences on health and wellbeing. However, growing evidence shows that where men and boys are engaged in tackling gender inequality and promoting women’s choices, the resulting outcomes are positive and men and women are able to enjoy equitable, healthy and happy relationships. A new collection of case studies – The Men and Boys Collection: Stories of gender justice and sexual and reproductive health and rights – highlight some of the ways that IPPF Member Associations are supporting gender equality and the sexual and reproductive health needs of men and boys. From Bolivia to Indonesia and Palestine to Zambia – 12 personal stories from 12 countries across the globe provide personal accounts of the journeys that men and boys are making in their sexual and reproductive lives and as champions for gender justice.

Key facts and figures highlighting IPPF's achievements in 2013. IPPF provided 136.6m sexual and reproductive health services and averted 580,000 unsafe abortions.

The key legal barrier to accessing services in the UK is the almost total prohibition on abortion in Northern Ireland and the need to travel to England and pay for abortion which disproportionately disadvantages young women. Lack of legally mandated comprehensive sexuality education, and lack of legal recognition of people who do not identify within the gender-binary norms or are intersex, also represent significant barriers to access. There are many permissive and facilitative laws and practices in the UK, which should ensure good access to SRH services, and are intended to be protective without hampering access to services, but access is compromised by other factors including: conflict between the stigma associated with younger aged sex (especially for girls) and media and peer cultures endorsing sexual activity bad delivery of sex education by teachers who are uncomfortable with the subject, which reinforces taboos concerns about the confidentiality of services in spite of legal obligations on service providers – especially in schools which often operate their own rules on reporting sexually active teens, and in small rural communities where service providers and pharmacists may know the young person’s family quality of service for LGBT youth may be poorer because of lack of knowledge or understanding of same-sex sexuality or non-binary gender identities most young people and service providers don’t see the law as an obstacle to services though beliefs about the age of consent does prevent some young people seeking SRH services the legal right of schools to refuse to teach CSE and of individual parents to withdraw children from classes reinforces the idea that informing young people about sex is corrupting and that young people have no independent rights regarding information and access to health services where CSE does exist it often focuses solely on the biological and inadequately addresses the law and young people’s rights within it young people report being reliant on information from the internet which includes poor sources of information and porn robust laws against sexual violence are undermined by victim-blaming and the low rate of rape prosecutions and convictions, which prevents people coming forward to report rape access to antenatal care is good and not perceived to be limited by legal issues Northern Ireland has different laws and practices to other parts of Britain and these are less permissive, more restrictive and more likely to present barriers to access. These reflect a more conservative culture which negatively impacts access even where it is not restricted by law. girls are more likely to conceal their or delay accessing services as all pregnancy options are stigmatised - young motherhood, adoption and abortion cultural and religious norms in Northern Ireland promote abstinence before marriage and reinforce stigma around youth sexuality which hampers discussion between young people and their parents the law in NI doesn’t require teaching of LGBT issues having to travel to specialist services represents a high cost, presents difficulties maintaining privacy and acting independently from parents and is a significant barrier for youth in rural areas especially in Northern Ireland which is underserved 

2013 was our second year implementing IPPF’s three Change Goals – Unite, Deliver and Perform. We have monitored the trajectory of our growth in performance to date, and are already seeing remarkable success in all three areas, as presented in our Annual Performance Report 2013-2014. Member Associations in 66 countries contributed to 97 changes in policy or legislation that support or defend sexual and reproductive health and rights. At the regional and global levels, IPPF’s advocacy contributed to 13 changes, of which ten were advances in safeguarding sexual and reproductive health and rights in the post-2015 development framework. With the delivery of 136.6 million services in 2013, we are on track to achieve our ambitious target of doubling the number of sexual and reproductive health services provided between 2010 and 2015. Eight in ten clients who accessed services were poor and vulnerable, and for the first time ever, almost half of our services went to young people. IPPF’s achievements in 2013 contribute to a strong performance culture where decisions are based on data, organizational learning happens at all levels, technical support is provided to increase effectiveness, and investments are made to support communities most in need.

This report – the first in our Vision 2020 series – focuses on why sexual and reproductive health and rights should be at the core of sustainable development from the outset. Without them, the lives of women and girls will be compromised, as will people’s ability to lift themselves out of poverty and to live sustainably within their resources. Our focus for this first report is goal 1 of Vision 2020 which calls on governments to ensure that by 2015 a new international framework includes sexual and reproductive health and rights as essential priorities.

Watch the accompanying video report by the young people involved! Love, sexual rights and young people: learning from our peer educators how to be a youth-centred organisation celebrates the involvement of young people in planning, implementing and evaluating activities describes a participatory assessment methodology used in a multi-country project assesses the achievements of the A+ programme advocates for innovative strategies for all, including marginalised groups recommends using a gender-equity lens in all aspects of activity delivery Young people in these case-studies highlighted how marginalisation and exclusion affect young people’s sexual and reproductive health and rights. Peer educators identified groups of people who are particularly vulnerable, such as those living in rural areas and urban slums, and those involved in drugs, sex work and hard labour.  The participants suggested new approaches combining income generation, education, access to services along with confidence building, and improving communication between girls, boys and adults in communities. A comprehensive report on a multi-country project: providing youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services and comprehensive sexuality education; and advocating for the creation of safe spaces for young people. A youth centred approach to thinking, planning, management, programming and change is a way of working which promotes organisational development; and ways of working that are holistic, integrated, and not based on an issue or a target group. Many of the member associations involved young people in all aspects of the programme. In all settings young people worked alongside the programme staff to evaluate the impact of the project and to learn the best way in which to involve young people at all levels of youth programming. Work on sexual and reproductive rights is transformational, both psychologically and emotionally, when services expand beyond clinical treatment of illness alone. Sexual and reproductive health services can provide space where young people feel included, listened to, and able to express their concerns about relationships and sexual choices. Organisational issues are addressed including sustainability, communication, accountability, efficiency, effectiveness, financial issues and equity. Includes: a case study of an A+ project in Benin: ‘Rights and realities: strengthening adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights in Benin’ a case study of an A+ project in Kenya: ‘No shame in reality: young people open up about sex, health and relationships in Oyugis, Kenya’ a case study of an A+ project in Nepal: ‘Hesitating at the door: differences in perceptions between genders and generations on sexual and reproductive health and rights in Kaski, Nepal' a case study of an A+ project in Nicaragua: ‘The better option: young people’s participation in sexual rights and services in Nicaragua’ a list of indicators to measure organisational commitment to youth programming a list of how things would be for young people in an ideal world a chart comparing the characteristics of an organisation beginning its journey towards being youth-centred and an organisation that is youth-centred  

Key facts and figures highlighting IPPF's achievements in 2012. IPPF provided 112.7m sexual and reproductive health services and averted 550,000 unsafe abortions.

In 2000 the United Nations launched the Millennium Development Goals. The world agreed to take action against poverty. Although progress has been made, we are still far from eradicating poverty.  Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are central to this vision. Sustainable development and gender equality will be achieved when everyone has access to sexual and reproductive health, the right to bodily integrity, and control over all matters related to their sexuality. Millions of lives have been saved and changed through reproductive health services. In many regions, laws and policies are in place to protect reproductive rights and prevent discrimination against women and girls.  However, despite these advances there are still challenges: global funding for SRHR has decreased radically while 222 million women and girls world-wide still lack access to the contraceptives they want to use.  The next few years will see the creation of a new development framework. This presents us with an unparalleled opportunity to secure a world of justice, choice and well-being for all. Ultimately, it will lead to sustainable development.  IPPF is inviting partners and supporters in the development community and beyond to make these goals a reality in every community around the world.  Sign up today to pledge your support. We'll keep you informed with latest news and details on how you can get involved.