COVID-19 – European countries’ response must be based on care, equality and solidarity

As Europe has become the second epicentre of the pandemic, COVID-19 is increasingly endangering the sexual and reproductive health and safety of women and girls and marginalised people in the region.

The current crisis is a stress test bringing to light the cracks in our societies, exacerbating existing inequalities.

Now it’s time for Europe to come together to build more equitable, caring and resilient societies and demand that our governments and the European Union place the values of care, equality and solidarity at the core of all public policy responses.

Read our asks towards the EU and Member States on how to safeguard reproductive freedom in their responses to COVID-19.

Women and girls in Europe

August 6, 2020: Despite the difficulties they encountered, our members and partners stepped up to protect people’s reproductive safety from the very start of the crisis. They played a crucial role as healthcare providers and as advocates. Read more.

June 12, 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic shows how the health crisis has hit marginalized groups particularly hard and how it increases their vulnerability. Youth, ethnic minorities, LGBTI+ people, women, children, people who take drugs, sex workers, people living with HIV are doubly marginalized. Read more.

May 26, 2020: This is a roadmap for governments for taking necessary measures to protect the rights of women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by the pandemic now and in its aftermath. Read more.

April 28, 2020: An overview from our members of the impact of COVID-19 on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of people, particularly women and girls, in Europe. The report also looks at how Europe’s international cooperation on sexual and reproductive health and rights has been affected. Read more.

April 22, 2020: About 50 organizations, including trade unions and major NGOs, have called on EU leaders to make the EU a better place: “one that is based on a socially just, feminist, sustainable, democratic and inclusive society.” Among the more specific concerns is the rule of law. Read more.

April 14, 2020: Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, bills banning abortion care and endangering young people by criminalizing relationship and sexuality education were voted on in Parliament. Read more.

April 8, 2020: 100 NGOs call on European governments to urgently guarantee safe and timely access to abortion care for women and girls during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more.

April 1, 2020: No matter where we live, what we look like, or what income we might have, this pandemic affects us all. IPPF members around Europe and Central Asia, as throughout the world, continue to do their best to ensure that all people can lead safe and dignified reproductive lives even in confinement. Read more.

Women and girls around the world

Brief: Advocacy good practices & lessons learned

July 13, 2020: IPPF Member Associations have been actively engaging in advocacy with decision makers at national, regional and international levels to ensure that access to SRHR is safeguarded and available to all who need it. Read more.

Press release: Opponents of sexual and reproductive health and rights step-up pressure during COVID-19

June 8, 2020: The latest IPPF survey of its worldwide membership on COVID-19 reveals that opponents of SRHR are employing a range of tactics to try to undermine sexual and reproductive rights. Read more.

Call to action: Recommendations for the EU on how to protect sexual and reproductive health and rights in COVID-19 times

May 27, 2020: The EU should seize the opportunity to “build back better” by creating more sustainable, resilient and inclusive societies where SRHR are well recognized and integrated. Read more.

Call to action: Asks for European donor governments on their international response to COVID-19

April 23, 2020: Under the Countdown 2030 Europe umbrella, advocates for universal access to family planning are calling for the prioritisation of sexual and reproductive health and rights. Universal health care, human rights, equality and solidarity should be at the core of any public policy and funding decision. Read more.

Blogs on the international response to the pandemic and the importance of sexual and reproductive health and rights from: The Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark.

Press release: COVID-19 pandemic cuts access to sexual and reproductive healthcare for women

April 9, 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic is having a major impact on the delivery of sexual and reproductive healthcare around the world, according to a survey of its national members conducted by IPPF. Read more.

Read our stories on the impact of COVID-19 from across the globe.