Panama, April 25, 2023. FP2030, Save the Children Latin America and the Caribbean and Profamilia – Colombia, launched today the FP2030 Latin America & Caribbean Regional Hub to promote women’s, adolescents, and all peoples’ sexual and reproductive health rights in the region. This is the fifth Hub that FP2030 has opened, signifying a now complete global support network.
The FP2030 Latin America & Caribbean Regional Hub plans to mobilize greater investments in family planning through strategic partnerships with governments, civil society, multilateral organizations, donors, private sector and researchers. FP2030’s vision is a future where everyone, everywhere has the freedom and ability to lead healthy lives, make their own informed decisions about using contraception and having children, and participate as equals in society and its development.
During the launch event, Save the Children in Latin America, and the Caribbean and Profamilia – Colombia signed a collaboration agreement with FP2030 to establish a consortium that will guarantee the operation and excellence of the FP2030 Latin America & Caribbean Regional Hub. The consortium will bring the best practices and experience from the organizations to fulfill women´s and adolescents sexual and reproductive rights.
Latin America and the Caribbean has seen progress in sexual and reproductive health, but major challenges remain. According to UNFPA (United Nations Fund for Population Activities), the region registers the second highest rate of adolescent pregnancies in the world. It is estimated that almost 18% of births in the region correspond to mothers under 20 years of age.
Both Save the Children and Profamilia have strong experience working with youth and adolescents. Save the Children will bring to the consortium its expertise in multi-disciplinary work with adolescents and youth, including sexual and reproductive rights. Based on its leadership, Profamilia – Colombia will position family planning and sexual and reproductive health and research in Colombia and the region, especially in evidence-based advocacy, knowledge management and youth and adolescent work.
FP2030 amplifies the work of a wider ecosystem of family planning and sexual and reproductive health organizations. For Samukeliso Dube, Executive Director of FP2030
“the Latin America and Caribbean region is a leader in the field in so many ways, with progressive policies taking root in many countries. We look forward to learning from our longstanding partners in the region and building on that movement, while achieving more progress in areas that may have lagged behind.”
Victoria Ward, Regional Director for Save the Children in Latin America in the Caribbean said:
“It is shocking that around 1.5 million adolescents give birth every year in the region. Sexual and reproductive health education is a public health issue that must be tackled as a priority in our countries. Save the Children joins the FP2030 Regional Hub for Latin America and the Caribbean by contributing our expertise in promoting children’s rights, especially sexual and reproductive rights, which are being violated due to lack of information, violence and poor access to contraceptives.”
Marta Royo, Executive Director of Profamilia Colombia celebrated the alliance, which she described as a strong manifestation of the commitment of the region and these organizations to the Global Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“Sexual and reproductive rights must be understood as human rights. For more than 58 years we have worked for their recognition and guarantee in order to achieve a society with true gender equity, respect for diversity and without any type of violence. This alliance allows us to add more voices that work for that purpose.”
FP2030 Latin America & Caribbean Regional Hub will house a technical and administrative support team led by a regional director who will be a renowned professional with extensive experience in health advocacy and policies, and with strong regional and global networks of health stakeholders in the LAC region and globally. The team will focus on engaging governments, civil society organizations and individuals to support the Hub and will be working with high-quality data and evidence, unwavering commitment to meeting the regional needs and upholding the rights of women and adolescents.
The FP2030 Support Network includes five regional hubs: North, West and Central Africa; East and Southern Africa; Asia and the Pacific; Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America and Europe. Together, these hubs create the FP2030 Global Support Network.
For more information contact:
María Gabriela Alvarado
LAC Regional Media Coordinator
WhatsApp +507 6205-2366 / maria.alvarado@savethechildren.org
Save the Children Latin America and the Caribbean
FP2030 is a global partnership of governments, civil society, multilateral organizations, donors, private sector, and researchers committed to supporting the rights of women and girls who wish to use contraception. FP2030 vision is a future where everyone, everywhere has the freedom and ability to lead healthy lives, make their own informed decisions about using contraception and having children, and participate as equals in society and its development. The FP2030 Support Network includes five regional hubs: North, West and Central Africa; East and Southern Africa; Asia and the Pacific; and Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America and Europe
Save the Children is an international organization present in more than 120 countries. To ensure that children and adolescents have a better future, we work every day to guarantee children’s rights to health, education, and protection from violence. We make sure their needs are met and their voices are heard. We do whatever it takes for children and adolescents, every day and in times of crisis, to transform their lives and the future we share.
Profamilia is a private non-profit organization that promotes knowledge, respect and exercise of Sexual and Reproductive Rights. It is the main provider of specialized sexual and reproductive health products and services in Colombia through which it seeks to fulfill its purpose: that all people enjoy their sexuality and exercise their reproductive autonomy.
