Global Commitments, Local Actions: Reflections on ICFP

Since 2009, ICFP has been an important global gathering for the “family planning” community to unite with political leaders, activists, scientists, young people, and many others to share best practices, celebrate successes, and chart a course forward to increase access to voluntary, quality contraception. The conference presented a powerful opportunity for many Champions - IPPF DG Alvaro Bermejo, Jona Turalde from the Philippines, Julia Bunting from the Population Council, Women Deliver’sKatja Iversen, Canadian Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, Patrick Mwesigye from Uganda, MSI’s Simon Cooke, Siva Thanenthiran from ARROW, Tamara Kreinin from the David & Lucile Packard Foundation, Rutgers CEOTon Coenen, as well as our Chair Tikhala Itaye - to advance the energy of the movement and build the vision deeper into the goals of the family planning sector. The Champions were vibrant speakers at the SheDecides Open House, which also featured brilliant interventions from former Rwandan Health Minister Hon Dr Anita Asiimwe, who spoke about the bold steps that the country has taken to change unjust rules. And they were joined by movers and shakers from SheDecides Southern Africa’s campaigning activists who had played a central role in pushing for the progressive new Strategy and Scorecard agreed at the Southern African Development Community’s Health Ministers’ Summit held in Windhoek, Namibia the week before. Those working on local movements also shared their early experiences and found new opportunities to work with other movements and campaigners.