REPORT of the Russian Family Planning Association (RFPA)
Round table “Contraceptive well-being of the population of the Russian Federation”
9 December 2010, Moscow, Russian Federation
High abortion rates in the Russian Federation are caused by insufficient awareness and low use of modern methods of contraception. Low use of contraception is caused by various factors, including misleading popular conception that contraception affects population growth negatively. This conception is very popular among key stakeholders, including politicians, journalists, general public. Therefore it is necessary to draw attention and to strengthen the understanding of target groups concerning modern methods of contraception and its real consequences on health, well-being and fertility rates.
In order to do it, Russian Family Planning Association (RFPA) conducted a Round table in Moscow, where it gathered key policy makers, members of RFPA coalition, experts in the field of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) (health professionals, demographers, legal advisors, local and international NGOs), journalists. 49 persons plus RFPA staff attended the event. The Round table was opened by Ms. Adamian the Head of Department at Scientific Research Center in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after acad. Kulakov, Ms.Murzarbaeva Parliament Member and the Member of the Health Care Committee of the State Duma of the Russian Federation and Ms. Erofeeva RFPA Director General. The Opening of the Round table was followed by a number of presentations, representing different fields of SRHR with a special focus on contraception. UNFPA rep highlighted main world trends in reproductive health and contraceptive use. Demographic situation, current demographic challenges and the influence of contraceptive use was discussed from the demographer`s point of view. This was followed by the analyzes of SRHR in the Russian Federation and potential perspectives of Family Planning and further promotion of Reproductive Rights. The last but not the least presentation was prepared by RFPA Director General and basically it was related to contraceptive literacy and ways of countering current challenges and opposition threats towards the field of SRHR. The mainstream issue of the Round table was strengthening the understanding of key stakeholders and the lay public that contraception does not decrease fertility rates, instead it diminishes artificial Abortions. Basically RFPA is the only one SRHR NGO which promotes this agenda.RFPA always highlights and push issues related to commitment and current challenges of the fertile population in their use of the modern contraceptive methods, absence of negative influences of contraception on the large demographic picture.RFPA also pays lots of attention to building the capacity of the media emphasizing the importance of the Rights based approaches in SRHR, Family Planning and modern contraception.
During the Round table evidence based information concerning modern methods of contraception and possible consequences of its use was provided to participants in specially prepared delegate’s information packs (WHO Wheel on Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, WHO\IPPF Emergency Contraception: Questions and Answers, State Statistics, RFPA`Family Planning Magazine). Presentations were followed by open discussion, during which different attending specialists could highlight their point of view, at the final stage the time was given to the Questions and Answers session in which mostly journalists were very active. Prior to the Round table RFPA has compiled a press-release for the journalists, which was placed on RFPA website and shared widely using news links which RFPA has with its partners. It contributed significantly to wider representation of journalists at the meeting.
The event itself was conducted in well known and recognized place. It was done on purpose in order to ensure greater participation of key stakeholders and specialists from different fields.
Conduction of the Round table was followed by articles on the websites, newspapers, thematic publications, newsletters of partner organizations.
The main outcome of the meeting was building of SRHR sensitization among politicians, journalists and community leaders on SRHR, Family Planning, with a strong emphasis to modern contraception use as prevention of unwanted pregnancies and as an alternative to abortion. This issue is especially important nowadays, when anti-choice opposition to SRHR is strong and can force the Government to make steps to ban Reproductive choice and restrict significantly use of contraception.
Moreover significant focus was made on building partnerships with participants of the Round table in order to strengthen collaboration in countering current SRHR challenges. The target was achieved sufficiently. RFPA got new partnerships with politicians, which supported the promotion of SRHR and modern contraception among population of Russia. RFPA got a pull of journalists sensitized on SRHR, the capacity of which will be used later in promoting SRHR agenda in the media.
The activity represents a part of a bigger project on Reproductive Choice Advocacy planned by RFPA for opposition counteraction.
Information support to the event was provided beforehand by our partners from the Center of Reproductive Rights (CRR), International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), the Scientific Society for Contraception, Eastern European Alliance for Reproductive Choice and others.