March 13, 2010
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Female Condoms: Increasing U.S. Foreign Policy Support and Funding for a Prevention Method that Works
March 8, 2010 – Today, Serra Sippel, the President of CHANGE, authored an article on the Huffington Post on increasing U.S. foreign policy support for female condoms. She argued that there is a demonstrated global demand for female condoms and recommended that every U.S. policy and program related to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care must include female and male condom support.
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CHANGE and More Than 200 International Organizations Demand Increased Support for Female Condoms at CSW
March 2, 2010 – Last night CHANGE participated in a female condom advocacy event that brought the voices of more than 200 international organizations to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). In a civil society statement letter, the organizations demanded that governments honor commitments made at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing to support and promote woman-centered HIV-prevention. Specifically, the letter asked for increased funding at the country level for female and male condoms; comprehensive, rights-based female and male condom programming; civil society participation in policy and programming; and investment in research and development of additional woman-initiated and controlled prevention methods.
Read full press release
Read civil society statement letter
New CHANGE Publication: A Woman-Centered Approach to the U.S. Global Health Initiative
February 24, 2010 – President Obama has identified a woman-centered development approach as a critical component to the administration’s Global Health Initiative. This is the first time the U.S. has ever championed a woman-centered approach as policy guideline, and properly implementing the approach is essential to the success of the GHI. But what exactly is a “woman-centered” approach? A new publication from CHANGE, “A Woman-Centered Approach to the U.S. Global Health Initiative,” specifies seven necessary components of such an approach, and highlights examples that have already proven effective. This policy brief has been submitted to relevant government agencies working directly on GHI.
A Woman-Centered Approach to the U.S. Global Health Initiative
Full policy brief
CHANGE Submits Comments on U.S. Global Health Initiative Consultation Document
February 22, 2010 – In response to the U.S. State Department’s request for public input regarding the Global Health Initiative Consultation Document, CHANGE, in conjunction with Advocates for Youth, Family Care International, and the International Women’s Health Coalition, today submitted comments and recommendations tailored to promote a comprehensive, integrated approach to global health. Our collective feedback emphasizes a woman- and girl-centered perspective, and includes a strong foundation in a human rights framework and meaningful civil society participation. In addition to our tailored comments, CHANGE contributed to comments submitted by the GHI Working Group.
To read CHANGE, Advocates for Youth, Family Care International and IWHC’s joint comments click here
To read the GHI Working Group's comments click here
Obama’s Global Health Initiative: Getting It Right the First Time Around
February 1, 2010 – Today, Serra Sippel, the President of CHANGE, authored an article on the Huffington Post on the potential of President Obama’s Global Health Initiative (GHI) to save lives and improve the health and rights of women globally, if executed correctly. She argued that a woman-centered, human-rights based approach, integrated services and programming, and adequate funding are all necessary to the success of the GHI. The GHI presents an opportunity that is significant, brief and delicate. We need to make sure that the Administration and Congress recognize its gravitasse and respond accordingly.
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Advocates Call for Increased Global Health Funding
February 1, 2010 – In a press release circulated today by the Global Health Initiative Working Group, CHANGE’s President Serra Sippel is quoted, “The GHI has some notable strengths on paper. It recognizes the links between HIV/AIDS and reproductive, maternal and child health, and stresses a human-rights based policy approach—all critical components to effectively addressing global health issues. However, without funding levels that reflect the global need and a U.S. fair share, the potential effectiveness of the initiative is compromised. We have the opportunity to make significant progress towards beating HIV/AIDS, and creating some much-needed diplomatic capital. We can’t squander that.”
Read full press release
Secretary Clinton Urges Structural, Institutional Change for Universal Reproductive Health and Rights
January 11, 2010 - On Friday, CHANGE attended and applauded Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s speech recommitting the U.S. to fully integrating family planning, maternal health, HIV/AIDS, and women’s rights into U.S. foreign policy. We are encouraged by this move towards institutionalizing a woman-centered approach to foreign policy. Secretary Clinton recognized that comprehensive sexual and reproductive health is necessary to achieving broader global health and development goals, and to addressing the multiple oppressions women face, including violent conflict, gender-based violence, poverty, and lack of access to education and health care. CHANGE welcomes this holistic approach to social and health issues that makes our foreign assistance more effective and our foreign policy more just.
Full text of speech
U.S. Reaffirms ICPD Goals
January 8, 2010 - Today, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will reaffirm the United States’ commitment to providing and protecting the sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and girls worldwide. Follow CHANGE’s participation in the event and its recommendations for action:
Tune in: Listen to the live stream www.icpd2015.org
Take action: Urge your congressman to support sexual and reproductive health and rights worldwide
Press Release: Reproductive rights and women's health organizations call for concrete action steps
Blog: “Reaching the Global Goal: Sexual Health and Reproductive Rights for All”
Join the Twitter Conversation: #icpd2015
CHANGE Congratulates New Head of USAID
January 5, 2010 - The Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE) would like to welcome and congratulate Dr. Rajiv Shah, who was confirmed as the head of USAID on December 24. Dr. Shah's international development experience and medical background provide a solid foundation for informed, thoughtful leadership to what has been in the past one of the most influential foreign aid agencies in the world. USAID's effectiveness has suffered during recent years, due to politically motivated policies such as the Global Gag Rule, the anti-prostitution loyalty oath and abstinence-only programs. CHANGE supports Dr. Shah in guiding the agency back to a position of global leadership in the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and young people globally. Dr. Shah stated in his confirmation hearing that gender integration is critical to the success of foreign aid. CHANGE applauds his statement, and looks forward to supporting USAID and other Obama administration leaders in making the health needs and rights of women and young people central to foreign policy and programming. CHANGE urges Dr. Shah to adopt a human rights-based approach to sexual and reproductive health, and to ensure that women, men and youth served by USAID have full access to the sexual and reproductive health services and information that are critical to successfully reducing global poverty and alleviating human suffering. CHANGE offers its warm wishes to Dr. Shah at the beginning of a challenging endeavor.
CHANGE and Human Rights Watch Submit Comments on New APLO Regulations
December 23, 2009 - Today CHANGE and Human Rights Watch submitted comments to Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, on new proposed regulation concerning the anti-prostitution loyalty oath. The letter argues that the proposed regulation continues to violate free speech, is unworkable because it is unclear and burdensome, and jeopardizes the effectiveness of programs that address HIV/AIDS among sex workers.
Our full comments and more information about the proposed regulation can be viewed in our letter.
CHANGE Matters: December 2009
CHANGE Matters, a bi-monthly newsletter of the Center for Health and Gender Equity, briefly updates supporters about current events and developments in U.S. international sexual and reproductive health policies and programs and highlights CHANGE's efforts to advance comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights in U.S. foreign policy and assistance.
Current Issue
Sign up for our electronic updates.
Past Issues
CHANGE Matters: October 2009
CHANGE Matters: August 2009
CHANGE Matters: June 2009
CHANGE Matters: March 2009
Health Advocates Make Global Health Recommendations on Capitol Hill
On October 29, for the first time, a coalition of global health advocates, including CHANGE, joined to host a policy forum on Capitol Hill and launch the group's report, "The Future of Global Health: Ingredients for a Bold & Effective U.S. Initiative." The report is a collaborative document developed by two dozen health advocacy organizations that calls for expanded funding, programming, and people-centered services in U.S. global health, including sexual and reproductive health.
To read the full report, please click here.
Reproductive Justice Ambassadors Tour, October 12-16
October 19, 2009 - CHANGE hosted a week-long Reproductive Justice Ambassadors Tour, featuring international advocates from Botswana, Ethiopia, and the Dominican Republic who discussed why investing in comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights is urgently needed and how the U.S. can strengthen holistic, human rights-based care overseas that breaks down the divisions among HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, and maternal and child health. The ambassadors spoke speaking at events in Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
To view pictures and learn more about the events, please click here.
CHANGE Blog, "Achieving Global Reproductive Justice: Recommendations from the Frontlines"
Flyer for October 12th Boston Town Hall Event at Harvard School of Public Health
Flyer for October 13th Philadelphia Town Hall Event at the Family Planning Council
Flyer for October 15th Washington, D.C. Events on Capitol Hill
Media Advisory for October 15th Washington, D.C. Events on Capitol Hill
Investing in Reproductive Justice for All: CHANGE's New Publication on Comprehensive SRHR
August 31, 2009 - What is "comprehensive" when it comes to sexual and reproductive health, and why does it matter? A new report from CHANGE establishes a groundbreaking framework to assess sexual and reproductive health programs based on field visits to the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, and Botswana. Investing in Reproductive Justice for All: Toward a U.S. Foreign Policy on Comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights highlights successful comprehensive, rights-based approaches and recommends U.S. policy actions that will fertilize such programming.
The report argues that politically-motivated restrictions and the United States' foreign assistance structure combine to create unnecessary barriers to effective, comprehensive, and integrated health care that includes HIV prevention, maternal health and family planning. Because of these barriers, the U.S. is losing countless opportunities to protect the life, health, and rights of women and girls worldwide.
This fall, advocates from the three countries will bring U.S. audiences compelling case studies and fresh evidence from the field on the importance of comprehensive approaches.
Investing in Reproductive Justice for All: Toward a U.S. Foreign Policy on Comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
Full Report
Executive Summary
Archived Front Page Content
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