Issues such as the right to have an abortion, access to contraception, sexuality education, awareness of legislation, equality, educated health providers, and a life free from discrimination for homosexual, bisexual, and transgender persons, are important factors in the fight against poverty and in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV and AIDS. RFSU has been internationally engaged in projects and initiatives concerning sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for many years. In 1986 RFSU began its first international initiative by cooperating with a centre for young girls in Tanzania to support young pregnant women who had been expelled from school. Yet RFSU’s efforts have been creating change even longer. In the 1950’s RFSU was a partner in the foundation of the global family planning organisation, Planned Parenthood (IPPF). During the 21st century RFSU has worked together with organisations throughout the world. Projects included initiatives for promoting the sexual health of young people in India and Russia, equality projects for men in Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya as well as sexual education for young people in China.
Today RFSU works together with organisations in many countries including Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Bolivia, Georgia, Malawi, Lebanon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Zambia and Tanzania.
Strategies
RFSU focuses on five themes within its international SRHR efforts:
HOW WE WORK
RFSU’s efforts are comprised of education and capacity building work through the support of partner organisations that manage projects locally. Since RFSU strives for equality within society, this aim should also be reflected in our cooperation with partner organisations.
All of RFSU’s operations are focused on a gender and rights perspective. Throughout the world, men usually have more power than women over – politics, their own lives and their sexuality. Thus, men, as well as women, must work together to change this reality. Using a gender perspective we point out that norms based on gender restrict people’s ability to take actions and control their own lives. In addition, gender can affect legislation and consequentially impede equal rights and people’s access to health, power and the freedom to choose. With a human rights perspective RFSU considers certain fundamental rights to be a precondition for the freedom to exist, choose, enjoy and have access to information and healthcare. These rights are described and developed in various conventions and declarations and concern every individual. In our efforts we promote and follow-up on how these rights are realized through policies and legislation.
ADVOCACY
An important element of international efforts is to strengthen advocacy work and political will in order to increase commitment for issues related to SRHR throughout society. The target group is mainly decision makers and professionals within the fields of health and foreign aid in Sweden, but also in the EU and other international bodies.
COMMUNICATION
In order to attain strong and wide support for our vision RFSU strives to inform the general public about SRHR related assistance and aid. Members and sympathisers are also continuously informed about our operations: what RFSU works with, and why, as well as the results we achieve.
COOPERATION WITH CIVIL SOCIETY
Supporting organisations within civil society is an important part of the effort to decrease poverty and increase democracy throughout the world. RFSU cooperates with democratic organisations that work actively with both women and men as well as marginalised groups such as LGBT-persons, young people, people with disabilities and those who are HIV positive.
Giving marginalised groups the opportunity to act as decision makers and not just target groups that are to be provided with information, gives them new opportunities for demanding their rights. Therefore, promoting the development of organisations and democracy is often just as important as supporting issues concerning SRHR. It is pertinent that work with organisations in other countries is based on a mutual partnership where common goals are developed in collaboration. RFSU always evaluates civil society’s significance in a country before a partnership is initiated. In addition, partnerships are never initiated with political parties or private companies.
CAPACITY BUILDING AND SUPPORT
With more than twenty years of international work with SRHR issues RFSU has well-established expertise working with education, organisational development and economic aid. RFSU offers a partnership that contains the prerequisites for successful initiatives that are built on the basis of current needs and conditions. The projects are focused on HIV and STI prevention, the sexuality and health of adolescents, sexual and gender based violence, access to safe abortions, the prevention of maternal mortality and the inclusion of organisations that work with LGBT-persons. Often our partners express a need for both economic resources and training.
