As we all know, 2017 was a year filled with challenges for SRHR. Now that 2018 is in full swing, we want to highlight some inspirational news from January that could energize us for the year ahead!

The global movement She Decides was born in early 2017 as a response to the reinstatement of the Global Gag Rule. It aims to raise financial and political support for sexual and reproductive health for all around the world. On March 2, 2017 an international conference was organized which raised 181 million euros to cover the gaps caused by the “Mexico City policy”. After one year, an additional 450 million euros has been pledged, as was recently announced by Alexander De Croo, Belgian Federal Minister for Cooperation.

Countdown 2030 Europe, a Consortium of leading European NGOs, launched its newest tracking report, which analyses the most recent trends in SRH/FP policies and funding support by European donor countries. The report ‘European Donor Support to Sexual & Reproductive Health & Family Planning Trends Analysis 2016-17’, shows that, despite an overall slight decrease in funding to population assistance and UNFPA in 2016 compared to the previous year, funding maintained or even increased in a substantial number of European donor countries (i.e. Belgium, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland).

On 31 January, All of Us - the European Parliament's pro-choice campaign which mobilizes support for the right to access modern contraceptive choice and safe & legal abortion - organised an event at the European Parliament to discuss the issue of sexuality education and its current challenges in the European Union.

As we have entered the new year, we continue to work on the transition of EuroNGOs into a more inclusive SRHR Partnership. An internal action plan has been developed for 2018 and some exciting activities are planned for this year. Not only do we plan to again organize a conference later in the year, we also are organizing workshops, webinars and other activities surrounding specific thematic areas such as SRHR in humanitarian crisis.

The Cheetah Conservation Fund has recently joined the Population & Sustainability Network.

To mark the occasion, a joint publication entitled "The importance of human reproductive health and rights for cheetah conservation” was launched which elaborates the linkages between reproductive rights and the conservation of a specific species.

On the 23rd of January 2016, the Mexico Policy was reinstated by the newly elected president Donald Trump. To acknowledge its devastating consequences, the Swedish Association For Sexuality Education (RFSU) has created an unorthodox anniversary gift, together with an open letter to President Trump.

ShareNet International released the book titled “Everybody Matters. Good practices for inclusion of people with disabilities in sexual and reproductive health and rights programmes.” It is a collaboration between Share-Net International and the Dutch Coalition on Disability and Development (DCDD). The book collects cases, interviews and recommendations on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, accompanied by beautiful handmade drawings by De Beeldvormers.

7th January 1993 Act on Family Planning, Human Embryo Protection and Conditions of Legal Pregnancy Termination (later: the Act) has had a detrimental effect on women’s reproductive and sexual health and rights for 25 years. Due to the anniversary and upcoming debates about two abortion-related citizens’ bills[1] in the Parliament, the Federation for Women and Family Planning has launched the #25YearsOfWomen’sHell campaign so as to illustrate the fictional character of the Act and its multiple negative effects. Follow memes with the hashtag to learn and share facts about SRHR in Poland.

The IPPF EN regional office is recruiting a Programme Advisor for its Member Association Support Unit. As a member of our Support Unit, you will contribute to the development and implementation of support plans for Member Associations based on national and regional priorities, analysis of context, performance and lessons learned. You will focus on developing and supporting resource mobilisation skills and capacities. In addition, you will assist with the coordination of regional projects and initiatives and contribute to IPPF learning on capacity building.

The Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights (YCSRR) is seeking an ambitious, multi-tasking, and justice-driven individual to become its next Executive Coordinator. Youth Coalition is a youth-led organization committed to promoting adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health and rights at the national, regional and international levels. Made up of volunteer members from around the world, our staff support this work from our Ottawa, Canada based office.