From choice, a world of possibilities

A Note of Thanks from Carmen Barroso on International Volunteer Day

On the occasion of the United Nations International Volunteer Day, the International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region (IPPF/WHR) commends the many men, women, and youth throughout our region who selflessly volunteer their time and talent.

16 Days: PROFAMILIA's Dr. Ramirez Heals the Pain of the Soul

“I’m not just a doctor of the body; I am a doctor of the soul.”

Dr. Maria Isabel Corea Ramirez is a kind woman with a large smile, soothing eyes, and a calm demeanor. As the director of PROFAMILIA’s clinic in Tipitapa, Nicaragua, a small township 22 kilometers east of Managua, she oversees several programs that bring essential health services—such as contraception and prenatal care—to thousands of people each year.

“I’m not just a doctor of the body; I am a doctor of the soul.”

16 Days: ¡Basta! The Health Sector Addresses Gender-Based Violence

Gender-based violence includes any act or threat of physical, sexual, or psychological aggression against a woman. According to the World Health Organization, 1 out of every 4 women reports having been subjected to gender-based violence by an intimate partner. Considering the harmful effects it can have on a woman’s sexual and reproductive health, IPPF/WHR developed a regional project to combat gender-based violence in Latin America and the Caribbean. One result was ¡Basta!

16 Days: PROFAMILIA Colombia's International Day of No Violence Against Women

Last year, PROFAMILIA Colombia collected artwork from around the world for an International Day of No Violence Against Women. The collection was a part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence and raised awareness about the right of women to live without the threat of gender-based violence.

16 Days: Evidence from the Stigma Index on HIV and Gender-based Violence

Damaging gossip, harsh stares, aggressive remarks, exile. These are just a few forms of stigma and discrimination regularly faced by people living with HIV. A growing body of evidence has shown that women living with HIV/AIDS often face an increased risk for gender-based violence.

News from the Region

Below are news stories, blog posts, and other resources released this week regarding sexual and reproductive health Latin America, North America, and the Caribbean:

Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: Integration as a Holistic and Rights-Based Response to HIV/AIDS | Women's Health Issues

16 Days: The Integration of HIV and Gender-based Violence

While the number of new HIV infections has stabilized in recent years, in many parts of the world, women and girls continue to bear a disproportionate burden of the pandemic. In the Caribbean, for example, women account for more than half of people living with HIV, and young women are twice as likely to be HIV positive as young men.

16 Days: Challenge Gender-based Violence Using Comprehensive Sexuality Education

A big perk of my job is that I get to talk a lot about sex and sexuality education to a variety of audiences. When you ask the average person (someone who doesn’t talk about sex all day) what “sex ed” is, they probably think of the classic drawing of a uterus, explanations of where babies come from, and maybe a condom demonstration on a banana. Or worse, they think of the ineffective and unscientific abstinence-only programs that are a legacy of the previous U.S. administration.

BBB's Wise Giving Alliance: "Give With Confidence" to IPPF/WHR

The Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance published a full-page advertisement in yesterday's USA Today listing all of the charities that earned its Wise Giving Charity Seal as a BBB Accredited Charity in 2011.

16 Days: Does Legal Abortion in the Case of Sexual Violence Meet the Needs of Adolescents?

During the course of my work supporting the expansion and strengthening of abortion services for young women in Latin America and the Caribbean, I have visited many countries where abortion is permitted in only limited circumstances. One such circumstance is when a woman is the victim of sexual assault. In the case of sexual violence, it is necessary to ensure that women are able to receive the services they are legally entitled to, but are often unable to access.