INTERNATIONAL PLATFORM MEETING

On 6 and 7 October 2009, the members of the “Universal Access to Female Condoms” (UAFC)
International Platform met at the Royal Tropical Institute in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. In this beautiful historic building, over 40 participants extensively discussed the ins and outs of female condom programming and advocacy. Participants represented civil society organizations, national governments, donor agencies and UN organizations. A Nigerian bishop was present as “Female Condom Champion”. The platform meeting was part of the international advocacy component of the UAFC Joint Programme.
The purpose of the Platform Meeting was to broaden and strengthen the support base for the female condom, to share knowledge and expertise and to solicit explicit commitment of stakeholders.

In a series of plenary sessions, key note speeches where held, where 'female condom champions’ presented their views on the importance of female condom programming and the urgent need for universal access to female condoms.
Stella Ronner-Grubacic, MDG's Ambassador of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that the support of female condom programming is crucial with respect to the achievement of life-saving MDGs 3 and 5.
Bishop Jolly Ehigiator Oyekpen, Church of Nigeria Bishop of Akoko-Edo Diocese, stated: "Sometimes people ask me to pray that their HIV infection will go away. What prayer can I offer? For that person it is too late... That is why I am in favor of prevention and use of the female condom!"
For all the speeches and presentations please refer to our website.

Various workshops were organized at the Platform Meeting: a case study on government and CSO roles in Uganda, a case study on female programming in Cameroon, a workshop on American advocacy and workshops on condom variety and pleasure were all part of the program and were greatly appreciated by the many participants.
For the reports on the workshops please refer to our website.

At the end of the two-day meeting commitments were expressed by all platform members and a joint Advocacy Statement was agreed upon.

For an overall impression of the Platform Meeting have a look at the photographs and video that were made on the first day. Additionaly the complete meeting report is available.

In summary, the International Platform Meeting proved to be highly successful. It brought together many passionate and committed people from all over the world and, in that sense, united female condom programming. Now is the time to sustain this momentum!

THE FEMALE CONDOM SAVED LIVES IN NIGERIA

Amaka Nneji is Coordinator of the Female Condom Program in Lagos and surrounding areas. She never grows weary of promoting female condoms. Being eight months pregnant herself does not stop her from taking us around Lagos to convince everyone she meets of the importance of female condoms. “Women need to be able to stand up for themselves and become less dependent on their husbands. We have accepted our position for too long. Men are in control here, they do not include us in decision-making. That will need to change. When it comes to sexually transmitted diseases or AIDS, women carry the burden”.
Many volunteers in Nigeria work hard to raise awareness about the uses of the female condom. They work in hair salons, on the market and in taxi stations. Although their work still meets with much prejudice, they are nevertheless able to reach both women and men that become enthusiastic about the female condom. 
Read an article on the importance and achievements of this work.

HALF A MILLION FEMALE CONDOMS ARRIVED IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

UAFC staff visited Nigeria from 28 October through 1 November 2009. Visits were paid to persons executing different stages in the female condom chain: from the warehouse to the hairdresser shops. The delegation spoke with master trainers and interpersonal communication conductors.
Read an article about this visit.

LAUNCH OF UAFC PROGRAMME IN CAMEROON

On 25 November 2009, the UAFC project in Cameroon was officially launched in the presence of famous Cameroonian musicians and high-level delegates, as well as an enthusiastic audience of more than 3,000 people.
The custom-made song by world-renowned Cameroonian artist, Manu Dibango, and video clip was presented and have since proven to be a major success!
Many preparations took place preceding the launch: hundreds of educators were trained, the distribution system was organized, condoms were tested in the test lab, and monitoring systems were put in place. Community-based organizations are explicitly involved, as well as many hairdressers that play an important role in raising awareness about the female condom.

Read the article about the launch and the achievements of the female condom program in Cameroon.

LET'S KEEP THE MOMENTUM, CALL FOR CO-OPERATION

At the platform meeting, upcoming advocacy activities were identified for 2010:

-          9 -12 February: the 4th African Conference on Sexual Health and Rights (AddisAbaba)
-          2 -13 March: Commission on the Status of Women (Beijing+15)
-          28 -31 March: IV conference in Casablanca (in French)
-          Spring 2010: Reproductive Health in humanitarian settings (Dominican Republic)
-          7- 9: June Women Deliver (Washington)
-          18 - 23 July: International AIDS Conference (Vienna)
-          September: High Level Meeting on MDG+10 (New York)

Who will be attending these conferences?

UAFC will be present at the Commission on the Status of Women and the International AIDS Conference. We would like to co-operate with platform members and organize successful sessions on female condom programming or advocacy. Please send us an email if you are planning to attend these conferences.

Also the other advocacy momentums could be good opportunities to get the female condom on the agenda, in policies and budget lines. If you are planning to attend the conferences, we would very much like to concur with you on how to include the female condom in these meetings. Please let us know and let us keep the momentum for female condoms.

Send an e-mail to Ilze Smit, advocacy officer UAFC Joint programme.

PRESENTATIONS BY UAFC STAFF

Throughout 2009, UAFC staff offered presentation sessions on the uses of the female condom on varying occasions. UAFC was represented at various meetings and conferences e.g. the Program Coordination Board meeting of UNAIDS on 23 June 2009, the NGO Forum for ICPD+15, and the Kampala Family Planning Conference on 15-18 November 2009. 

Read about it on Ilze Smit's weblog.

On 26 September 2009, the Dutch Ministry for Development Cooperation organized an event that celebrated 60 years of Development Cooperation. UAFC offered a workshop targeting high representatives in the Ministry.
Read the article.

"WE CAN'T IGNORE THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE."

"We can't ignore the needs of the people" Vastha Kibirigi from the Ugandan Government states. She is a member of the UAFC International Platform. Watch the video and her statement on the female condom. Also watch statements by Bishop Jolly Oyekpen from Nigeria, Emily Karechio from the Kenyan Youth Partners and Nestor Ankibar from ACMS Cameroon.