In November 2013 at the International Conference on Family Planning in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the Population Council convened the third meeting of international experts to discuss ways to expand contraceptive choice and accelerate progress toward the Millennium Development Goal of universal access to reproductive health services by increasing access to highly effective, long-acting, reversible contraceptives (LARCs).
The Bellagio Group shares a commitment to leadership in increasing access and choice in contraceptive information, services, and supplies. Participants include service providers, donor representatives, researchers, procurement specialists, manufacturers, and public health specialists.
This commitment is grounded in the belief that access to high-quality, effective, and voluntary contraceptive information, services, and supplies improves health expands opportunities, and improves family and community welfare. LARCs are a vital part of the method mix, but are often inaccessible to many women, especially adolescent girls. Working together, the global community and national public, private, and civil society partners must ensure that LARCs are fully available alongside other contraceptive methods so that universal access is achieved through informed choice, voluntarism, and equity.
In Addis Ababa, the Bellagio Group reached a consensus on the following statement and recommendations for action.
In recognition of the theme of the 2013 International Conference on Family Planning, Full Access, Full Choice, the Bellagio Group reaffirms its commitment to expanding access to highly effective, long-acting, reversible contraception for women and adolescent girls within the full range of contraceptive choice.
The Bellagio Group first convened in 2012 when it called for greater access to LARCs within a contraceptive framework that advances rights, promotes quality of care, assures equity, and responds to the needs of the most vulnerable populations in developing countries. Since then, significant progress has been made, including:
Recommendations for Action
Despite progress to date, LARCs remain out of reach for many women and adolescent girls -- especially the poorest and most marginalized. The Bellagio Group asserts that if all women, men, and young people do not have a full and informed choice of contraceptive options, they do not have full access.
To expand choice and access, the Bellagio Group calls on global and national family planning communities to focus on the following priority areas:
The Bellagio Group will continue to operate as a think-tank for effectively tapping into a wealth of knowledge shared by respected experts. The group strives to find innovative solutions that expand contraceptive choice and accelerate universal access to reproductive health services by increasing availability of LARCs.
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