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In the spirit of collective strength and shared values, during the IPPF 2025 General Assembly, the IPPF Courage Awards were presented, recognizing Member Associations, strategic partners, youth leaders, and volunteers whose bravery, leadership, and care continue to drive change across our Federation.  Among them, Jeffthanie Mathurin of the Haiti Midwives Association received the Member Association Staff Courage Award. A midwife and fearless advocate, she delivers essential maternal and reproductive health services in one of the world’s most under-resourced health systems, while also leading efforts to strengthen quality of care from within Haiti’s health response. Her work reflects the resilience, commitment, and community-rooted leadership that sustain sexual and reproductive health services even in the most fragile and complex contexts.  Just like Jeffthanie, IPPF ACRO Member Associations and the Secretariat stand together supporting, amplifying, and protecting the work being carried out on the frontlines, despite the context in which we operate continues to be deeply contested. Across the Americas and the world, civil liberties and sexual and reproductive rights face renewed pressure from political and policy shifts that threaten progress made over decades.   In our region, developments such as the expansion of the Global Gag Rule to cover not only abortion-related services but also programs related to diversity, equity, inclusion, and gender identity rights is indicating this won’t be an easy year. Fromthe U.S. imperialist intervention in Venezuela and threats to the sovereignty of some Caribbean states including Haïti; elections in Chile, Honduras, and Bolivia that have resulted in new ultra-right or conservative governments; pose serious challenges for global development and the rights to lives with health and free of violence for people – all these events create impossible choices for frontline providers and jeopardize essential care for the most vulnerable.  However, in 2026, we remain committed to advancing rights with courage, deepening humanitarian sexual and reproductive health programming, and building narratives that resonate with the values and lived realities of communities across 30 countries in the Americas and the Caribbean.  As affirmed at our recent General Assembly, Although the threats we face, from deepening inequalities to shrinking civic space, are real and growing, but so too is our capacity to resolve.  Together, we move forward clearer in purpose, stronger in federation, and more determined than ever to uphold human dignity and to be a source of hope and action for change.

Haz click aquí para leer el Resumen de noticias de mayo en español. Brazil | Gestos celebrates 31 years of advocating for SRHR   Gestos, IPPF Collaborative Partner in Brazil, celebrated their 31st anniversary with dance, music and much love from their community. Since their founding, they have advocated to link social, cultural, economic and environmental issues to inclusive and effective public policies on sexual and reproductive health and rights.  For 31 years, Gestos has effectively contributed to guaranteeing the human rights of people living with HIV and AIDS. Around 70 per cent of the people who have sought legal support from the institution have had their rights repaired, through injunctions and judgements. Gestos' advocacy efforts effectively reach multilateral bodies dedicated to monitoring HIV, gender, sexual rights and public development policies and, since 2001, the organisation has been monitoring United Nations resolutions on these agendas.  Congratulations, parceiras!       Bolivia | Colectivo Rebeldía celebrates diverse 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ families for IDAHOBIT  To commemorate the International Day Against LGBTIphobia, Colectivo Rebeldía,  Collaborative Partner in Bolivia, joined the Sexual Diversity Movement of Santa Cruz to celebrate love and diversity on May 17th. They brought the community together to celebrate all forms of love and all forms of families. The cold weather was no obstacle to this warm and welcoming gathering where they shared moments of reflection, art and connection.  You can learn more about this joint project with their most recent (and creative!) post.      Cuba | Cenesex fights LGBTQI-Phobia with gala, march and community-oriented events  IPPF Collaborative Partner in Cuba, Cenesex, went all out for IDAHOBIT celebrations with the Cuban Days Against Homophobia and Transphobia during the month of May. They took the streets to the rhythm of the Cuban Conga against Homophobia and Transphobia, waving the trans and transinclusive pride flag across San José de las Lajas. They also celebrated the graduation of 30 transgender people as Sexual Health and Rights promoters in prisons. Their community work is incredible!      Dominica | Dominica Planned Parenthood Association champions gender equality at SIDS4  From May 27-30 the Dominican Planned Parenthood Association participated in the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States. This year, Antigua & Barbuda was host to leaders from the 39 independent States and 18 Associate Members of United Nations regional commissions and other world leaders, officials, and experts from the private sector, academia and civil society. DPPA participated in the Gender Equality Forum as part of the SIDS4, bringing forward the importance of addressing gender-based violence.      Haïti | The Association of Midwifes of Haiti highlights the important role of midwives at the forefront of crisis.   To celebrate the International Day of the Midwife, on May 6th the Association des Sages-Femmes d’Haïti (ASFH) organized the webinar “Midwives in Haïti: Agents of Solution in the Socio-political Crisis”, of particular importance in the country’s current context. Key stakeholders came together to discuss best practices, challenges and solutions to strengthen maternal and child health in the country. It was a relevant virtual platform for reflection, exchange of ideas and collective action.      Perú | INPPARES and IPPF ACRO express concern regarding the latest Health Ministry’s decree that violates LGBTQI+ rights.  The IPPF Americas and Caribbean Regional Office joined INPPARES, IPPF Member Association in Peru, in expressing its rejection of the Supreme Decree Nº 009-2024-SA issued on May 10th by the Peruvian Ministry of Health which, by updating the Essential Health Insurance Plan (PEAS) based on the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), violates the human rights of LGBTIQ+ people.  This decision of the Peruvian government to use ICD-10 is very serious, as it violates binding codes and agreements at local, regional and international level. You can read our joint statement here.     If you want to receive SRHR news directly from the ground to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletter Rising the Tide: Subscribe