UK Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Network
 ICPD@15 and MDG Target 5B Working Group

Presentation to ICPD@15 Strategy Session, EuroNGO’s, Lyon: October 2008

WHO WE ARE
The group,which is a working group of the UK Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Network  had it’s first meeting in May 2008 Through its activities it aims to increase awareness about and advocate for ICPD@15 and the new reproductive health MDG Target 5B

STRATEGY: CALLING GOVERNMENT TO ACCOUNT
Following the network meeting on 19 November the group plans to develop position paper which it will use as an advocacy tool.

POSITION PAPER
The position paper will use the outcomes of the meeting PLUS available data and evidence.

Bearing in mind that ‘Poverty Reduction Budget Support alone cannot adequately address SRHSR, especially for the poor’ (Taylor, 2007), a range of funding instruments are essential for sexual and reproductive health.  Civil society are crucial to implementaion, especially to reach vulnerable groups.  Budget Support often does not provide a mechanism to fund these groups.

KEY MESSAGES THAT RESONATE
Ensuring universal access to reproductive health is essential to broader maternal health
Family planning: An estimated 32% of maternal deaths could be averted through family planning. It is one of the most cost-effective interventions in public health. Research has shown that every US$ 1 million spent on family planning can avert 360,000 unwanted pregnancies, prevent 150,000 induced abortions and save the lives of 800 mothers and 11,000 infants (DFID 2008 Maternal Health Strategy Review).
 
DFID have stated they will work with other like-minded donors to increase global support to family planning (UK Government 2008, Achieving Universal Access)

Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) is one of the interventions with high impact.  As Universal access to SRH services (particularly for adolescents) would significantly improve maternal health and reduce maternal mortality. An HIV-infected pregnant woman is four to five times more likely to die in childbirth than one who is not infected.

CASE STUDY
Pakistan: DFID are giving £90 million  to Ministry of Health for Maternal and Child Health Programme, as finance for governments National MNCH programme (main targets are skilled attendants, health facility strengthening and upgrading and district health system reforms – so focus on medical side of MN health)
Leading Ministry on Family Planning is Ministry of Population Welfare.
How is DFID implementing MDG Target 5B?


WAYS TO MONITOR IMPLEMENTATION
Commission for Population and Development
World Health Assembly
UNFPA Executive Board Meeting
Economic thematic Session on Global Public Health
GA Commemorative Session
Regional Commissions on Population and Development

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