Global Partners Project

The Ed Fund is engaged in an exciting international partnership with the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA). The project, which is sponsored by Planned Parenthood Global Partners, is working to enhance the communications, advocacy and legal work of the two organizations.

The first exchange trip took place in Dublin, Ireland in October 2006, when IFPA introduced representatives of Family Planning Advocates to Irish health care leaders, Members of Parliament and the Lord Mayor of Dublin. They also met with advocates involved with a case being heard in the European Court of Human Rights involving access to abortion in Ireland. IFPA is a litigant in this fascinating case, which could have a tremendous impact on Ireland’s restrictive abortion ban.

Leaders of FPA and IFPA issued a joint letter to the editor on the need for increased access to emergency contraception (EC). A new study showed a high level of support for EC being made available over-the-counter in Ireland. Reproductive rights groups in the United States have also been working to improve EC access, and the FDA had recently approved EC for over-the-counter use. The organizations shared useful information on this topic and plan to continue efforts to enhance access to emergency contraception and other forms of birth control.

Ireland and the United States have some of the highest rates of unintended pregnancy in the industrialized world. Both countries will benefit from this partnership and coordinated efforts to ensure that all people have access to a full range of reproductive health care.