Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

Original poster

LynnCSchreiber - live blog from Family Planning Summit on 11th July

106 replies

MmeLindor. · 02/07/2012 08:37

I have recently returned from Kenya, where I was blogging about reproductive rights and the issues millions of women have in accessing family planning.

The Gates Foundation has an ambitious of ensuring that an additional 120m women around the world have access to contraceptives.

Currently the lack of contraception in the developing world means that women are having more babies than they would like, and with small age gaps.

The consequences are many. High maternal mortality, high infant mortality, an appallingly high number or unsafe abortions, particularly in countries where abortion is illegal or difficult to access. Girls don't finish school because they get pregnant so are unable to help lift their families out of poverty.

The UK and the Gates Foundation are hosting a summit this month to raise awareness and funds to fight this issue.

I will, along with many other bloggers who were on the trip, be blogging live from London.

If you have any questions, post them here and I'll try to get answers for you.

You can see what I've been doing in Kenya on the blog: www.saltandcaramel.com

OP posts:
blackcurrants · 02/07/2012 14:15

I've been following your blog with interest, MmeLindor, as I have family in Nairobi. Thank you for the work you're doing - keep it up!

MooncupGoddess · 02/07/2012 14:03

How interesting! Did the Gates Foundation fund your trip, MmeLindor?

Is this project supported by the Kenyan government, and if so how? My concern with these projects is that there is so much goodwill and hard work... but if it's not actively supported by the systems already operating in the country then the long-term results can be rather disappointing.

Original poster
MmeLindor. · 02/07/2012 12:01

Yes, good points Himalaya. And ones we have talked a out. Will watch out for that

OP posts:
Himalaya · 02/07/2012 10:00

Things I would be interested in is not just how much money, plans, targets etc... the governments are putting into the supply side of contraception (...which is important).

But also how they are addressing things like sex education for girls and boys, building girls negotiating power, making marital rape illegal, putting contraception within a framework of women?s rights, tackling forced marriage and making sure contraception is available and accessible to girls and unmarried women.

The last session on how to reconcile a results-driven approach with women's rights and how you you make sure that the whole thing doesn't just become focused on targets I think sounds good - hope they have time to get into it properly.

caramelwaffle · 02/07/2012 09:30

Excellent work.

I don't have any questions at the moment just giving you a cheeky bump.

Pagwatch · 02/07/2012 08:49

Thanks mmelindor, brilliant stuff.