From choice, a world of possibilities

Learning Strategies to Promote Youth Sexual Rights in the Region

During the meetings of the Youth Network at this year's Regional Council, the youth members had the opportunity to speak with staff and participate in professional development workshops. The workshops were filled with support and encouragement, in addition to concrete skills.

Uruguay Takes a Step Toward Safe Abortion

An historic ruling was decided on Wednesday that makes Uruguay the second country in Latin America to allow unrestricted first-trimester abortion. Last month, Uruguay’s Chamber of Deputies just barely passed a bill permitting abortion during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy with 50 to 49 votes, and this week the 31-member Senate approved the bill as well with a vote of 17-to-14.

How Are Young People Making Their Network Stronger?

A group of twenty-four youth members from several Latin American and Caribbean countries met in San Jose, Costa Rica on October 18th for the first day of IPPF/WHR's annual Regional Council. The event was divided into two tracks: one for executive directors of the Member Associations (MA) and another for the MA's youth staff and volunteers.

The goal of the youth session was to discuss various strategies for strengthening our region's Youth Network, a group that facilitates communication, continuity, and consensus among all of our youth members between Regional Council meetings.

Investing in Girls is Essential to Ending Global Poverty

There is consensus that girls are central to development. Yet, girls continue to bear the brunt of poverty and ill-health, including maternal mortality, unsafe abortion and HIV. Issues relating to girls’ sexuality and their sexual and reproductive rights remain largely neglected.

Facing Up to Reality

As a sexual human being, I feel I have the right to access contraceptive information and services even though, unfortunately, there are still harmful myths and taboos about young people’s sexual and reproductive health.  Young people in my indigenous Mayan community face particular obstacles from their culture and religion when seeking out comprehensive, unbiased information.

Dispelling Myths with Laughter in Venezuela

Last month, several staff members from IPPF’s Central Office visited our Member Association, Asociación Civil de Planificación Familiar (PLAFAM), in Caracas, Venezuela. They went to familiarize themselves with and document the organization’s work as a pioneer in advocacy and the delivery of sexual and reproductive health services.

Emergency Contraception in the Caribbean

In Trinidad and Tobago, the rates of teenage pregnancy and HIV prevalence are quite high. The adolescent birth rate in the country is 33 births per 1,000 girls aged 15-19, and there were 15,000 people living with HIV in 2009. At the end of 2009, an estimated 240,000 people were living with HIV in the Caribbean, a rate exceeded only by Sub-Saharan Africa.

Taking Time to Refresh and Renew at the Global Health Mini-University

Last month, I had the pleasure of attending the Annual Global Health Mini-University in Washington, DC. I attended to learn more about programs involving adolescent girls and gain knowledge about a number of current global health issues.

Safe Spaces for Adolescent Girls in Haiti

In the wake of the 2010 earthquake, adolescent girls in Haiti became increasingly responsible for caring for their younger siblings and for earning an income. Over two years later, girls living in IDP camps and other relocation sites, particularly those without parents, remain vulnerable to violence, and offering sex for food and/or for shelter is not uncommon.

The World Takes Action to Decriminalize Abortion

For more than two decades, advocates in Latin America and the Caribbean have come together on September 28th to demand governments decriminalize abortion, provide access to safe and legal abortion services, and bring an end to the stigma faced by women who have had an abortion.