Planned Parenthood Announces First-Ever Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Action at 2012 Annual Meeting
Launches Global Program to Train Young People in Africa and Latin America as Community Health Providers, Global Fellowships for Young Health Care Advocates in U.S.
New York, NY — At this year’s Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting, Planned Parenthood Federation of America announced the launch of a global program designed to help address the inequities young people around the world face when it comes to reproductive health care. The program will train young people in Africa and Latin America to provide basic contraceptive counseling and consistent contraceptive access to their friends, classmates and peers.
“Planned Parenthood is deeply committed to fighting for the healthiest generation ever. That’s why we are thrilled to take part in the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting for the first time,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “We know that young people across the globe remain extremely vulnerable to unintended pregnancy, unsafe abortion, and HIV/AIDS, but are so often unable to access quality health care. Planned Parenthood’s commitment today seeks to improve young people’s health and lives, no matter where they live.”
Today’s Commitment to Action also builds on Planned Parenthood’s success in mobilizing a national network of young advocates in the U.S.
“Through two new global health fellowships and new regional training institutes for young advocates in the U.S., Planned Parenthood continues to forge connections between young leaders across regions,” said Latanya Mapp Frett, PPFA's vice president – global. “Young people in the U.S. see themselves as connected to the world beyond our borders. High-speed Internet, mobile technology, the 24-hour news cycle, and immigration all contribute to this new global identity.”
Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s CGI Commitment to Action goes a significant step further than most peer education and community health programs, building on the extremely successful Youth Peer Provider model developed and piloted by Planned Parenthood Global, Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s international arm, and partner organizations in Africa and Latin America.
Planned Parenthood recognizes that in rural areas and urban slums information doesn’t mean much without access. The Youth Peer Provider model seeks to address these issues, helping young people provide information and consistent access to modern pregnancy and STD prevention methods, including contraceptive pills and condoms, all available without prescriptions in the countries where the model is implemented.
“Planned Parenthood Global’s Youth Peer Provider model has already made a significant impact in the lives of young people, helping them to avoid unintended pregnancy and disease and lead healthier, more productive lives,” said Frett. “We are so excited to be making this commitment with the Clinton Global Initiative today to expand the work we are doing.”
As part of Planned Parenthood’s CGI Commitment to Action, over the next two years Planned Parenthood Global will
- support six new partners in Africa and three new partners in Latin America to launch Youth Peer Provider models;
- nominate and sponsor global youth advocacy fellows in the United States to attend U.N. and other international meetings and design global health campaigns in their home communities; and global youth ambassadors to travel to and work with Planned Parenthood Global’s country programs;
- host sub-regional youth organizing training institutes across the U.S. and one national youth organizing conference to reach 1,500 young Americans with communications and advocacy skills;
- train at least four local or international colleague institutions in model implementation and print and disseminate a trainers manual to enable other organizations working with young people to implement the model, and translate this manual in Spanish; and
- conduct digital outreach to bring real-time global health policy information to young people across the U.S. through Planned Parenthood websites and social media platforms, which receive more than four million visits each month.
In addition to its domestic work, Planned Parenthood works overseas to ensure that women, men and young people in some of the world’s most neglected areas have access to the health care they need to control their bodies and their futures. Planned Parenthood Global, the organization’s international division, partners with local advocates, medical service providers and youth leaders in 10 countries to build sustainable networks and fight for more inclusive laws and policies. As part of this work, Planned Parenthood Global helps partners working on HIV prevention and treatment to incorporate family planning into their programs.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America is the nation’s leading sexual and reproductive health care advocate. We believe that everyone has the right to choose when or whether to have a child, and that every child should be wanted and loved. Planned Parenthood affiliates operate nearly 800 health centers nationwide, providing medical services and sexuality education for millions of women, men, and teenagers each year. We also work with allies worldwide to ensure that all women and men have the right and the means to meet their sexual and reproductive health care needs.
About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)
Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to create and implement innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges. CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 150 heads of state, 20 Nobel Prize laureates, and hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations and NGOs, major philanthropists, and members of the media. To date CGI members have made more than 2,100 commitments, which are already improving the lives of nearly 400 million people in more than 180 countries. When fully funded and implemented, these commitments will be valued at $69.2 billion.