Priorities include enhanced access to abortion care and removal of all legal and other barriers to adolescent access to contraception
Today, 13th November 2024, the IFPA launched its 2024 election manifesto, Accelerating Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. The manifesto highlights four priority issues the next government must address to progress sexual and reproductive health and rights.
Speaking at the launch, IFPA CEO Niall Behan said: “In recent years, Ireland has made significant progress on sexual and reproductive health and rights. Contraception, abortion and sexual health are now within the mainstream of essential public health services.
“The next Government must build on these advances and continue to drive and defend progress on sexual and reproductive health and rights in Ireland and globally.”
“The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) asks election candidates and political parties to commit to our four key asks, including enhanced access to abortion care and removal of all legal and other barriers to adolescent access to contraception.
“In the IFPA’s view, the recommendations of the O’Shea report into the operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 must be implemented as a matter of priority.
“The limitation of the free contraception scheme to defined age-groups must be addressed. The ineligibility of those under 17 is particularly problematic, as they are unlikely to be able to pay for contraception and a pregnancy is highly likely to adversely affect these young people’s well-being, education and career prospects in multiple ways and increase their vulnerability to ongoing disadvantage.
“These measures will enhance access to abortion and contraceptive care. They will strengthen supports for those who have been subjected to female genital mutilation (FGM) and enhance Ireland’s role as a global champion of sexual and reproductive health and rights.”
The IFPA’s four priorities to advance reproductive rights
- Enhance access to abortion care. Fully implement all operational and legislative recommendations of the Independent Review of the Operation of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018 and resource a HSE Primary Care Lead for early medical abortion.
- End the inequity in contraceptive care. Expand the free contraception scheme to enable everyone who wishes to access contraceptive advice and services to do so without cost.
- Support FGM survivors and girls at risk. Establish a State-led interagency committee to develop a national-level strategy to address female genital mutilation.
- Fully implement the sexual and reproductive health and rights initiative which was promised in A Better World: Ireland’s policy for international development and was announced by An Tánaiste in September 2023.
In addition, the IFPA calls for the resolution of funding disparities for Section 39 organisations, such as the IFPA, compared to their public sector peers, and a clear pathway to achieve the United Nations (UN) target of spending 0.7% of gross national income (GNI) on overseas development assistance (ODA).
ENDS
Press Contact: Maeve Taylor, Director of Advocacy and Communications 086 795 2167, or email maeve.taylor@ifpa.ie.
Media contact: Maeve Taylor, IFPA, Tel: 0867952167, email press@ifpa.ie.
NOTES TO EDITOR
About the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA)
The IFPA is a leading provider of sexual and reproductive healthcare in Ireland. The organisation offers a comprehensive range of services including contraception, abortion care and specialist pregnancy counselling, which support reproductive choice on a not-for-profit basis. The IFPA runs Ireland’s only dedicated treatment service for survivors of female genital mutilation (FGM). The organisation promotes the right of all people to comprehensive, specialist and affordable sexual and reproductive health information and services.