Staff Report
PATTAYA, THAILAND: The International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) closed with new commitments and USAID makes its first-ever Family Planning (FP) 2030 commitment, pledging USD 15 million over five years.
The closing ceremony highlighted key moments from the 2022 International Conference on Family Planning, recognized participant achievements, and inspired attendees with energy and vision for the future of family planning.
London Summit 2012
Ten years after the London Summit on Family Planning, the 2022 International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP) celebrated the fact that tens of millions more women today are using modern techniques for family planning, while several governments, corporations, funders, and non-governmental organizations are pledging to take actions to expand access to voluntary, rights-based contraception.
At the same, the SRHR; Conference on Family Planning and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights highlighted the urgency of this moment, particularly as COVID-19 and other global crises continue to divert healthcare funding from family planning efforts.
Even before the Covid-19 outbreak, at least half of the globe population could not obtain essential health services, including family planning services,” said Jose “Oying” G. Rimon II, senior scientist and director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Institute for Population and Reproductive Health. “Globally, we are also seeing threats to sexual and reproductive health and rights from conservative political pushback, and inequality is still a considerable factor, with health interventions varying substantially within and across countries.”
As the preeminent event for countries, organizations, and individuals to make meaningful family planning announcements, this year’s ICFP saw several historic new FP2030 pledges, including a five-year, USD 15 million commitment from the USAID.
This year’s conference took place against a global backdrop of growing extremism and erosion of gender equality and reproductive rights. Several sessions addressed what the community can and should do to protect and advance reproductive rights, and drew on expertise from different regions and settings – including crisis settings. Youth was a driving force behind ICFP2022.
In the conference’s closing plenary session, youth advocates from around the globe gathered to share personal stories from their advocacy work and to present a Global Roadmap for AYSRHR. The roadmap – designed and led by youth in collaboration with over 40 youth-led organizations – sets out 2030 goals, priorities, and recommended actions, showing unity in the expression of young people’s SRHR needs and values across the world.
Earlier, Broadway star Jamila Sabares-Klemm performed her original song to honor those who have passed away since the 2018 ICFP in a Celebration of Life.
