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What we do

EPF recognises the important role it can play at an international level. European donors make up the single largest block of donors contributing resources to the implementation of the Cairo Programme of Action. Parliamentarians in Europe thus have an essential role to play in ensuring that they live up to the commitments their governments agreed to in Cairo, Beijing and at their five-year reviews.

Since the EPF’s creation in December 2000, it is estimated that over 550 parliamentarians from over 39 countries have been involved in EPF’s activities. In addition, over 700 articles from over 40 countries around the world have covered some aspect of an EPF activity. Over 500 parliamentarians from European 25 countries has signed up personally to various declarations, resolutions, motions all in favour of increased support for population and development / sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Creating a sustainable platform for parliamentary work

Since its creation in 2000, the EPF has extended its reach to include new member parliamentary groups in over 20 parliaments in Europe. In countries where there are no parliamentary groups established, the EPF works with interested parliamentarians and NGOs to raise awareness of the need to address sexual and reproductive health and rights and population issues at national, regional and international levels.

NGOs providing support to parliamentary groups has been identified as the best way to create future parliamentary groups in other European countries and provides practical examples of the partnership role between legislators and NGOs in Europe and developing countries. National all-party parliamentary groups have undertaken activities such as study tours to developing countries, national hearings & colloquia and have been essential in ensuring government accountability for living up to ICPD resource allocation commitments.

European Regional Parliamentary Advocacy

At European level, EPF works with Europe’s two main Institutions: the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. EPF work closely with its member group in the European Parliament, the European Parliament Working Group on Population, Sustainable Development and Reproductive Health. With the Council of Europe, EPF enjoys the support of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Demography; the Committee on Social, Health and Family Affairs and the Equality Committee.

In addition, EPF organises pan-European events to promote dialogue among parliamentarians from different countries and experiences and forge consensus on key issues. Such is the case with large-scale parliamentary meetings such as EPF Council meetings in Paris, Moscow, Lisbon and Ankara, each Council meeting gathering parliamentarians from over 20 European countries.

The Voice of European Parliamentarians at International Level

At international level, EPF endeavours to strengthen the role and position of parliamentarians within the United Nations system. As such, EPF has promoted the participation of members of parliament at all UN meetings dealing with population, development, sexual and reproductive health and rights since 2001.

Partnership with other regional parliamentary networks is an important priority and consequently EPF works with the regional parliamentary groupings in Asia, Africa, the Arab World and the Americas in coordinating activities such as multi-national study tours, parliamentary advocacy at the UN and enhancing the role of parliamentarians as key actors in resource mobilisation and political leadership in protecting SRHR and combating HIV/AIDS.

Facing Reality: IEPFPD field visits

A key activity of EPF is to organize field visits for parliamentarians from donor countries to developing countries. These field visits provide an opportunity for parliamentarians to see for themselves the immense impact that sexual and reproductive health projects can have on the lives of individuals around the world. They also help to raise the profile and importance of population and sexual and reproductive health and rights issues and the profiles of the main actors on these issues (NGOs, UN agencies, committed parliamentarians etc.) in the countries being visited.

EPF has developed a model for its field visits that aims to benefit all parties involved. EPF field visits are always multi-national in character with parliamentarians from different European countries involved. Since 2001, parliamentarians from over half of Europe’s donor countries have participated in EPF field visits. EPF field visits are always hosted by a local NGO to ensure that field visits participants are guided by national experts. In addition to project site visits, EPF field visits include meetings and briefings with UNFPA, other key UN agencies, the national parliamentary groups on population and development and representatives from the ministries on social affairs, health, development (or their equivalents).

News

The Forum produces a newsletter entitled Voices from Parliaments in Europe. It explores in detail specific issues on population and sexual and reproductive health and rights matters.

Also of interest is the news service provided by the Forum. This service summarises the main parliamentary activities in Europe and around the world.