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Rio de Janeiro, November 2024 – The International Planned Parenthood Federation’s Americas and the Caribbean Regional Office (IPPF ACRO) has been at the forefront of advocacy efforts, urging the G20 to address the escalating crisis in Haiti. During the Civil 20 (C20) Engagement Group discussions, IPPF ACRO played a key role in driving forward a joint statement that calls on the G20, under Brazil’s presidency, to take decisive action to support Haiti amidst its deepening humanitarian emergencies.  The statement, delivered to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, highlights the alarming political instability and escalating violence in Haiti, which have severely impacted vulnerable populations. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), at least 35,000 people have fled their homes since early 2024, and over 600,000 Haitians are now displaced. The compounded crises have severely threatened fundamental rights, particularly the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls in all their diversity, who face heightened risks of gender-based violence.  Throughout this year, IPPF ACRO has consistently championed the inclusion of Haiti’s crisis on the G20 agenda. “The situation in Haiti is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by the Caribbean in the face of climate change, political instability, and deep-seated inequality,” said Alessandra Nilo, C20 Sherpa and IPPF ACRO’s External Relations Director. “We pushed for this statement because it is imperative that the G20, especially under Brazil’s leadership, acknowledges the urgent need for action. Women and girls in Haiti are bearing the brunt of this crisis, and they cannot wait any longer for the international community to act.”  Jeffthanie Mathurin, midwife, Member of the Board of Trustees and spokesperson of the Midwife Association of Haiti, IPPF Member Association in the country, further emphasized the urgency of the situation: “The time has come for social solidarity to transition from words to actions, from statements to safeguards, from declarations to transformations. Stand with Haiti, stand with our midwives, with our women and girls, and with every community affected by this crisis. Together, let us ensure that our shared humanity does not turn into a fleeting ideal, but rather a strong force for peace, dignity, and justice for all Haitians.”  IPPF ACRO remains committed to centering the voices of local organizations and communities in the response to Haiti’s crisis. “We believe in a response that prioritizes the rights and needs of those most affected, particularly in access to critical maternal health care and sexual and reproductive health services,” emphasized Eugenia López Uribe, Regional Director of IPPF ACRO. “We call on the G20 leaders to recognize that true resilience and recovery for Haiti must be rooted in ensuring the fundamental rights of its people, especially women and girls.”  The joint statement by the C20, Women 20, and Labour 20 Engagement Groups calls on the G20 to speak out in favor of restructuring Haiti’s healthcare system, including essential maternal health care and sexual and reproductive health services. The statement urges G20 leaders to include a commitment in the official Communiqué for zero tolerance towards sexual and gender-based violence and immediate protection measures for women, children, and those most at risk in Haiti.  “At a time of multiple global crises, we cannot forget Haiti,” added Nilo. “Decades of colonial exploitation, compounded by climate impacts, have created the conditions for today’s instability. The G20 must step up and commit to a future where human rights are protected, and no one is left behind.”      About the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and the Americas & the Caribbean Regional Office (IPPF ACRO)  IPPF is a global healthcare provider and a leading advocate of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all. Led by a courageous and determined group of women, IPPF was founded in 1952 at the Third International Planned Parenthood Conference. Today, we are a movement of 150 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 146 countries. we have focused our work on advocating for sexual and reproductive health and rights across the region, with a special focus on abortion, contraception, maternal health, comprehensive sexuality education, child marriage and early unions, LGBTQ+ people, and HIV care.  At the IPPF Americas and the Caribbean Regional Office (IPPF ACRO), we take pride in being local through our Member Associations and Collaborative Partners ,present in 30 countries of our region:  Antigua & Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Curaçao, Dominica, Ecuador, Guadalupe, Guatemala, Granada, Guyana, Haïti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, St. Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, and the United States of America.  For more information: Andrea Alcalá Frutos +52 (33) 1409 6790 

Haz click aquí para leer este boletín en español.   IPPF expresses our concern about the situation in Venezuela and our total solidarity with its people, who on 28 July received the news from the National Electoral Council (CNE) that the current president, Nicolás Maduro, was elected for a third presidential term. There are serious allegations of a lack of transparency in the process and we join the international community in demanding the publication of the election results, because, as of today, July 31st, the CNE has not shown the results of the election to prove the victory of Nicolás Maduro.    It is worrying that the state security forces have responded with violence and repression since the beginning of the mobilisations, which continue, with hundreds of people arrested and a growing number of deaths. In addition to the current emergency, inequality, gender inequality and lack of access to health services, including sexual and reproductive health, have been on the rise for the past 25 years.    It is impossible to forget: in Venezuela, the number of femicides has doubled in the last 6 years; 28.7% of people of sexual and gender diversity have been victims of violence by state security forces; 91.5% of complaints of violence against women are shelved or dismissed; legislation on abortion is extremely restrictive and services are very limited; in addition, 7.7 million people have been forced to move because of the socio-political context.   With extreme concern, IPPF in the Americas and the Caribbean condemns the Venezuelan government's repression and violence against citizen mobilisations. It is unacceptable that while exercising their right to protest and free expression, Venezuelans are victims of criminalization and physical and political violence.  IPPF ACRO joins the Venezuelan society in their demands for respect of democracy because the will of the people through authentic elections is a right and must be guaranteed by the State.    ‘The situation in Venezuela further exacerbates the escalation of authoritarianism and violence in our region,’ said Alessandra Nilo, Director of External Relations at IPPF ACRO. ‘Democracy is conducive to states that guarantee and advance rights, including sexual and reproductive rights which, we know, in times of high tension and crisis, are the first to be violated. At this difficult time, we demand that the Venezuelan State returns to the democratic path, strengthens its institutions and respects the rights and wishes of its people. It is essential to protect the dignity and hope of all people, especially girls and women in all their diversity.’    ‘IPPF ACRO and Member and Partner Associations in the region are attentive to the development of events, we remain committed to Venezuelan people and their integral wellbeing, and we will continue to provide sexual and reproductive health care and services in Venezuela and, given the projected intensification of the migration wave, also in surrounding countries such as Colombia, Peru and Ecuador.’    Header image credit: REUTERS/Leonardo Fernandez Viloria

March 4th 2024 - IPPF ACRO expresses deep concern about the recent upsurge in violence in Haiti and the release of over 4,000 prisoners in a gang-led jailbreak, which exacerbates the challenges faced by an already vulnerable population in a context of political and security crisis. To date, more than 300,000 people have been forced to flee their homes amid waves of indiscriminate killings, abductions, arson and rape. We call for the protection of children, women, and the most vulnerable, recognizing that in situations of conflict and instability currently prevailing in Haiti, gender-based violence against women and girls increases and human rights protections are significantly weakened. As millions of Haitians flee their homes or go into hiding, we must remember that civil unrest in any part of the world adversely affects access to  life-saving sexual and reproductive health services and rights disproportionately affectingwomen, girls, and members of the LGBTQI+ community As the Prime Minister of Barbados, the Honorable Mia Amor Mottley stated in her address to the UN General Assembly in 2022: "The world owes Haiti a solution.”. IPPF ACRO joins social movements, communities and international organizations to call for an immediate peaceful resolution to the conflict and the protection of human rights, especially for those most affected by the recent upsurge in violence.

For immediate release:  Antigua Planned Parenthood Association (APPA) / International Planned Parenthood Federation - Americas and The Caribbean Regional Office (IPPF ACRO) Statement on the government of Antigua and Barbuda re-examining abortion laws.    As the government announces a re-examination of existing abortion laws in Antigua and Barbuda the Antigua Planned Parenthood Association (APPA) is pleased that policymakers have heard the call of millions of women worldwide in the wake of the detrimental ruling of Roe vs. Wade in the U.S.A.   Access to abortion has been criminalized in Antigua and Barbuda since 1895, however, the government has acknowledged that the legal status has not prevented abortions with Chief of Staff in the Office of the Prime Minister, Lionel Hurst, commenting “We know that it is better to have it done by a doctor than the practice used by some of having non-professionals engaged in this system – because it can cause permanent damage”.  The recognition that the current legislation has caused more harm than good, is certainly an encouraging first step toward the right to bodily autonomy for the women and girls in the country.   “In our local context, the laws which criminalize abortion do not prevent the practice but certainly restrict access to safe and timely medical care. Decriminalizing abortion care would mean access to often life-saving care is a reality for women in Antigua and Barbuda.” - Lyndale Weaver-Greenaway, Executive Director at Antigua Planned Parenthood Association    The mission of the Antigua Planned Parenthood Association (APPA), established in 1970, is “to advance the sexual and reproductive well-being of the Antiguan and Barbudan population by providing safe, efficient, and affordable sexual and reproductive health services including family planning”  Dona Da Cosa Martinez, Deputy Regional Director of International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Americas and The Caribbean Regional Office commends the government's recognition of the need for re-examination of restrictive laws that do more harm than good for its citizens., “Antigua and Barbuda are now at the height of making the changes which are necessary to ensure the protection and fulfillment of the human rights of all its citizens to have full access to reproductive care, and in doing so, establishing a precedent for the rest of the Caribbean to follow. Now is the time for regional leaders to ensure free and full access to safe abortion care in all their countries.”    The Antigua Planned Parenthood Association (APPA) is an Associate Member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), a movement of 120 autonomous members with a presence in over 146 countries. Member Associations provide non-profit family planning services, sexual health, and abuse prevention training and education. IPPF’s goals include giving clients the information necessary to make informed sexual health decisions, promoting continuous sexual health, and making high-quality sexual health services available.