January News Round-up

• IPPF ACRO launches Caribbean Observatory on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.

The Caribbean Observatory on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, a pioneering initiative led by IPPF Americas and the Caribbean Regional Office (IPPF ACRO) was launched in late 2023 to contribute to strengthening regional cooperation to build an equitable future for access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and the elimination of gender-based inequities in the Caribbean. At the ceremony, held in the capital of Trinidad & Tobago, IPPF Regional Director for the Americas and the Caribbean Eugenia Lopez said, "We are proud to launch the best Integrated SRHR/GBV Virtual Knowledge Platform to improve data sharing and collaboration between governments and communities to ensure women's ability to exercise their human rights.

The initiative, supported by the UN/European Union Spotlight Initiative Regional Programme and UNFPA, as well as a dynamic coalition of Caribbean organisations committed to the well-being of the Region, will gather evidence-based data that will help inform decisions and drive effective action and real change.

Learn more about the Observatory
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• Mexico and the discrimination and stigmatisation of people living with HIV 

In January, the Mexico City Congress repealed Chapter II, "Danger of Contagion", and Article 159 of the local Penal Code, which stated that: "Anyone who, knowing that he or she suffers from a serious disease during an infectious period, endangers the health of another by sexual relations or any other transmissible means, provided that the victim is not aware of this circumstance, shall be sentenced to three months to three years' imprisonment and a fine of fifty to three hundred days' imprisonment. It continued: "If the disease suffered is incurable, imprisonment of three months to ten years and a fine of five hundred to two thousand days shall be imposed. This crime will be prosecuted by complaint of the victim or offended party". 

IPPF member organization Mexfam welcomed the repeal of this article stating on its networks "as an important step forward in the fight against discrimination and stigmatisation of people with HIV. This step brings us closer to a more inclusive and respectful world. Education, empathy and support are our tools to build a future without stigma". 

We congratulate all those involved in its repeal.

• Profamilia is certified in Colombia for contraception programme 

The organization Profamilia received the bronze certification of its contraception programme as a High Performance Clinical Unit (HPCU) under the standards of the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM), one of the 3 models of excellence available in the world that highlights the good management practices that successful companies worldwide have implemented with excellent operational and quality results.  

In Colombia, this model has been widely implemented, especially in the health sector, with the certification of High Performance Clinical Units, which takes into account the care component of humanisation and evidence-based medicine. Thus, with this certification Profamilia continues to strengthen its clinical, operational and social care model to continue contributing to the guarantee of Sexual and Reproductive Rights. 

"We are proud and motivated to receive the certification as a High Performance Clinical Unit thanks to our contraception programme. It is a recognition of decades of determined work for the guarantee of Sexual and Reproductive Rights and a message of confidence for all people in Colombia who can find in Profamilia the best ally to access timely and humanized services in sexual and reproductive health". Marta Royo, Executive Director of Profamilia, said.

• Brazil - Aging of trans and transvestite women made visible in Recife

The pioneering initiative by the NGO Gestos - Soropositividade, Comunicação e Gênero, consisted of training a group of transvestites and trans women over 50 years of age in Recife, Brazil, with the aim of providing support, listening and thematic training on the ageing of this population, seeking to contribute to their social inclusion, visibility and citizenship. In conjunction with these activities, a socio-demographic survey was also carried out with the aim of drawing up a profile of this population in order to develop recommendations for public policy makers involved with the needs identified by them. 

The TRAVESTI TAMBÉM ENVELHECE project was supported by the Conselho Municipal de Defesa dos Direitos da Pessoa Idosa do Recife (COMDIR) and sponsored by the Articulação e Movimento para Travestis e Transexuais de Pernambuco (Amotrans), Nova Associação de Travestis e Transgêneros de Pernambuco (NATRAPE), Gerência de Livre Orientação Sexual (GLOS) of Recife, Fórum LGBT de PE, and Conselho Estadual de Promoção dos Direitos da População LGBTI+ de Pernambuco. 

To download the study click here.

• Honduras -Call to join the network of volunteers in the reduction of stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV 

The organization Llaves opens call to join the network of volunteers committed to the creation of spaces, learning plans and comprehensive education that generate positive changes in communities in terms of human rights.

LLAVES (Cry, Courage and Effort) is a group of activists and professionals of all ages who are concerned about improving the lives of people with HIV, and its network helps to reduce stigma and discrimination towards people with HIV, with the vision of building a more just and respectful society. 

Registration is open at https://www.organizacionllaves.org/voluntario