High-level Panel on family planning at the European Development Days

Countdown 2030 Europe co-organised a key high-level panel entitled “Key solutions for development: family planning and youth empowerment”. The panel discussed ways in which countries entering a period of demographic transition should invest in young people and how to expand access to family planning by investing in critical policies. Speakers included Alexander De Croo, Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation, Mattias Lundberg Head of the Global Partnership for Youth and Development at the World Bank and Ambassador Augustine Mahiga, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tanzania. 

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New European Consensus for Development Prioritises Women and Girls’ Sexual and Reproductive Health

Thanks to the tireless efforts made by Countdown 2030 Europe partners, family planning and sexual and reproductive health are firmly embedded in the new European Consensus for Development. Countdown 2030 Europe Partners met with representatives both in Brussels and at national level to ensure that strong commitments to family planning and sexual and reproductive health were clearly laid out in the document. Gender equality and a greater focus on youth empowerment, both critical to poverty reduction, have been strengthened throughout the document compared to the previous version from 2005.

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Rutgers Deliver 'Happy Boxes' to Dutch Parliament to Highlight Issues on Family Planning

Countdown 2030 Europe partner, Rutgers, surprised members of the newly formed parliamentary committee on international trade and development cooperation with a ‘Happy Box’ at an event in the Dutch parliament.  ‘Happy Boxes’ are typically given to expectant mothers and are usually filled with products and advice on maternal care. However, the twenty boxes delivered to parliamentarians were filled with information on topics pertaining to sexual and reproductive health and family planning. The event highlighted the broad support among civil society organisations for sexual and reproductive health and family planning, and raised awareness on key topics amongst parliamentarians.

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