Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) encompass all rights related to sexuality and parenthood. When SRHR are realised, people are free and able to decide if, when and with whom to have sex; they have safe, healthy, consensual, pleasurable relationships; they have the means to decide whether and when to become pregnant, continue a pregnancy, become parents, and have the number of children they want; free from discrimination, coercion and violence. SRHR are human rights, and essential to leading a free, safe and healthy life. But they are far from universally accessible. Throughout the world, and even within Europe, access to abortion and other reproductive rights varies greatly, and is subject to a broad range of restrictions. Access to care is even harder for populations who suffer from systemic and intersecting discrimination and inequalities. The European Parliament has a longstanding legacy as the EU institutions' strongest defender of SRHR, and it is vital that it continues to uphold and advance them in the new legislative term.  As an MEP, you can take many actions in a wide range of policy areas of EU competences, to advance SRHR in the next five years. Here is a collection of resources to help navigate some of the key topics related to sexual and reproductive safety and dignity. 

The structure of EU institutions in the upcoming legislature will be crucial for the degree of prioritisation given to gender equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). These are our recommendations for the future of European Institutions, from the renewal of the mandate of a European Commissioner dedicated to (Gender) Equality, to the renewal the Union of Equality Agenda and all relevant Strategies, while mainstreaming SRHR in them, - to ensuring sufficient funding for gender equality and SRHR in the EU budget. Read more below.

2023 was an intense year with many highs and lows for SRHR and gender equality, against the backdrop of a global landscape marked by multiple conflicts, looming climate crisis and the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. IPPF’s humanitarian response continued to provide care to Ukrainian women and girls across multiple countries as Russia’s war in Ukraine showed no sign of abating. And as conflict escalated between Hamas and Israel, IPPF initiated support to its local MAs in Israel and in Gaza to ensure, as far as possible, the uninterrupted delivery of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. Many states in Europe and Central Asia faced orchestrated attacks on the rights of women, LGBTIQ people and other marginalised groups. We continued to see how, as threats to our freedoms and intimate lives transcend national borders, so too must progressive movements in their defence of democratic values and human rights. It was in this spirit of solidarity that our regional Power of the Many Forum in October gathered over 150 people from 30 countries to explore how we can collectively advance inclusive, intersectional feminist causes. Despite the setbacks, we celebrated and were encouraged by many positive developments. Voters in Poland, including record numbers of women and young people, succeeded in removing the extremist Law and Justice party from government, providing hope for their country’s gradual return to European values and respect for women’s rights. France took first steps towards enshrining abortion rights in its Constitution, bolstering momentum for stronger European Union (EU) action to safeguard reproductive freedom. And the EU institutions reached agreement on a landmark new law to combat violence against women which, while not perfect, contains real SRHR wins and paves the way for stronger EU action on gender based violence in the future. We acted in solidarity with activists and advocates fighting for SRHR in hostile contexts that threaten the work and lives of human rights defenders. We had the privilege to begin walking the talk on IPPF’s global commitment to stand in allyship with people who do sex work. We built on our work implementing transformative new approaches to addressing the root causes of gender inequality. And we continued to hold European donors accountable for commitments to support SRHR, while reflecting deeply on how our sector can decolonise its approaches.  Meanwhile, there were a great many internal changes as we proudly embarked on implementing the first year of IPPF’s Come Together Strategy 2028 in Europe and Central Asia. A global realignment meant that we saw the creation of some exciting new roles focused on youth, community engagement and partnerships, and membership support, saying goodbye to some dear colleagues while warmly welcoming wonderful newcomers. In the autumn, our new Regional Director Micah Grzywnowicz took over the leadership of the Regional Office.  

Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) encompass all rights related to sexuality and parenthood. When SRHR are realised, people are free and able to decide if, when and with whom to have sex; they have safe, healthy, consensual, pleasurable relationships; they have the means to decide whether and when to become pregnant, continue a pregnancy, become parents, and have the number of children they want; free from discrimination, coercion and violence. SRHR are human rights, and essential to leading a free, safe and healthy life. But they are far from universally accessible. Throughout the world, and even within Europe, access to abortion and other reproductive rights varies greatly, and is subject to a broad range of restrictions. Access to care is even harder for populations who suffer from systemic and intersecting discrimination and inequalities. The rise of ultra-conservative, illiberal political actors and movements poses a direct threat to gender equality, women’s and LGBTIQ+ rights. SRHR are often the first rights to be attacked by authoritarian, coercive, misogynistic forces, who not only restrict reproductive rights such as abortion, but also attack the civil society organisations and (women) human rights defenders who stand up for them. The European Parliament has a longstanding legacy as the EU institutions' strongest defender of SRHR, and it is vital that it continues to uphold and advance them in the new legislative term.  As an MEP, you can take many actions in a wide range of policy areas of EU competences, to advance SRHR in the next five years. Find out more in our new factsheet. We count on your support!

About the RBM e-toolkit It is a digital resource for interactive learning and practice that can improve your project design and implementation journey. It can be used both online and offline, making it accessible to everyone. The e-toolkit is designed to help beginners and intermediate level RBM knowledge holders. And it can be used by any staff and interns within the IPPF Secretariat, Member Associations and Collaborative Partners, interested in developing their understanding and skills in project design and management.  The online version of the e-toolkit can be accessed via the IPPF Academy Platform (M&E Section) - Course: RBM E-toolkit (ippf.org). What to expect Each module is a short lesson, with a maximum duration of 30 minutes, focused on key concepts, practical steps, and tools to be used during the project design stage. Practice worksheets are downloadable for direct use in your organization.  The current first iteration of the e-toolkit is focused on project design and planning. You can find guidance on how to develop a Project Theory of Change, following a given set of steps such as: problem identification and formulation; context analysis (using the PEA approach/ Political Economy Analysis); stakeholder analysis (using Power Analysis tools); problem analysis and diagraming (using Problem Tree, 5 Whys and Rich Picture methods); solutions and pathway for change identification and diagraming; assumption identification within pathways for change; The theory of change narrative and visualization. In 2024, the second iteration will also include guidance on how to develop an M&E Framework and Plan; and how to prepare for M&E Implementation during a project’s lifetime. If you are required by your organization to lead or take part in a project design or proposal development process, then the RBM e-toolkit is the right tool for you. The e-toolkit will help you design effective projects that deliver measurable results and ultimately make a positive impact on the communities you serve. So, go to the IPPF Academy and start your learning and practice journey. If you do not yet have an account for the IPPF Academy Platform, contact Anemarie Gasser at [email protected] for support.   Illustration by Bibi Sakata

As the European Commission leadership and European Parliament approach the end of their term, the European Week of Action for Girls (EWAG) is looking back at the past years to assess EU policy frameworks and regional partnerships and evaluate their contribution to promoting girls’ rights. The paper provides an overview of positive advancements, as well as shortcomings, and puts forward a set of recommendations on how to better advance girls’ rights in EU external action onwards.