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Americas & the Caribbean
Breaking: IPPF Global Research Exposes Devastating Impact of the Trump Administration
Over Half of Partners and $85 Million Affected
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| 09 April 2025
Breaking: IPPF Global Research Exposes Devastating Impact of the Trump Administration
8 April 2025 – A new global survey of partners conducted by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has revealed the widespread impact of the Trump Administration’s funding cuts, putting essential sexual and reproductive healthcare at risk for millions worldwide. From the responses received, the findings show: 72 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners (62%) currently receive funding from one of the affected sources. Of those that receive core funding from IPPF, over half (57%) are facing funding cuts. This indicates that a significant majority of IPPF’s partners are facing disruptions, impacting access to essential sexual and reproductive health services worldwide. 156 critical healthcare projects are either already terminated or at risk. At least $85.2 million in funding is directly affected or already cut. 1,737 staff members across affected organisations could lose their jobs or already have. 3,961 service delivery points, including clinics and mobile units, are at risk of closure or have already closed. 8.5 million people could lose access to lifesaving SRH services. These funding cuts are expected to have severe consequences on people’s lives for the communities we serve. If all funding at risk is indeed cut, IPPF estimates this will result in an additional 3,844 maternal deaths, over 3 million unintended pregnancies, and 756,010 unsafe abortions. These impacts will also place a heavy financial burden on national health systems. The impact of the Trump Administration’s actions is particularly severe in Africa and South Asia, where many IPPF Member Associations depend on international funding to provide contraception, maternal healthcare, and HIV prevention services. In Venezuela, U.S. funding cuts are projected to slash up to 30% of the Member Association’s 2025 annual budget, with an estimated $229,650 in lost project funding. These cuts will affect 10% of the sexual and reproductive health services provided by the IPPF Member, placing 30% of its staff at risk. Approximately 2,500 clients stand to lose access to care—an alarming number, especially as the organization is among the few still offering services for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, particularly migrating women and girls. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, an estimated $10,000 in lost project funding will impact 90% of SVPPA’s sexual and reproductive health services. The organization is facing the potential loss of its entire staff, threatening its ability to operate. With 8 service delivery points at risk, these cuts could eliminate access to vital care, particularly for young people, in one of the country’s few youth-friendly providers. In the United States, independent reports outside of this survey indicate that the Trump Administration intends to freeze funding for affordable contraception and reproductive health care for low-income individuals who rely on Planned Parenthood health centers. To address the immediate crisis, IPPF has launched a Harm Mitigation Task Force to assess the evolving situation and provide emergency funding to its most affected Member Associations and Collaborative Partners. The first round of grants will be issued in April 2025, in an effort to ensure that critical healthcare services and access to life saving health commodities can continue. “We will not allow political decisions to determine who can and cannot access healthcare,” said Dr. Alvaro Bermejo, Director-General of IPPF. “At IPPF, we are doubling down. We are a resilient Federation with a long history of overcoming challenges. Our focus now is on mitigating harm, mobilising new resources, and ensuring that people who rely on us for care are not left behind.” For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected] To support our Emergency Fund for IPPF Member Associations and Collaborative Partners most impacted by the funding cuts, click here. NOTES In February 2025, IPPF launched a survey to hear from its Member Associations and Collaborative Partners about the impact of the actions of the Trump administration. We asked them about programmes cancelled both from direct US sourced funds and indirectly through other impacted sources as well as the effect this would have on their staff, service delivery points, clients served, and SRH commodities. The survey was completed by 117 of IPPF’s 158 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners. IPPF will do a follow-up survey in mid-2025 to assess ongoing impacts, acknowledging that the situation is changing rapidly. Through the survey process, the value reported by MAs and CPs of their current funding affected is at least $48.8 million. This includes funding already lost or funding at risk across affected sources. There is a further $20.9 million in 44 pending proposals that now won’t come to fruition. Additionally, the IPPF Secretariat stands to lose $15.5 million in contracted work. Altogether, IPPF’s total estimated funding affected is $85.2 million.

| 27 March 2025
We condemn Trinidad and Tobago’s Upholding Criminalization of Same-Sex Activity
The Trinidad and Tobago Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold the criminalization of consensual same-sex activity is an alarming assault on human rights. This ruling, which reinstates the criminality of private, consensual intimacy, is a direct violation of the fundamental rights of LGBTQI+ people and a stark reminder of the colonial-era laws that continue to inflict harm across the Caribbean. IPPF Americas and the Caribbean Regional Office (ACRO) together with local member Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago (FPATT) stand unequivocally with LGBTQI+ communities in Trinidad and Tobago and across the region. We reject this ruling and any legislation that denies people their right to love freely and live with dignity. This decision reflects a justice system with oppressive statutes that have no place in a just and democratic society. According to Eugenia López Uribe, Regional Director of IPPF ACRO, this ruling is not just a setback for LGBTQI+ rights, it is an attack on human dignity: “It is a deliberate attempt to silence, criminalize, and exclude a part of citizens and people living in the country. But let this be clear: IPPF regional office in the Americas and the Caribbean will continue fighting for and with the LGBTQI+ movement so they won’t be silenced. IPPF will not back down. LGBTQI+ people’s rights are non-negotiable. " Criminalizing LGBTQI+ lives perpetuate violence, discrimination, and stigma. It emboldens hate, undermines access to justice, and creates a climate of fear where LGBTQI+ individuals are forced to live in further vulnerability. Research published by CAISO: Sex and Gender Justice’s Wholeness and Justice programme in 2023 indicate that 1 in 3 LGBTQI+ individuals in Trinidad and Tobago experience discrimination and harassment, 1 in 4 face family violence, and 1 in 4 experience physical assault. “FPATT [Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago] notes the recent Court of Appeal decision that affirms an old law before independence that criminalizes persons of a different orientation, due to a technicality- the saving law clause,” says Professor Rose Marie Antoine, FPATT’s Board of Trustees President. “Interestingly, the British colonial masters that drafted that law have long abolished it. We note too that this was not a unanimous court decision. FPATT looks forward to the day when our legal system and laws can reflect true equity and non-discrimination, serving all our nation’s peoples in their access to fundamental rights and protecting vulnerable groups from harm and violence. FPATT will continue to welcome and serve all people regardless of their sexual orientation.” We call for urgent action: The immediate repeal of Sections 13 and 16 of the Sexual Offences Act. A commitment from Caribbean governments to decriminalize same-sex relations and protect LGBTQI+ individuals from discrimination and violence. An end to the use of colonial-era "savings law" clauses to justify human rights violations. Now is the time for every human rights defender, policymaker, and ally to take a stand. LGBTQI+ people in Trinidad and Tobago—and across the Caribbean, our region and the world—deserve justice, equality, and the freedom to live without fear. IPPF will not stop until that is a reality. For more information, please contact [email protected] - +44 7918 845944 About the International Planned Parenthood Federation 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 158 Member Associations and Collaborative Partners with a presence in over 153 countries. Our work is wide-ranging, including comprehensive sex education, provision of contraceptive, safe abortion, and maternal care and responding to humanitarian crises. We pride ourselves on being local through our members and global through our network. At the heart of our mission is the provision of – and advocacy in support of – integrated healthcare to anyone who needs it regardless of race, gender, sex, income, and crucially no matter how remote.