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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Denise Dunning, MPA, Robert Minnis, MA, Gwendolyn Smith, MPA, Josie Ramos, MA, and Esther Tahrir, MPH. International Health Programs, Public Health Institute, 210 High St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, 510-285-5592, ddunning@ihp.org

Advancing women's reproductive rights as human rights demands increased access to Emergency Contraception (EC) at a global level. International Health Programs (IHP) of the Public Health Institute (PHI) is implementing the Emergency Contraception Leadership Initiative (ECLI), an innovative program to build leadership and commitment of key decision makers to increase EC access in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, and Nicaragua.

Funded by the Compton and WestWind Foundations, ECLI leverages the resources of the International Family Planning Leadership Program and Youth Leadership in Sexual and Reproductive Health Program by strengthening the capacity of 26 strategically selected Fellows from the two programs to promote women's reproductive rights through increased access to EC.

Participating country teams received seed funds to initiate their strategies to increase support for EC among policy makers and key target populations. IHP provided ongoing technical assistance to the five country teams to implement their plans and solicit funding to expand their EC country strategies.

Results indicate that leveraging the influence of strategically placed leaders is essential to advancing women's human rights and mainstreaming EC. Program evaluations demonstrate that country teams' efforts are successfully increasing EC access at the community, national, and regional levels by building support for EC among policymakers, indigenous groups, youth, religious leaders, and the media.

The Emergency Contraception Leadership Initiative is promoting human rights by expanding women's reproductive choices through increased access to EC. By building the capacity, leverage, and commitment of strategically placed leaders, ECLI is advancing women's reproductive rights in Central America and Mexico.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Explain the importance of expanding access to Emergency Contraception to advance women’s rights and health.
• 2. Describe the need to build local capacity and regional leadership to mainstream EC.

Keywords: Contraception, Women's Health

Related Web page: www.ihp.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered