NGO Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Development

The Berlin Call to Action (September 4, 2009) from the NGO Forum on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Development meeting in Berlin, which was the official 15 years post ICPD follow up meeting.... “Were any of you there? What were your impressions of the meeting? Lia attended the Bangkok NGO meeting for Asia-Pacific and felt it was a big disappointment as there was not discussion on rights whatsoever and the NGOs present were pretty mainstream. Her impression was that the more empowering part of Cairo has lost steam. Feedback from the Berlin meeting was that there was a certain lack of unanimity at the meeting – some unhappy people who didn't see the term "family planning" in the main text, and others advocating to use the SRHR framework (presumably because FP=Population=Population Control) consistently in every setting with every audience. Some felt the “Berlin Call to Action” was written to policymakers with an explicit agenda by some donors who are trying to reposition family planning. It would be great to hear from anyone who was there – whether this is an accurate analysis of what went on.” Joan and Lia