Panama, April 25, 2023.FP2030, Save the Children Latin America and the Caribbean and Profamilia– Colombia, launched today the FP2030 Latin America & Caribbean Regional Hubto promote women’s,adolescents, and all peoples’sexual and reproductive health rights in the region. This is the fifth Hub that FP2030 has opened, signifying a now complete global support network. 

The FP2030 Latin America & Caribbean Regional Hub plans to mobilize greater investments in family planning through strategic partnerships with governments, civil society, multilateral organizations, donors, private sector and researchers. FP2030’s vision is a future where everyone, everywhere has the freedom and ability to lead healthy lives, make their own informed decisions about using contraception and having children, and participate as equals in society and its development.   

During the launch event, Save the Children in Latin America, and the Caribbean and Profamilia - Colombia signed a collaboration agreement with FP2030 to establish a consortium that will guarantee the operation and excellence of the FP2030 Latin America & Caribbean Regional Hub.  The consortium will bring the best practices and experience from the organizations to fulfill women´s and adolescents sexual and reproductive rights. 

Latin America and the Caribbean hasseen progress in sexual and reproductive health, but major challenges remain. According to UNFPA (United Nations Fund for Population Activities), the region registers the second highest rate of adolescent pregnancies in the world. It is estimated that almost 18% of births in the region correspond to mothers under 20 years of age. 

Both Save the Children and Profamilia have strong experience working with youth and adolescents. Save the Childrenwill bringto the consortium its expertise in multi-disciplinary work withadolescents and youth, including sexual and reproductive rights. Based on its leadership,Profamilia - Colombia will positionfamily planning and sexual and reproductive health and research in Colombia and the region, especiallyin evidence-based advocacy, knowledge management and youth and adolescent work.  

FP2030 amplifies the work of a wider ecosystem of family planning and sexual and reproductive health organizations.  For Samukeliso Dube, Executive Director of FP2030 “the Latin America and Caribbean region is a leader in the field in so many ways, with progressive policies taking root in many countries. We look forward to learning from our longstanding partners in the region and building on that movement, while achieving more progress in areas that may have lagged behind.” 

Victoria Ward, Regional Director for Save the Children in Latin America in the Caribbean said: “It is shocking that around 1.5 million adolescents give birth every year in the region. Sexual and reproductive health education is a public health issue that must be tackled as a priority in our countries. Save the Children joins the FP2030 Regional Hub for Latin America and the Caribbean by contributing our expertise in promoting children's rights, especially sexual and reproductive rights, which are being violated due to lack of information, violence and poor access to contraceptives.” 

Marta Royo, Executive Director of ProfamiliaColombia celebrated the alliance, which she described as a strong manifestation of the commitment of the region and these organizations to the Global Agenda for Sustainable Development. "Sexual and reproductive rights must be understood as human rights. For more than 58 years we have worked for their recognition and guarantee in order to achieve a society with true gender equity, respect for diversity and without any type of violence. This alliance allows us to add more voices that work for that purpose". 

FP2030 Latin America & Caribbean Regional Hub willhouse a technical and administrative support team led by a regional director who will be a renowned professional with extensive experience in health advocacy and policies, and with strong regional and global networks of health stakeholders in the LAC region and globally. The team willfocus on engaging governments, civil society organizations and individuals to support the Hub and will be working withhigh-quality data and evidence, unwavering commitment to meeting the regional needs and upholding the rights ofwomen and adolescents. 

The FP2030 Support Network includes five regional hubs: North, West and Central Africa; East and Southern Africa; Asia and the Pacific; Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America and Europe. Together, these hubs create the FP2030 Global Support Network.