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International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network

IPPF EN

The International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network advocates for sexual and reproductive health and rights across Europe and Central Asia.

Lobbying Activity

IPPF European Network Urges Focus on Global Health Funding

28 Nov 2025
Topic — The consultation addresses the European Union’s future budget for international cooperation and development.
Message — The organization wants the budget to prioritize poverty over EU interests. They demand a 93% development assistance target and specific health objectives.123
Why — Stricter targets would provide financial stability for their global health programs.4
Impact — Vulnerable women and girls lose health services if development aid is diverted to EU interests.5
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Response to EU’s next long-term budget (MFF) – EU funding for cross-border education, training and solidarity, youth, media, culture, and creative sectors, values, and civil society

21 Nov 2025

AgoraEU CERV+ Strand Regulation: Joint recommendations from gender equality civil society organisations. As civil society organisations working to advance gender equality, LGBTI rights, womens rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and combating sexual and gender-based violence in Europe, we welcomed the proposal of the European Commission for the CERV+ strand of the AgoraEU programme in the future MFF 2028-2034. As the negotiations on the Regulation progress, we urge EU institutions to support the following provisions: - Improve the wording of certain thematic lines to be inclusive and comprehensive, notably ensuring the inclusion of sexual and reproductive health and rights; - Ensure that a fair and appropriate share of the CERV+ budget is dedicated to the Equality and Daphne substrands, for the defence and advancement of LGBTI peoples fundamental rights, womens rights, SRHR, gender equality, and combating gender-based violence, through earmarked percentages; - Specifically mention advocacy, watchdog activities, strategic litigation and campaigning as eligible activities under CERV+; - Safeguard the overall amount proposed for CERV+; - Earmark at least 60% of CERV+ funds for civil society organisations; - Safeguard core funding (operating grants) and regranting (financial support to third parties); - Maintain direct management; - Ensure that synergies do not impede eligibility for substrands.
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Meeting with Stine Bosse (Member of the European Parliament)

30 Sept 2025 · Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)

IPPF EN calls for EU protection of reproductive rights defenders

5 Sept 2025
Topic — A consultation on establishing a framework to support and protect EU civil society.
Message — They call for a gender-sensitive protection mechanism and dedicated funding for reproductive rights groups. The strategy must address threats like harassment and shrinking civic space for these advocates.12
Why — This framework would provide financial stability and physical safety for organizations facing increasing hostility.34
Impact — Anti-rights groups would lose the ability to capture public funds and delegitimize SRHR work.56
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Meeting with Hadja Lahbib (Commissioner) and

27 May 2025 · Collaborate to advance our shared goals on SRHR

Meeting with Kira Marie Peter-Hansen (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur) and Amnesty International Limited and

19 May 2025 · Sustainability omnibus

Meeting with Marco La Marca (Cabinet of Commissioner Dubravka Šuica) and NOVE and

29 Apr 2025 · Fertility

Meeting with Marko Vešligaj (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and European Women's Lobby and

5 Mar 2025 · Gender Equality Strategy 2025-2029

Meeting with Alice Kuhnke (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur for opinion)

19 Feb 2025 · SRHR, equality

Meeting with Alice Kuhnke (Member of the European Parliament) and Center for Reproductive Rights, Inc.

19 Feb 2025 · Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Meeting with Maria Walsh (Member of the European Parliament)

3 Feb 2025 · International Planned Parenthood Federation

Meeting with Alice Kuhnke (Member of the European Parliament) and DSW (Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung) and

29 Jan 2025 · All of Us abortion network SRHR start-up event

Meeting with Marit Maij (Member of the European Parliament)

7 Nov 2024 · Meeting with representative IPPF

Meeting with Marit Maij (Member of the European Parliament) and DSW (Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung)

23 Oct 2024 · Meeting with representatives from the IPPF and DSW

Meeting with Abir Al-Sahlani (Member of the European Parliament) and Save the Children Europe and

16 Oct 2024 · EU4Girls- young advocates take over EP to champion girls rights

Meeting with Catarina Martins (Member of the European Parliament) and End Female Genital Mutilation - European Network

3 Oct 2024 · Sexual and reproductive health

Meeting with Manon Aubry (Member of the European Parliament)

2 Oct 2024 · Droits des femmes

Meeting with Cecilia Strada (Member of the European Parliament)

2 Oct 2024 · safeguarding sexual and reproductive health and rights in EU external action

Meeting with Valérie Devaux (Member of the European Parliament)

1 Oct 2024 · Santé et droits sexuels et reproductifs

Meeting with Marit Maij (Member of the European Parliament) and DSW (Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung) and European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual & Reproductive Rights

26 Sept 2024 · Comprehensive training on SHRH in the EU internal and external policies

Meeting with Alice Kuhnke (Member of the European Parliament) and DSW (Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung) and

26 Sept 2024 · SRHR

Meeting with Mélissa Camara (Member of the European Parliament) and Center for Reproductive Rights, Inc.

26 Sept 2024 · Présentation de leurs travaux

Meeting with Valérie Devaux (Member of the European Parliament) and Center for Reproductive Rights, Inc.

24 Sept 2024 · Sexual and reproductive health and rights

Meeting with Frances Fitzgerald (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and Amnesty International Limited and

14 Sept 2023 · Directive on combating violence against women and domestic violence

Meeting with Ilana Cicurel (Member of the European Parliament, Shadow rapporteur)

6 Jun 2023 · Implementation of the CERV programme - Meeting with the International Planned Parenthood Federation

Meeting with Ilan De Basso (Member of the European Parliament) and Save the Children Europe and

30 May 2023 · Möte

Meeting with Helena Dalli (Commissioner) and

3 May 2023 · Meeting on Gender Equality and Parenthood Initiative

Response to Recommendation on covert interference from third countries

14 Apr 2023

We welcome the proposal for a Defence of Democracy Package as a potential important contribution to enhancing democratic participation, protection, resilience, and recognition of civil society organizations. Measures to better ensure the protection, participation, funding, and cross border work of civil society organisations in the European Union are necessary. Among other necessary measures: - Building resilience and empowering civil society should become the fourth pillar of the European Democracy Action Plan. - The EU should adopt a fully-fledged Civil Society Strategy. - The European Commission Rule of Law Annual Review Cycle should have a standalone chapter on civic space. In particular, the EU should urgently strengthen the instruments at its disposal to better PROTECT civil society organisations and human rights defenders in the EU. The EU and Member States have a duty to protect civil society actors and human rights defenders from threats and attacks (including SLAPPs / politically motivated prosecution, threats, harassment, physical and verbal violence, online violence, funding cuts, etc.), linked to their human rights work. We call on the EU to ensure consistency between internal and external approach in defending civic space and human rights defenders. We urge the EU to establish an EU mechanism to monitor civic space trends in EU Member States, allow civil society organisations and human rights defenders to report on attacks, and receive direct assistance. The EU should adopt an intersectional approach to civic space, and pay particular attention to those who are most under threat: notably, organisations and (Women) Human Rights Defenders defending womens human rights, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and LGBTQI+ rights, are among the most targeted. Regarding the plans to address covert foreign interference in EU democracies, we are highly concerned of the potential, unintended, negative impact of such measure on civic space. We understand that the draft legislative proposal would require NGOs and other actors to disclose foreign funding. It would potentially restrict access to finance for NGOs, stigmatise them and place NGOs receiving foreign funding under suspicion. So-called foreign agents laws have been used by States as a tool to crack down on independent civil society. We emphasize that access to finance for civil society organisations across borders must not be unduly restricted. Legislation must be consistent with international human rights standards, particularly relating to civic freedoms and human rights defenders. We call on the European Commission to: - reconsider proposing such a directive on covert foreign interference; - carry out a fundamental rights impact assessment ahead of any legislative proposal, and ensure that whatever proposal is in line with international human rights standards, the CJEU ruling (C-78/18) and Council Conclusions on civic space; - ensure an open and structured dialogue with all stakeholders, in particular all proposals or review of legislation affecting civil society must be prepared in close dialogue with civil society.
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Meeting with Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield (Member of the European Parliament) and European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual & Reproductive Rights

2 Mar 2023 · Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Meeting with Gwendoline Delbos-Corfield (Member of the European Parliament) and European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual & Reproductive Rights

26 Jan 2023 · Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Meeting with Jutta Urpilainen (Commissioner) and OXFAM INTERNATIONAL EU ADVOCACY OFFICE and

1 Dec 2022 · Speech at the 2nd GAP III Structured Dialogue with CSOs

Meeting with Frances Fitzgerald (Member of the European Parliament, Rapporteur) and EUROPEAN TRADE UNION CONFEDERATION and

27 Oct 2022 · Proposal for a Directive on combatting violence against women and domestic violence

Meeting with Renaud Savignat (Cabinet of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen) and DSW (Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung) and

13 Jul 2022 · Upcoming EWAG 2022and International Day of the Girl

IPPF EN welcomes EU law to combat gender-based violence

17 May 2022
Topic — Proposed EU directive aiming to prevent and combat gender-based and domestic violence.
Message — The organization calls for the recognition of forced pregnancy and the denial of abortion care as forms of violence. They also request guaranteed access to sexual and reproductive healthcare for all victims.12
Why — Stronger protections against online violence would benefit the organization’s staff and partner human rights defenders.3
Impact — Perpetrators in several EU states would lose legal immunity for non-consensual sexual acts.4
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Meeting with Alice Kuhnke (Member of the European Parliament) and European Digital Rights and

19 Apr 2022 · Roundtable: Gender-based Violence

Meeting with Helena Dalli (Commissioner) and Amnesty International Limited and

6 Apr 2022 · Cabinet Dalli invited Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to discuss concerns equality and non-discrimination CSOs are raising regarding the situation of people fleeing from the Ukraine

Meeting with Lesia Radelicki (Cabinet of Commissioner Helena Dalli)

31 Mar 2022 · Webex War in Ukraine

Meeting with Lesia Radelicki (Cabinet of Commissioner Helena Dalli)

30 Mar 2022 · Meeting on Directive "Definition of rape" personal scope

Meeting with Lesia Radelicki (Cabinet of Commissioner Helena Dalli)

10 Mar 2022 · Concerns over SRHR of Ukrainian refugees and situation in Poland

Meeting with Lora Borissova (Cabinet of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen), Renaud Savignat (Cabinet of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen) and

8 Oct 2021 · Africa-EU partnership

Meeting with Jutta Urpilainen (Commissioner) and OXFAM INTERNATIONAL EU ADVOCACY OFFICE and

25 May 2021 · Roundtable on Human Development

Meeting with Monika Ladmanova (Cabinet of Vice-President Věra Jourová), Simona Constantin (Cabinet of Vice-President Věra Jourová)

10 Mar 2021 · Rule of law and fundamental rights

Meeting with Renaud Savignat (Cabinet of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen) and DSW (Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung) and European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual & Reproductive Rights

25 Feb 2021 · - Gender equality - Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Meeting with Ines Prainsack (Cabinet of Commissioner Stella Kyriakides), Panayiotis Pourgourides (Cabinet of Commissioner Stella Kyriakides)

17 Dec 2020 · Exchange of views on Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Management of Non-Communicable Diseases and EU4Health programme.

Meeting with Lesia Radelicki (Cabinet of Commissioner Helena Dalli)

22 Sept 2020 · Discussion on SHR

Meeting with Helena Dalli (Commissioner)

22 Sept 2020 · Gender Equality; Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)

Meeting with Renaud Savignat (Cabinet of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen) and Save the Children Europe and

11 Sept 2020 · EU Global Health Strategy

Meeting with Renaud Savignat (Cabinet of Commissioner Jutta Urpilainen) and DSW (Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung) and European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual & Reproductive Rights

25 Feb 2020 · Discussion on SRHR in development cooperation.

Response to Gender equality in the EU

10 Feb 2020

We welcome the European Commission’s initiative to propose a Gender Equality Strategy. It should contain strong commitments, clear indicators and a monitoring mechanism to hold EU institutions and Member States (MS) accountable. It should plan for both specific actions and gender mainstreaming. Most importantly, it must integrate sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). 1. The EU is a strong supporter for SRHR in its external policies (GAP) and must ensure coherence between its external and internal policies In addition, the EU and its MS committed to implement universal documents such as the ICPD Programme of Action, the Beijing Platform for Action and the outcomes of their review conferences, and the SDGs, which apply within the EU. 2. SRHR are a precondition to gender equality Without SRHR, women can’t decide over their relationships, whether, when or how many children to have; they are more vulnerable to STIs and violence. This can deprive them of education, economic independence and political participation; and hinder progress towards gender equality. Violations of women’s SRHR are a form of violence against women, as affirmed by UN Treaty bodies, the ECtHR and the European Parliament (EP). The EU is therefore competent to include SRHR in the Strategy, as a precondition to gender equality and ending violence against women. 3. The EU should mainstream gender in all areas including health Inequalities are a major barrier for women’s access to healthcare, with economic dependence, poverty, discriminations, gender norms, limiting women’s agency over their health, particularly their SRH. Sexual and gender-based violence negatively impacts women’s health. Women can be victims of obstetrical and gynecological violence when accessing SRH services. Some women face even more discriminations, including women from ethnic or religious minorities, disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, women living with disabilities or LBTI women. Access to SRH services varies greatly between MS and the situation is worsening in several MS due to the backlash against women’s rights. The indicators used by the EU are not adapted to measure unmet needs in access to SRHR specifically. The Strategy must include a chapter on Women and Health and DG JUST and DG SANTE should work closely together to reduce gender inequalities in health. 4. Preventing gender-based violence through education should be a priority of the Strategy We believe that education on relationships, sexuality and gender equality (Comprehensive Sexuality Education-CSE) is key to prevent sexual, gender-based and intimate partner violence. CSE helps prevent violence by addressing rigid gender norms, unequal power dynamics in relationships, respect for one’s own and others’ boundaries, consent... (with an intersectional approach, and addressing digital risks). Unfortunately, access to such education is insufficient. The EU should support innovative violence-prevention programmes through education. 5. The EU needs to counter the backlash against women’s rights, reproductive freedom and gender equality and must support women’s rights organisations Anti-gender discourses and disinformation are on the rise and have a real impact on public support and legislative and policy frameworks (i.e. ratification of the Istanbul Convention blocked due to disinformation). The EU must reaffirm its commitment to gender equality and SRHR and systematically denounce any retrogressive initiatives. It must also carry out innovative actions to counter this backlash, such as monitoring and analysing disinformation and developing effective counter-narratives. The EU must partner with, protect and support women’s human rights organisations and defenders politically and financially. The amount allocated to the Rights and Values Programme should be increased and sufficient funds earmarked for civil society, gender equality and combating gender-based violence, as asked by the EP.
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Response to EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020-2024

6 Feb 2020

I. Promoting women’s human rights and gender equality should be a priority of the renewed Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy The EU is committed to promoting gender equality and women’s rights outside of its borders. Gender equality and women’s rights must be fully reflected throughout the renewed Action Plan, both through gender mainstreaming and through specific targeted actions. II. Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are human rights and a precondition to gender equality, therefore it is key that they are included as a priority in the next Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is a critical part of health and as such, an integral part of the right to health. Ensuring sexual and reproductive health is essential to respecting and promoting women’s and girls’ fundamental human rights. Sexual and reproductive rights (SRR) are also intrinsically linked to the rights to respect for physical and mental integrity, private and family life, freedom of expression and information, equality and non-discrimination, dignity, and freedom from cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment. The denial of legally available SRH services such as abortion can amount to gender-based violence, torture or ill-treatment, and can even violate women’s right to life. The realisation of women’s and girls’ SRHR is a pre-condition for the achievement of gender equality. SRHR are indispensable for women and girls to be able to decide on their sexual partners and relationships, whether and when they want to have children and how many, protect themselves from HIV and other STIs, and be free from violence. Conversely, neglect and violations of women’s and girls’ SRHR deprive them of an education, economic independence and political participation. III. The EU has been a strong supporter for SRHR The EU’s support to SRHR has been reflected in many policy documents, including in the EU Consensus on Development and the 2015 Council Conclusions on Gender in Development. The EU also committed to implement the SDGs, including targets 3.7 and 5.6, the Beijing Platform for Action and the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development and the outcomes of their review conferences. IV. The EU must more than ever reaffirm its commitment to SRHR and support women human rights defenders and their organisations, to counter the backlash against gender equality and women's rights In the face of the global rise of anti-human rights and anti-gender equality movements, the EU must more than ever reaffirm its commitment to defend all human rights, particularly those the most threatened, such as women’s SRHR. The EU must also protect and support the people and organisations that fight for these rights. Female women human rights defenders (WHRDs) face gender-specific risks, because they are women and are seen to challenge existing gender norms within their communities and societies. WHRDs are also specifically targeted for promoting women’s human rights, challenging traditional gender stereotypes, fighting for the right to equality, sexual and reproductive health and rights, or the rights of women victims of domestic violence. Female HRDs are also much less likely than their male counterparts to be able to access resources, networks and protection mechanisms offered by the international community. The EU should ensure protection mechanisms are adapted to the specific challenges faced by female HRDs. A strong women’s rights movement is crucial for gender equality and the fight against gender-based violence; therefore, the EU must protect and support WHRDs and their organisations in order to make progress in this field.
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Response to Evaluation of the EU's external action support in the area of gender equality and women empowerment

20 Sept 2019

IPPF EN is a member of CONCORD Europe and supports CONCORD’s submission to the online consultation. Despite important progress over the past decades, gender inequalities persist. The denial of women’s and girls’ rights is one of the biggest causes of poverty worldwide and a grave injustice. To make EU development aid strategic and effective, efforts to tackle the underlying causes of gender inequality, address women and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and prevent and combat gender-based violence must be stepped up. IPPF EN welcomed GAPII recognition of SRHR as essential to achieve gender equality worldwide. It will be crucial to continue these efforts, in a context of backlash against women’s rights globally, with reproductive freedom being often questioned. IPPF EN appreciated the continuation of the three-pronged approach (gender mainstreaming, specific actions, political dialogue) and the extension of GAPII to all areas of external action. IPPF EN also highlighted key areas for improvement (non exhaustive): • The EU must promote CSO inclusion at all levels. EU Delegations and Member States should engage actively with CSOs, including women’s rights organisations and defenders; • EU Delegations and Member States must ensure the sustainability of gender programmes in the face of declining ODA, increasing role of non-traditional donors and the negative context for achieving women’s rights in some countries, where ODA remains crucial to support SRHR; • The final evaluation for GAP II and the drafting process of GAP III should highlight enabling factors and markers of change, to evaluate its impact. A new GAPIII should build and expand on the path laid out in the GAPII. Given the strong momentum, ownership and content of the GAPII, there should be a high level of alignment between GAPII and GAPIII: • The GAPIII should go further in strengthening the right of every individual to have full control over, and decide freely and responsibly on matters related to their SRHR. To strengthen the implementation and monitoring of this engagement, the GAP III should adopt the comprehensive Guttmacher-Lancet Commission definition of SRHR and work towards universal access to quality and affordable comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information, education, and health-care services. • The new GAP should build on priorities of GAPII and continue its work on institutional and cultural shift and the 3-pronged approach, to bring about the transformation of gender relations. • The GAPIII should continue to focus on all aspects of EU external action, not only on development policies, and this at all stages, including implementation and reporting. Gender must be mainstreamed in all sectors, including in non-social sectors such as trade, energy, agriculture and migration. • The GAPIII should focus on impact for women and girls on the ground. All EU-funded programmes should be based on an analysis of the current situation of women and girls and the identification of priority areas of intervention in consultation with women’s rights groups. • The new GAP should be accompanied by a robust Monitoring and Evaluation system, including clear, measurable, time-bound, quantitative and qualitative indicators of success. [Further suggestions attached] With regards to the EU’s next MFF: • The EU should adopt and fund a gender-responsive approach to the next MFF and subsequently in each annual budget to promote gender equality (gender budgeting). • The GAP II commitment that at least 85% of ODA-funded programmes should have gender equality as a significant or principal objective (OECD Gender marker 1 or 2) should be enshrined in the Regulation of the Neighbourhood, Development, and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI). To make sure targeted action gets the needed resources within this commitment, 20% of the NDICI funding should go to programmes having gender equality as a principal objective (G2).
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Response to Multiannual Financial Framework: Rights and Values programme 2021-2027

7 Aug 2018

The Programme ensures the continuation of the Rights, Equality and Citizenship and Europe for Citizens programmes, which is positive. However, the EC fails to answer the EP and civil society’s call for a European Values Instrument to increase support to CSOs at local and national level to counter the backlash against fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of law and the shrinking civic space within the EU. This might be EU’s last chance to ensure its values are safeguarded, address the rise of far-right populist authoritarianism, and increase support to HR organisations and defenders internally. The proposal needs: • A more ambitious scope Whilst the general objective is broad, specific objectives are narrowed down to specific EU law and policies. Since Member States are party to most international human rights treaties and Art 2 TEU refers to human rights, the objectives could be much more comprehensive (i.e. safeguarding democracy, the rule of law, fundamental freedoms). The Programme still focuses primarily on transnational actions. The EU would also have much added value in supporting local and national CSOs working on local and national issues, given the increasingly difficult context in which they operate and the fact that many challenges the EU faces are rooted at local level. • Essential activities To ensure CSOs can safeguard EU values, eligible activities should include watchdog activities, advocacy, litigation, public mobilisation and education and the provision of human rights-based services. • Greater accessibility, flexibility and sustainability for CSOs Accessing EU funds is very hard for many CSOs due to the EU rules regarding turnover rates, pre-financing, co-financing and reporting. CSOs with limited administrative and financial capacities are unable to comply, particularly smaller, community-based and grassroots organisations, and those working in challenging environments or on sensitive issues. The EU should increase the flexibility and accessibility of its funds and provide the same funding conditions for CSOs internally and externally. It could replicate some of the EIDHR features, e.g. support to unregistered organisations and individual HRDs; a mechanism providing urgent assistance to HRDs; direct award and eligibility-restricted procedures; low value grants; no co-financing and confidentiality if needed; and re-granting mechanisms. CSOs especially small ones crucially need multiannual operating grants and unearmarked funding, covering core and structural expenses, rather than short-term project-based funding, to ensure the sustainability of their work. • An adequate amount to address rising challenges €642 million will be insufficient given the increasingly hostile context in which CSOs work. The EP called for additional funding of at least the level of the EIDHR (€1.5 billion in the next MFF). Funding would be open to any legal entities in the EU and some third countries, i.e. public and private entities and international organisations. The lack of an overall earmarked budget for CSOs is problematic. • Gender A strong and independent women’s rights movement is the most critical factor for improving women’s rights. Women’s rights organisations are increasingly under attack in the EU. Funding aiming to achieve gender equality should go primarily to women’s rights organisations, particularly at local and national level and those working in difficult contexts. The amount for Rights and Equality and Combating violence represents a €30 million decrease compared to the current REC (€409 vs €409 million). The amount proposed to combat violence (25% of €409 million) confirms the trend in the past years of decreasing funding for the issue internally, when it appears to be a top priority externally (Spotlight Initiative). The merging of gender equality, anti-discrimination and anti-racism objectives undermines their visibility and the transparency of funds allocated to each of them.
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Response to Multiannual Financial Framework: Proposal for the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument

3 Aug 2018

GENDER EQUALITY The 20% benchmark for human development includes gender equality, meaning a steep decrease in funding for both (58.8% of EU aid addressing gender in some capacity in 2016). The EU should dedicate at least 85% of ODA to gender equality altogether, with 20% of these funds to targeted action. The few references to gender equality are limited to gender mainstreaming, yet with no indication on how it will be implemented. Dedicated targets in each geographic/thematic window are essential to ensure EU aid is gender-sensitive with transformative impact. Building capacity, developing a clear monitoring set of tools/indicators with gender disaggregated data collection, conducting regular, transparent and participative impact assessments and establishing clear adjustment mechanisms are key to implement a sound gender budgeting approach. THEMATIC PROGRAMMES Thematic programmes are set to be reduced to a minimum (<8% of NDICI against >21% of EDF, DCI and EIDHR in MFF 2014-20) with geographic programmes receiving >76% of NDICI funding. While this geographic focus is in line with the aid and development effectiveness principles, thematic programmes have been critical in supporting core EU values beyond bilateral cooperation (cf mid-term review report). Independent from governments' consent, they are critical for issues deemed sensitive by partners and receiving limited resources and help achieve the universality of Agenda 2030 by linking local work to regional and global levels. If issues currently handled thematically (particularly GPGC) are addressed under geographic programmes, strategies must be defined at country level through sound specific analyses and consultations with CSOs working specifically on them. Engagement of the EUDs on human development, CSOs, gender and SRHR should particularly be monitored, reported on and reviewed at mid-term point with CSO consultation. SRHR NDICI must include earmarked funding for SRHR, incl. Family Planning (FP), as per the Consensus. SRHR should be tackled with an explicit budget line and specific objectives under various lines: health, education, youth empowerment, HR, gender. This should be coupled with a specific commitment for funding levels, guided by the current gap to meet needs (eg €46.15 billion needed for maternal and newborn care). The Parliamentarians’ Conference on the ICPD Programme of Action recommends dedicating 10% of ODA to population assistance. This would mean for the EU €1.647 billion (vs €20 million only under current MFF for SRHR and FP). The EC mentions that health budget support contributes €1 billion to SRHR, a figure impossible to verify with data currently available. To clearly monitor its action, the EU should report on its earmarked and indirect (budget and sector) support yearly throughout the MFF. HUMAN RIGHTS (HR) INCL. WOMEN'S RIGHTS (WR), AND CSOs Many positive elements of the EIDHR remain in the Human Rights and Democracy (HR&D) programme: independence from governments' consent, support to unregistered organisations and HRDs, low-value grants, no co-financing if needed; and the budget was slightly increased although it could be increased further. HR should be mainstreamed, incl. with earmarked funding throughout NDICI. All HR covered, incl. WR, should be stated in areas of intervention. Local and national WR organisations, those working in difficult contexts, and all HRDs including LGBTI and WHRDs facing specific threats should be supported. The roles of CSOs as key stakeholder, actors for HR and providers of basic services should be reflected and funding earmarked for them under HR&D, CSOs, Global Challenges and geographic programmes. The latter 3 are now "open to IOs and all other legal entities”. The civil society-led mechanism providing HRDs with urgent and longer-term protection, the Country-Based Support Schemes and the Neighborhood Civil Society Facility should be kept.
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Meeting with Helena Braun (Cabinet of First Vice-President Frans Timmermans)

6 Feb 2018 · Discussion on Human Rights and Equalities

Meeting with Irena Andrassy (Cabinet of Vice-President Neven Mimica), Nils Behrndt (Cabinet of Vice-President Neven Mimica), Paolo Berizzi (Cabinet of Vice-President Neven Mimica)

31 Jan 2017 · Family planning as part of the UN 2030 agenda

Meeting with Nils Behrndt (Cabinet of Vice-President Neven Mimica)

29 Jan 2015 · EU support to sexual and reproductive health and rights