Ipas Ethiopia

The countdown begins! Mark your calendars for January 14, 2025, and stay updated! #countdowntobigday #bigreveal #IpasEthiopia

Ipas Ethiopia convened with women and right based organizations and discussed topics of sexual reproductive health(SRH). In the workshop that brought together more than twenty organizations working for women’s health and rights, discussions focused around SRH challenges Ethiopian women and girls continue to face. Participants also had the opportunity to take part in different Value Clarification and Attitude Transformation (VCAT), Exercises which aimed to question some of their attitudes and provide a chance to explore fresh perspectives on issues of SRH. The workshop was also an opportunity to lay the foundation for future partnerships with the associations forwarding proposals and ideas for lasting collaboration. #SRH #womenassocaition #Ipas #IpasEthiopia #partnership

We are preparing for something grand and exciting... Can you guess what it is? Stay tuned for updates as we approach the big reveal! #IpasEthiopia #bigrevealcomingsoon #staytuned

Ipas Ethiopia, through its Make Way project, in collaboration with ODWACE, commemorated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) this week with a one-day advocacy workshop. The event aimed to foster meaningful dialogue and public engagement on the critical issues of gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual and reproductive health (SRH).  Government officials from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and the Addis Ababa Health Bureau participated in a panel discussion, highlighting the unique challenges faced by youth with disabilities and outlining the steps their organizations are taking to address these issues.  The panel discussion centered on the urgent need to prioritize the needs of youth with disabilities, particularly in accessing healthcare, education, legal services, and other essential resources. Stakeholders and participants shared valuable insights and recommendations to improve the situation.  The workshop also served as a platform to raise public awareness about the prevalence and impact of GBV in Ethiopia, emphasizing its connection to human rights violations.  With this event, Ipas Ethiopia underscores its commitment to promoting the rights and well-being of all individuals, including those with disabilities. #IDPD2024 #16_days_of_activisim #SRH #IpasEthiopia #makewayEthiopia 

#16_days_of_activisim Ipas Ethiopia, in collaboration with Addis Ababa Health Bureau (AAHB) through the Make way Project, organized one-day community mobilization workshop. The event that took place as part of this year’s 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence highlighted ongoing efforts and aimed to mobilize public and institutional support to end GBV. With the presence of stakeholders from different organizations including the Ministry of Justice, the workshop advocated for intersectional Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) as well as accessible, affordable, and quality SRH services and information for marginalized youth.  Helen Adudga, Director of Women and Children Affairs at AAHB, emphasized the need for continued collaboration and support from government agencies and non-governmental organizations to combat GBV effectively.  A role play by the youth council members of Make way Ethiopia depicting the challenges faced by marginalized youth in the context of GBV, as well as a session that had male participants of the workshop make a white ribboned pledge to be forefront fighters against GBV marked significant parts the advocacy workshop.  Through these initiatives, Ipas Ethiopia and AAHB are working together to create a more equitable and just society, free from the scourge of gender-based violence. #EndGBV #16_days_of_activisim #SRH #IpasEthiopia #makewayEthiopia 

#16_days_of_activism It’s that time of the year where we pay much needed attention to the fight against GBV worldwide. As an organization that stives to ensure that this dedicated fight goes on 365 days a year, for this years’ 16 days of activism against GBV, Ipas Ethiopia wants to highlight the year-round efforts, celebrate those involved, and tell the stories of those who went through various ordeals of Gender Based Violence. Today we bring you Woinshet’s story. An Ipas trained nurse at Debre Birhan health center, whom for the past 15 years led the sexual reproductive health services at the center. The past few years Woinshet’s position, especially following the setup of IDP centers around Debre Birhan had brought her face to face with countless incidences of GBV which she had witnessed happening to women and girls aged from 15 to 50. Woinshet says she meets women and girls who had suffered violations almost daily, a big number of whom come raped by close family members in most of these crowded living centers. These continuous incidences have made Woinshet a willing champion against GBV helping survivors of the violence beyond the health care they require and fighting to stop additional occurrences. “Of course there have been changes, the women that come here and receive counseling, contraceptive or abortion services go back and share experiences, I have noticed an increased tendency to be more alert towards these violations and protect each other. I have also seen them feel more safe and secure in seeking our services, I know there is a lot more to be done but I do see more hope now than there was last year.” Says, Woinshet, we thank you! #16daysofactivisim #EndGBV #EndSGBV #IpasEthiopia #Ethiopia

Last week, we hosted a workshop focused on empowering media personalities to report responsibly and accurately on issues of sexual reproductive health, mainly abortion and contraceptives. The workshop brought together journalists from several regions including Tigray, Amhara, Southern, Central, and Southwestern Ethiopia. Our expert speakers shared insights on ethical reporting, the importance of language, and how to approach these topics with compassion and understanding, while communicating necessary and accurate information. The session also consisted of practical scenarios and exercises that challenged and questioned the values and attitudes of the participants towards the topics of discussion. Forming lasting partnerships was another subject on the agenda with journalists presenting their best strategies on how to tackle myths and misinformation surrounding abortion and contraceptives in collaboration with Ipas Ethiopia. #ipas #ipasEthiopia #media #abortion #contraceptives #Ethiopia

Invitation to kick off the 16 days of activism with us… Ipas, in collaboration with partners worldwide has put together a webinar to kick off this year’s international 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. The webinar that is set to take place today, Monday, November 25, 4:30-6:00pm EAT will focus on three interrelated factors—child marriage, teenage pregnancy and school dropout—that frequently deny young people the right to make their own informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. As one of the youth panelists from around the globe, Zelalem Andualem a youth advocate from our Make way project will share activities being undertaken in Ethiopia. click here 👉 bit.ly/3ZfRiCN to register and Join us for a solutions-focused conversation. #webinar #16DaysOfActivism #ipas #ipasethiopia

Ipas Ethiopia in collaboration with Ethiopian Medical Students' Association | EMSA-Ethiopia, conducted a one-day workshop this week. The workshop that took place during the EMSA’s annual conference held in Adama, aimed at building a positive attitude and support among EMSA members towards abortion care services. The workshop was also about Building the knowledge of the medical students, on the abortion law, clinical guidance and the SRH gains from the revision of the law, supporting participants to clarify their values and attitudes towards abortion care as well as raising awareness on the history of abortion in Ethiopia. The workshop comes at a time when opposition movements have for the last five years been cultivating negative attitude and resistance from some medical professionals and medical students toward abortion care services. Thirty-one medical students from 10 universities/medical colleges attended the workshop. #abortionishealthcare #MedicalSchool #EMSA #Ipas #Ethiopia

This week Ipas Ethiopia convened to review the year 2024 and assess what lies ahead in 2025. Staff from all over the country attended the Ipas Ethiopia annual review meeting held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and discussed, the triumphs, challenges and lessons of the year. The forum was an opportunity to analyze individual efforts and collective results towards contributing to the sexual reproductive health and rights of Ethiopian women and girls. Having returned with a multitude of successful endeavors, coordinators and program/project managers from Amhara, Oromia, Tigray, Sidama, Central Ethiopia and Southwest regions, asserted their resolve for an even more successful fiscal year in 2025. Ipas Ethiopia Country Director, Dr. Demeke Desta, expressed his gratitude to all Ipas staff members all of whom contributed towards a successful year, forwarding especial appreciation to regional staff who managed to achieve everything they planned and beyond even through the most trying security conditions.