Family Planning conference closes with global call to expand contraceptive access
The fourth International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) has ended in Nusa Dua, Indonesia, with speakers calling for accelerated efforts to enhance access to contraceptives.
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Organised around the theme “Global Commitments, Local Actions,” the conference, participated by high-level leaders, emphasised the importance of family planning to achieve the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), describing family planing as the key to addressing an array of development challenges around health, education, poverty and the environment.
They also called for action from country governments, donors, civil society and other partners to expand contraceptive access and options, one of the most cost-effective and beneficial health interventions.
"Every two years we gather at the ICFP to learn from one another and map out strategies to accelerate progress. Our goals are bold but according to the latest FP2020 progress report, we risk falling short of the promises we have made to the millions of women who want contraception if we don't step up,” said Jose “Oying” Rimon II, Chair of the ICFP International Steering Committee and Director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health.
Positive health outcomes
“Investing in family planning is key to driving positive health outcomes, economic growth and global development progress – and we already have the tools we need to achieve our goals. I have been inspired this week by all of the creative strategies and innovations our partners are testing and implementing in the field.
“On the closing day of the ICFP, I would like to challenge all of our partners to take the things learned here back home, begin testing new solutions quickly and transform our global commitments into local action,” said Rimon at the close of the conference.
FP2020
During the morning plenary, FP2020, a global partnership dedicated to providing access to contraceptives for an additional 120 million women by 2020, invited representatives from the governments of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia and the Philippines to discuss challenges and opportunities on the road to fulfilling their
FP2020 commitments and pledges. The plenary also featured a spirited dialogue among partners representing civil society and multilateral institutions who shared their unique perspectives on how to drive innovation and overcome barriers to ensure that women and girls everywhere have access to the contraceptive information and services they need.
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"It is a sad thing that governments publicly advocate, deliver speeches, deliver promises to eradicate poverty, but not all are committed to eliminating poverty with family planning… Family planning is not just a right… It’s all about a better quality of life that each human being and each family deserves,” said Janette Loreto-Garin, Secretary of the Department of Health, Philippines.
London Summit
Since the 2012 London Summit on Family Planning – where the FP2020 goal was first agreed upon by global leaders – 37 countries have made commitments to reach this goal. In the past year, FP2020 has seen a wave of new commitments.
“This past year has seen the largest wave of new commitments to FP2020 since the London Summit, and existing partners are stepping up with new and increased pledges.
More exciting commitment announcements are expected imminently – a testament not only to the compelling power of the FP2020 vision, but to the growing value of this platform as a catalyst for change,” said Beth Schlachter, Executive Director of FP2020.
In parallel with the morning plenary, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) announced that they were expanding their commitment to bringing family planning services to women with an unmet need for modern contraception.