REPORT
STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
14th October 2009
HILTON HOTEL, ADDIS ABABA
A. ATTENDANCE
Committee Members Present
1. Dr. Medhin – Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representing the Patron, Minister of
Health – Dr Tedros Adhanom.
2. Mr Kassahun Sahilu – Federation of People with Disabilities – kaybe@ethionet.et;
efpd@ethionet.et
3. Dr Sarah Onyango – Executive Director, PPFA-I, Nairobi, Kenya – sarah.onyango@ppfa.or.ke
4. Ms Salimata Bocoum – Coordinator of Programmes, AWOMI, Dakar, Senegal –
sbocoum@awomi.org
5. Mr Bede Ezeifule – Project Director, Centre for the Right to Health, Abuja, Nigeria –
bezeifule@yahoo.co.uk
6. Mr Babatunde Ahonsi – Consultant CIDA – Nigeria – baahonsi@yahoo.com
7. Ms Rolake Odetoyinbo – Director, PATA, Lagos, Nigeria –
rolakeodetoyinbo@gmail.com;rolakenwagwu@yahoo.co.uk
8. Ms Mzikazi Nduna – Gender Dynamix, Johannesburg, South Africa – mzikazi.nduna@wits.ac.za
9. Mr Ifeanyi Kelly Oruzulike – Executive Director, ICARH, Abuja, Nigeria –
alliance.ifeanyi@gmail.com
10.Ms Bernice Heloo – President, SWAA International, Accra, Ghana – berniceheloo@yahoo.com
11.Ms Sanda Ojiambo – Corporate Responsibility Manager, Safaricom Foundation, Nairobi, Kenya –
Sojiambo@Safaricom.co.ke
12.Ms Marie-Claude Julsaint – Program Director, World YWCA, Geneva, Switzerland – m-
cl.julsaint@worldywca.org (Representing the General Secretary, World YWCA)
13.Ms Melat T/Tsadik – General Secretary, YWCA Ethiopia- ethywca@yahoo.com ;
ywcaeth@ethionet.et
14.Dr Uwemedimo Esiet – AHI – u.esiet@actionhealthinc.org;esietuwem@yahoo.com
15.Ms Zeedah Meierhofer-Mangeli – Director, Meeting Place and Resource Centre for Black Women,
Kenya/Zurich – zeedah@runbox.com
16.Ms Saba G. Medhin – Director, Network of Ethiopian Women Association - newa@ethionet.et
Secretariat
1. Ms. Funmi Balogun – Technical Adviser, Gender, Rights and Sexuality, IPPF Africa Regional Office,
Nairobi, Kenya – fbalogun@ippfaro.org
2. Ms. Yvette Kathurima – Conference Programme Assistant – IPPF Africa Regional Office, Nairobi,
Kenya – ykathurima@ippfaro.org
Committee Members not present
1. Dr Amazou- Gaba Ablavi Kokoe- Former Director of National Health Service for Young People and
Adolescents, Togo – dabene2006@yahoo.fr
2. Ms Carla Sutherland – Director, LGBT Rights Program, New York, USA –
carla@arcusfoundation.org
3. Ms Cally Ramalefo – CEO of BOFWA, Gaborone, Botswana – callyr@bofwa.org.bw
HOST ORGANISATION:
4. Mr Thami Floyd – Consultant, Sonke Gender Justice Network, South Africa –
thami@genderjustice.org.za
5. Ms Elizabeth Lule – Manager- ACTafrica (World Bank) , Washington, USA – elule@worldbank.org
6. Ms Lillian Mworeko, ICW, Uganda – lmworeko@icw.org
7. Prof Said – Proposed host for the 5th Africa Conference on Sexuality and HIV & AIDS –
saidazim@yahoo.com
B. EXPECTATIONS
Expectations were about the pre – Conference Meeting and on the Conference itself.
On the pre – Conference Meeting, members wanted to have the following:
An actionable, realistic and doable Conference planning.
Clarity of roles/mandate for Committee members, including post Conference planning and
implementation of the outcomes of the 4th Conference.
Resource mobilisation strategies to be adopted for the Conference by the Steering
Committee members.
Raising awareness of the Conference.
On the Conference, members would like to have discussions shaped around the following issues:
Understanding of sexual rights.
Strong involvement and engagement of LGBTIS/people living with disabilities/young women
and grassroots women.
Frame new conversations around HIV and sexuality.
Follow up from outcomes of the 3rd Conference /lessons learnt from other Conferences,
Strong focus on issues of sexual pleasure/positive sexuality.
The Conference should not be another HIV/AIDS Conference.
C. OBJECTIVES OF THE MEETING
1. To strengthen partnerships for the hosting of the 4th Africa Conference on Sexual Health and
Rights.
2. Get personal commitments from Steering Committee members.
3. To give ideas to the host (IPPF) for the planning of the Conference.
4. To publicize the Conference and ensure the highest level of participation from across Africa and
the world, and in particular from the most vulnerable groups – LGBTIs; people living with
disabilities, young women especially those living with HIV/AIDS.
5. To plan more concretely the proposed activities and on getting more support/partnerships –
financial/technical.
D. PRESENTATIONS
A. Opening Remarks
Presented by Director General in the office of the Honourable Minister of Health, Dr. Medhin on
behalf of the Patron, Dr Tedros Adhanom, welcoming Committee members to the pre – Conference
Planning Meeting.
HOST ORGANISATION:
B. Background to the 4th Africa Conference on Sexual Health and Rights – By Dr. Esiet
2001: June – Paris World Congress of Sexology.
2002: June 7 and 8 Pretoria: Consultative meeting. Host: Southern Africa Sexual Health
Association (SASHA).
2004: 1st Africa Conference for Sexual Health and Rights. Theme: Advancing Sexual Health and
Rights in Africa, Feb. 25- 28 Johannesburg and hosted by SASHA.
2006: 2nd Africa Conference for sexual Health and Rights. Theme: Sexuality, Economics and
Development in Africa and hosted by PPFA- International, from 19th – 21st June 2006 in Nairobi,
Kenya.
2008: 3rd Africa Conference for Sexual Health and Rights. Theme: Sexuality, Poverty and
Accountability in Africa and hosted by Action Health Incorporated in Abuja, Nigeria.
2010: 4th Africa Conference for Sexual Health and Rights. Theme: Sexuality and HIV/AIDS in Africa
and to be hosted by IPPF, Africa Regional Office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
2012: North Africa
C. Summary of Conference Update
Pre-Conference Planning
3 key partners – IPPF as host, AHI/AFSRH as Conference franchise holder and Family Guidance
Association of Ethiopia (FGAE) responsible for the local organising.
Honourable Minister of Health, HE Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus agreed to be the Conference
Patron.
3 Committees have been set up, Youth, Steering and Scientific – Youth meeting had already
happened from 11th – 12th October to review the Youth Programme.
Conference Assistant was recruited at IPPF in May 2009 to assist in preparations for the
Conference.
The first set of brochures was designed and circulated. Current set still in circulation with the
design/publication of brochures ongoing to include logos of Conference Partners
Draft Programme has been developed.
Donors have been identified and discussions are underway on further support/partnerships for
the Conference as well as the hosting of parallel events.
Local organising committee to be set up by end of October 2009 and the Secretariat will be FGAE
and membership drawn from local HR/HIV/Youth/WHR, international organisations and UN
agencies working on sexuality, human rights, gender equality and those issues. The LOC will be
responsible for accommodation, venue, local transportation, protocol, security, visas etc.
Events/media Coordinator to be recruited by 31st October. The TOR has already been drafted.
Participation
Focus of participation is on key vulnerable groups (LGBTIs, CSWs, people with disabilities, LGBTIs
living with HIV/Disabilities) and other key often left out groups like young political
leaders/religious leaders.
IPPF has required all its 41 Member associations (in 41 countries) to send at least 2 people per
MA to the Conference. It has been suggested that one of each should be youth.
Venue identified for the main Conference – UN ECA and would be tied down by end of October.
Website set up and updated frequently. The webmaster is based in Nigeria (Action Health Inc)
Submission for abstracts opened in May 2009 and will close on 19th October. As at 1st October,
120 abstracts had been received.
HOST ORGANISATION:
Registration opened on 15th September – early registration encouraged by fees that varies from
US$150 – US$300.
Partnerships Established
William and Flora Hewlett Foundation gave US$75,349 for pre-Conference activities.
IWHC – US$10,000 also pre – Conference on AU Advocacy
AWDF – to support as co-convener (US$25,000) and above
Still in discussions with Arcus Foundation & Atlantic Philanthropy for co-convener (Us $ 25,000)
to be spearheaded by a Committee member – Carla Sutherland
Resource Mobilisation
Key bilateral donors/organisations written to on support (Germany, GTZ, Netherlands, Norway,
Sweden), Ford Foundation, OSISA, Population Council, UNFPA, UNICEF, WHO, AWDF).
Pharmaceuticals/Private sector organizations to come and market their products/display at a
price – ICON, a subsidiary of ICON are facilitating the partnership.
There is a proposal to market the Conference to local Ethiopian companies as well as sell slots in
Agenda to organizations.
Target specific UN agencies with proposals and slant on their areas of interest – sexuality
education (UNESCO), HIV positive teachers (World Bank), SGBV issues (UNIFEM), African Youth
Charter (UNFPA). Tabitha to send contact of UNESCO
African and European/American Universities who have masters/PHD in gender/sexuality studies
to come and market their studies.
Advocacy
Documentary planned to showcase IPPF’s work on the provision of SRH/HIV services to LGBTIs in
Cameroun – to show how sexual rights framework can be used.
Patron to write letters to all African Ministers of Health/Chairs of AIDS Commission/Ministers of
Gender to seek support for the Conference.
To target high level women leaders to participate at the Conference (1st Lady – Burkina Faso)
Conference Agenda
The proposal from the Youth Steering Meeting was to increase plenary sessions from 5 to 8 &
reduce concurrent sessions. This is because plenary sessions seem to attract more people to
participate.
Every Plenary would have at least one young speaker/rappouteur – balanced to reflect
diversity/gender.
Plenary speakers would be chosen based on the ability of their organizations to sponsor them or
for them to raise funds. Issues will also be relevant to their organizations.
To include interesting things in the workshop programme e.g. Vagina Monologues, Readings of
the Eye of the Leopard’ etc to attract more people and garner interest.
Programme days decreased to 4 days from 5 days.
Media
Recruit a media Consultant that will develop a media strategy for the Conference.
Prepare media Packs prior to the Conference.
Pre conference blogs on the website and open pages on Facebook and twitter.
HOST ORGANISATION:
The possibility of hosting a 2 day media workshop before the Conference to take journalists
through issues of sexuality so that journalists will report appropriately on issues of sexuality
rather than just sensationalism. There are ongoing discussions with Afromedia, an organization
based in France that would like to host journalists for a pre-conference sensitization workshop
on SRH issues in Africa.
Use of Pan African Media Association in Nairobi on updates to major news outlets.
Part of the media strategy will be to anticipate backlash from negative coverage from some
sections of the media and deal with it accordingly. This is particularly true in view of expected
participation of the LGBTI community and sexual minorities’ issues to be discussed at the
Conference.
Budget
Total estimated budget for the Conference = US$392,000 excluding US$96,349 already mobilised
and US$150,000 for the Youth Sexuality Institute.
Budget components include Media, support for plenary speakers, rappouteurs, Conference
materials, travel grants for successful abstract authors, interpretation, logistics and
communications.
Issues for Youth Agenda
There will be 2 day youth activities pre-Conference focusing on Youth Sexuality Institute, skills
building, cultural events, media, networking, arts/poetry/exhibitions on 7th and 8th of February
2010.
Each Plenary would have a youth speaker as the Conference seeks to have an active youth
agenda.
Link one plenary session on the African youth Charter to get UNFPA to sponsor more
participants.
IPPF to use existing youth structures and funding to bring young people to the Conference.
Create a Facebook page for the Conference and daily tweets on twitter about the Conference (to
get followers). Daily blogs on Conference
Youth Sexuality Institute
Youth Sexuality Institute – concept developed – objectives, slogan, age range (18-25), key
vulnerable groups to be targeted. Participants fully funded and also supported for Conference.
Deadline for Youth Sexuality Institute should be mid December and show proof of having
international passport and confirmations to them by 10th January.
HOST ORGANISATION:
E. OUTCOMES/TASKS FOR STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Resource Mobilisation
S/N Tasks Responsible Persons Deadline
1. Contact Marie Stopes, IPAS and CBM for Sanda Ojiambo 27th October
funding and Support to the Conference
2. Contact Sida office (Sexuality Unit) in Sarah Onyango 27th October
Lusaka to support the Conference.
3. Contact Atlantic Philanthropy (suggested Carla Sutherland 27th October
10,000 USD) and Arcus Foundation
(suggested a little over 15,000 USD) to
support LGBTI activities at the Conference
Media
4. Constitute a ‘Fire Fighting’ Committee to Bede Ezeifule & Saba 23rd October
support media consultant and prevent Medhin
media backlash. A sub –committee
established to look into modalities.
Conference Agenda
5. Review Conference Agenda: identify Mzikazi Nduna, Bernice 31st October
possible topics for plenary sessions; Heloo and Melat
identify speakers, co-chairs and T/Tsadik
moderators (to be accompanied by
profiles); identify interesting modalities for
the Conference sessions that could
enhance participation at the Conference.
Vulnerable Groups
6. Identify networks/organisations of LGBTIs Ifeanyi Orazulike 31st October
and invite to participate at the Conference
- submit abstracts, register, identify
speakers and funding.
7. Identify all vulnerable groups in Ethiopia Melat T/Tsadik 31st October
and get them interested in the
Conference.
8. Contact Akina Mama wa Afrika on Young Zeedah Mangeli 31st October
women – GBV, Trafficking, Early/Forced Meierhofer
marriage, (HTP) School dropouts, Students
and violence, CSW on participation.
9. Women in conflict & post-conflict Zeedah Mangeli 31st October
situations (former combatants, IDPs) Meierhofer
10. Develop a concept for ensuring a platform Bernice Heloo and 31st October
for women and in particular, young Rolake Odetoyinbo
HOST ORGANISATION:
women living with HIV/AIDS on
sexuality/HIV/AIDS.
HOST ORGANISATION:
ANNEX
GROUP WORK RECOMMENDATIONS
Steering Committee members went into Groups to discuss the following:
Group 1 – Resource Mobilization
Group 2 – Engaging the AU, UN and National Governments.
Group 3 – Review of Conference Agenda, Plenary speakers and key topics.
Group 4 – Vulnerable groups’ participation.
GROUP 1: RESOURCE MOBILISATION
Strategies
Resources mobilised and expected from registration should be used as part of fundraising
discussions.
Corporate organisations should be targeted on workplace HIV/AIDS Policies – what are the
successful practices, policies and to learn lessons could form part of the plenary discussions.
Refocus themes for the Conference to appeal to organisations, including using speakers;
strengthen HIV/AIDS component.
Using Ethiopian Airlines/KQ to be the official carrier and get some free tickets.
To reduce the days of the Conference to three days in reducing costs and more effective.
Local resource mobilisation as part of the activities of the Local Organising Committee.
Marie Stopes, IPAS, Packard, Ethiopian Association of Obstetrics – to be on the Local Organising
Committee to not only move the agenda but mobilise resources. CBM International Regional
Office, Africa, International Handicap.
To review international organisations working on issues of disability to sponsor the participation
for the Conference.
Identify Co-Chairs on thematic areas to bring in resources.
NEXT STEPS
Contact Marie Stopes, IPAS and CBM for funding and Support to the Conference – Sanda
Ojiambo.
Contact Sida office (Sexuality Unit) in Lusaka to support the Conference – Sarah Onyango.
Initiate discussions with pharmaceuticals in Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria and Ethiopia. To get
contacts of companies which make condoms in Africa – IPPF.
Encourage organisations to advertise on website, Conference agenda and daily Newsletter at the
Conference as part of resource mobilisation strategies - IPPF.
Develop strategies on key areas of the Conference to different organisations – media, Youth
Sexuality Institute etc – IPPF.
Atlantic Philanthropy (suggested 10,000 USD) and Arcus Foundation (suggested a little over
15,000 USD) – Carla Sutherland.
GROUP 2: ENGAGEMENT WITH AU, REGIONAL ECONOMIC COMMISSIONS AND MEDIA
• IPPF as host should do letters to AU and the UN on the Conference.
• All meetings taking place on the MDGs, Maputo Plan of Action, UN various charters and events
should be used to publicise the Conference and the Conference used as a space to publicise the
various instruments.
• AU Ambassadors meeting being planned with IWHC should provide an avenue to engage further
on the Conference.
HOST ORGANISATION:
• To try the possibility of getting the Conference website linked to as many organisational
websites as possible.
• LOC meet with the development/social units of the AU and UN to further publicise the
Conference.
• Nigerian group to meet the Nigerian ambassador and discuss what roles she could play to
publicise the Conference amongst her peers.
• The Global Fund Board Meeting is scheduled to start on 8th November in Addis Ababa, and as the
Patron is the Chair of the GF Board, it will be a good opportunity to further market the
Conference.
• Conference Patron should publicise the meetings at different forums.
• Parliaments/relevant agencies in governments should be sensitised about the Conference – IPPF
Member Associations.
• AIDS Commissions – Committee members and IPPF member associations
• Media consultant from Ethiopia (even if the person is no longer a practising journalist).
• Media monitoring group should be established during the duration of the Conference.
• Advocacy to government media representatives in Ethiopia given that the key media outlets in
Ethiopia are owned by government.
• Do not restrict access of media to content of the Conference
• To organise a Pre conference workshop for the media
• A Fire-fighting Committee is to be set up and made up of members of the steering committee
(Saba and Bede) and the Local Organising Committee. The role of this sub-committee would be
to support the media Consultant in developing a media strategy.
• Flyers, letter headed papers to be sent to Steering Committee Members to be used to invite
more people to participate.
GROUP 3: CONFERENCE AGENDA
Opening Ceremony: The Opening Ceremony could take a lot of time, so maybe to have it the
evening before depending on the availability of high level speakers/guests the night before. The
following should be invited to give high level visibility to the Conference – the Minister of
Gender/Women Affairs, and a representative from the following groups: sexual minorities
(maybe someone from outside of Ethiopia), disabilities, people living with HIV, youth to be
invited to the Opening as well. The outcomes of the last conference on sexual health and rights
as part of the Opening Ceremony. There would be need to engage the AU (and the Directorate
for Women, Gender) and other political bodies will be important in terms of policy change. Ask
speakers for their written speech ahead of time to ensure content are in line with Conference
objectives.
Plenary Sessions: It would be important for speakers to have clarity of the theme of the plenary
sessions and the Scientific Committee should look at the abstracts/written contributions ahead
of time to ensure that they are in line with the plenary theme. Each plenary should have one
keynote speaker, 2 other panel presenters and a moderator. Moderators have to be chosen well
as their roles will be key to the success of each plenary. The plenary sessions should not
compete with the concurrent sessions .
Key Speakers: A young woman speaker, a speaker from the LGBTI community, someone who
has experienced sexual violence in the context of armed conflict for the 1st plenary session.
Other speakers could be from the ICW, the International Women’s Health Coalition. First Lady of
Burkina Faso (issues of FGM). Most of the speakers will be from Africa but we could also have
HOST ORGANISATION:
international speakers. The keynote speaker for the 2nd Plenary could give the background on
where we are so far in terms of sexual rights on the Continent, what are the successes at
national level, and what are the remaining challenges. The other panellists (maybe 3) could
respond to the keynote speech so that there is a dialogue. One of the panellists could speak on
the sexual rights of people living with HIV, especially in the context of criminalisation of HIV,
another panellist on sexual minorities, and the 3rd on FGM. The 3rd Plenary session should have
panellists as follows: a young person/adolescent living with HIV who was born with HIV,
someone from the Pleasure Project, someone from INCREASE (Nigeria).
4th Plenary to ensure a donor perspective (e.g. AWDF), a private sector perspective and a
beneficiaries’ perspective in issues of sexuality and sexual health in Africa, and link challenges to
the context of the financial crisis. 5th Plenary Suggested speakers: Mabel Bianco (FEIM,
Argentina), someone from the AU, a high judge from South Africa or another country (judge
Edwin from Cameroun), an African Woman Feminist Theologian to give a theological
perspective, someone from the Education system (maybe FAWE), YWCA , The 6th Plenary should
have a suggested theme of people living with Disabilities, Sexuality and HIV/AIDS.
Suggested High Level Speakers
Michel Sidibe – UNAIDS Executive Director
Graca Machel
Stephen Lewis
First Lady of Burkina Faso
President of Liberia
Egypt-Amar, Prestine-Whyte (SA)
Kenya-Martha Karua & Betty Murungi
Backlash Strategy
Not have an Ethiopian speaker on sensitive issues.
Ask speakers ahead of time if they agree to have their photos taken or not.
Engage with the media coordinator that will be recruited on the backlash strategy.
GROUP 4: VULNERABLE GROUPS’ PARTICIPATION
Group Responsible Organization Tasks
PLWD ( This should include Federation of PLWD - Raise awareness – publicity
also vulnerabilities among (Association of persons with - Coordinate translations
PLWD e.g. CSW,LGBTI) different disabilities) (sign) and accessibility
HOST ORGANISATION:
LGBTI - LOC with help from Ifeanyi, - Contact
Coalition of Africa Lesbians, individuals/activists/researchers
Urgent Action Fund –
Africa,
Prison wardens and groups Groups working with Prisons - Raise awareness
working with prisons in Africa (LOC) - Sensitization
Women & girls leaving with SWAA , NEWA, YWCA, Save
HIV & AIDS the Children, YWLI,
Young women – GBV, Trafficking, Akina Mama wa Africa, YWLI and youth LOC,
Early/Forced marriage, (HTP) School Inter-Africa Committee on HTP, YOVEX- Dr.
dropouts, Students and violence, CSW Olonisakin (Nigeria – Delta Region)
CSW- Both men and women Akina Mama wa Africa, Nigeria Network Sex
Work Project (NNSWP) (network of CSW in
Nigeria)
Women in conflict & post-conflict situations ISIS- WCI, ACORD, Countries (Uganda, Sierra
(former combatants, IDPs) Leone) Zeedah to coordinate
HOST ORGANISATION:
Aged YWCA, Help age International
HOST ORGANISATION: