– MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER SEXUAL WELL-BEING WANTED CHILDREN NO SEX DISEASES

ANNUAL REPORT 2007 Contents Support Sex & Samfund Leading article: – your contribution Sexual health caught midstream ...... page 3 is invaluable Slow start for sexual health in municipalities...... page 4 Find out how you can 28 municipalities working together with Sex & Samfund...... page 5 support our work at Professional network with strong local influence...... page 5 www.sexogsamfund.dk Politicans comments on sexual health in 2007...... page 5 or contact us at International activities telephone Red thread between the North and the South...... page 6 +45 33 93 10 10 Phase 1 towards the end of the project in Uganda...... page 6 Sex & Samfund launched new project in India...... page 7 Busy days in Colombo...... page 7 Commencing phase 2 in Vietnam...... page 7 Advocacy efforts gained praise and money ...... page 8 +Sex Conference was a huge success...... page 8 Minister met All-Party Network...... page 8 Published by: IPPF ...... page 9 Sex & Samfund, The Danish Family Planning Association National Activities Rosenoerns Allé 14, 1. sal Hectic year for sexuality education...... page 10 DK-1634 V. Tel: +45 33 93 10 10 Thumbs up for sexuality education...... page 10 Fax: +45 33 93 10 09 At-risk groups clinic for was itself at risk...... page 11 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.sexogsamfund.dk Sex Helpline in danger of closing despite massive success...... page 11 Knowledge centre for abortion and STIs ...... page 11 Photos: Sex & Samfund, IPPF et al. New contraception website...... page 11 Editing closed 16 March 2008 Two weeks of condoms...... page 12 Editors: ’s sexiest politicians...... page 12 Michael G. Madsen Bjarne B. Christensen Youth Group...... page 13 Organization...... page 14 Design: Line K Print: Jørn Thomsen A/S, Accounts ...... page 15 Translation: LM Communications Sex Week...... page 16

2 Sexual health caught midstream

2007 can best be described as a year of unrest and upheaval. to pull their weight. The problem is not lack of will but lack of Rarely has sexual and reproductive health in Denmark been resources. caught more midstream than in 2007 where practically every ball Sex & Samfund also plays an increasingly important role on Condoms on was thrown and left hanging in the air. the international scene. In 2007, we initiated a fourth international This was the case with the responsibility for prevention efforts, project – this time in India. At the same time we were pleased to everybody’s lips which was handed over to the municipalities on 1 Januar 2007 find that the Danish Development Assistance (Danida) granted without them having the administrative or financial capacity funds to yet another phase of Sex & Samfund’s HIV prevention to take on such responsibility. This was also the case with the project in Uganda. All over Denmark people talked about funding of sexual prevention efforts where grants have been At long last progress was made in relation to securing the condoms and bad excuses for not using steadily declining during the past 20 years, and where confusion financing of our domestic prevention activities late in the year. them during the condom campaign – and uncertainty about what would happen after the end of the Sex & Samfund’s contraception and counselling clinic – in risk of National Action Plan on Abortion existed throughout the year. closure - was saved at the very last minute by an extraordinary Remember Condom – in week 37 and And this was the case with the international sexual and repro- grant from the City of Copenhagen. Furthermore, the budget 38 launched by Sex & Samfund and The ductive health and rights (SRHR) efforts, where it was established negotiations on grants from the govermental rate adjustment Danish National Board of Health. Sex & that meeting the UN Millennium Development Goals by 2015 and pool scheme resulted in the securing of funding of vital activi- Samfund was responsible for the local eradicating poverty worldwide cannot be done without improv- ties such as the Youth Sex Helpline, www.abortnet.dk and ing sexual health in developing countries. However, SRHR funds www.sexsygdomme.dk in 2008 just as a new pool scheme was coordination of the campaign. This was have stagnated and are well below international goals and the set up as a replacement of the national action plan to reduce the done with great success with more than actual demand. number of induced abortions. 300 events in all parts of the country. In the midst of all this, the STI (sexually transmitted infections) Luckily all the balls that were left hanging were safely caught statistics continued to rise. Never before have so many young in the end and Sex & Samfund are ready to continue our work Learn more about the campaign on people tested positive for chlamydia in Denmark. It is estimated to promote sexual health and well-being in Denmark. A much page 12. that close to 50,000 young people have been infected (many needed effort. without knowing it). And at the same time abortion figures for young women are on the rise. This is alarming and frustrating news – especially since we know exactly what to do to reverse the trend. On the other hand, times of unrest and upheaval are also in- teresting times where deadlock patterns fall apart and give way to new ideas and actors. At the same time it is the moment for Bjarne B. Christensen existing actors to step up and prove that they still have a role to Secretary General play. That they are equal to the task – also in times of crisis. And if we may be so bold ourselves – Sex & Samfund passed the test with flying colours. It was hardly any coincidence that the Danish National Board of Health chose us as partner for the major autumn condom campaign just as we managed to generate lot of attention on sexuality education in primary schools through the new, innovative Sex Week initiative. Both the condom campaign and the Sex Week initiative clearly showed that if you provide Christian Graugaard the framework, municipalities and schools are more than willing Chairman of the Board

3 Slow start for sexual health in municipalities Not until late autumn did the municipalities fulfil their responsibilities for preventive efforts.

There could hardly be any talk about jumping the gun when the • Prioritise sexual health politically! Condom campaign stirred municipalities into action 98 new municipalities took over the responsibility for preventive The panel meeting showed that most politicians were sympa- Prepare prevention plans on sexual health! actions on sexual health from the counties on 1 January 2007. • thetic to the problems. Hesitation would be a more accurate term. • Establish and support knowledge centres on sexual health! Perhaps it helped that outside the walls of the Danish parlia- To stay abreast of things, Sex & Samfund sent out an invitation ment everybody was talking about condoms and STIs due to the Strengthen research in the area! to all municipalities encouraging cooperation as early as January • major ”Remember Condom” campaign organised by the National 2007. However, only one responded. • Strengthen the framework for treatment and disease Board of Health and Sex & Samfund. Nothing had changed when the Danish parliament’s All-Party prevention! It certainly triggered the municipalities’ commitment to sex- Network on Sexual Health and The Sexual Health Network for ual health. Many municipalities took part in the campaign and Professionals organised a hearing on sexual health on 19 April • Strengthen municipalities’ work on sexual health! during the period leading up to and not least after the campaign 2007 in the parliament at Christiansborg. • Provide the necessary funding! the number of cooperation agreements soared. On this occasion, Professor Bente Klarlund, Chairman of the But much remained to be done before words of understand- Danish National Council for Public Health, said that the council ing were turned into action on the part of the government. The

– and thus the municipalities – so far had focused solely on the We have a major problem ... first draft budget did not include new funding to replace the traditional four main health factors - cancer, smoking, alcohol and In order to continue the pressure on politicians, Sex & Samfund National Action Plan on Abortion, and due to the general elec- exercise - leaving sexual health out in the cold. and the All-Party Network invited the party spokesmen on health tion in November budget negotiations were postponed until from all political parties in the Danish Parliament to present their after the turn of the year. The negotiations were not con- Hjørring

– Maybe it is time we add sexual health to the equation. The minor vision on how to ensure sexual health prevention in Denmark. cluded until end of February 2008. Following pressure Læsø prevention areas should not suffer financially nor politically at the The answer came on 18 September 2007 at a panel meeting from the other political parties the agreed budget Brønderslev-Dronninglund Jammerbugt expense of the major health threats. Prevention should be taken just where Christian Graugaard, Chairman of Sex & Samfund, took the introduced a new four-year pool of nearly the Hørsholm Allerød Th isted as seriously as treatment, and in this respect sexual health should lead and summarized the list of problems: same size as the National Action Plan on Ru dersdal also have its own budget, Professor Bente Klarlund stressed. Abortion. Rebild Furesø Lyngby -Taarbæk Morsø Vesthimmerlands Gentofte

Mariager ord Gladsaxe – We have a major problem in Denmark – or rather we have close He rlev Ballerup Skive Shortage of money characterises efforts Glostrup to 50,000 problems. This is the number of people who are infected Frederiksberg Albertslund Rødovr e Københavns Money or rather the shortage hereof had a huge impact on the with chlamydia! It is a problem that nearly 1 in 4 under the age of 25 Høje- Brøn dby Hvidovre Struer Norddjurs Vallensbæk Viborg Ishøj Tå rnby Dragør municipalities’ efforts. Nina Gath from the Local Government has an STI. It is a problem that 300 Danes die due to STIs every year Syddjurs Gr eve Denmark made it abundantly clear. Funds for preventive efforts and that society is faced with additional treatment costs amount- Favrskov

Herning were scarce. ing to DKK 257 million. It is a problem that sexuality education Århus Helsingør in schools is insufficient and that only 1 in 10 teachers are Gribskov Halsnæs Ringkøbing-Skjern -Brande Fredensborg HiHillerllerødød – In total, municipalities have received DKK 200 million earmarked for satisfied. Finally, it is a problem that a number of good and 44.551 Samsø Odsherred Frederikssund so-called citizen-centered prevention initiatives. This roughly equals effective prevention activities are in imminent danger of Egedal DKK 2 million per municipality and consequently municipalities are being shut down as a result of the local Billund Kalundborg Holbæk Ro skilde forced to ruthlessly prioritize. Therefore, they focus their efforts on the government reform and the termina- Varde Solr ød Nordfyns Køge four major public health priorities in stead of sexual health which is tion of the national action plan on Vejen Sorø Kolding Middelfart Kerteminde easily neglected, she explained. abortion and a further 20 % cut Fanø Stevns Næstved Faxe back of an already low pre- Assens Nyborg However, the hearing resulted in a number of recom- vention budget at the Faaborg-Midtfyn Vordingborg mendations from the two networks on which steps end of 2007. Tønder

Aabenraa had to be taken to increase focus on the area: Sønderborg Langeland Ærø

Lolland Guldborgsund 4 MUNICIPALITIES Professional network with strong local influence 28 municipalities 2007 was the year when The Sexual Politicians’ comments on Health Network for Professionals working together with working with sexual health followed sexual health in 2007 in the footsteps of the former Net- Sex & Samfund work of County Prevention Con- sultants and had to find its own two feet. The mission was successfully In 2007 Sex & Samfund started offering cooperation accomplished. At a members meet- agreements to municipalities. When signing a coopera- ing in March 2007, the network set tion agreement, municipalities gain access to Sex & up three working groups which will – We should consider whether – We find it only natural that sexual Samfund’s information activities either for free or at a form the backbone of the networks teachers in charge of the sexuality edu- health in the long run receives the discount. Many municipalities chose to accept our offer. activities during the first year. The cation in schools should attend a train- same status and attention as cancer, In just one year, we have already made agreements with three groups are: ing course at the college of education smoking, alcohol and exercise. the following 28 municipalities: before teaching the subject. Helle Sjelle • Youth-to-youth approach Mia Falkenberg (Conservative Party) Municipality of Broenderslev (Danish People’s Party) Municipality of Fanoe Sexuality education at techni- •  City of Frederiksberg cal colleges and other upper Municipality of Furesoe secondary education instituti- Bornholm Municipality of Faaborg-Midtfyn ons. Hjørring Frederikshavn • Policies and fields of action in Læsø Municipality of Guldborgsund connection with sexual health

Brønderslev-Dronninglund Halsnaes Municipality – We are prepared to set aside funds – Young people request counselling Jammerbugt and municipalities. Hørsholm Municipality of Holstebro in the Budget to match the task of re- and guidance. So there is a need for Allerød Th isted Aalborg Ru dersdal Municipality of Ikast-Brande The network also made its presence ducing the number of STIs and abor- free counselling services on sexual

Rebild Furesø Lyngby -Taarbæk Municipality of Ishoej know in public. In April 2007, the net- tions in Denmark. health in the municipalities. Morsø Vesthimmerlands Gentofte

Mariager ord Gladsaxe He rlev City of Copenhagen work co-hosted a hearing on sexual Lene Hansen Birgitte Josefsen Ballerup Skive of Koege Frederiksberg health held in the Danish parliamen- (Social Democrats) (Liberal Party) Albertslund Rødovr e Københavns Lemvig Randers Høje-Taastrup Brøn dby Municipality of Laesoe tary building just as network mem- Hvidovre Struer Norddjurs Vallensbæk Viborg Ishøj Tå rnby Dragør of Norddjurs bers took active part in the National Holstebro Gr eve of Nordfyn Board of Health and Sex & Samfund’s

Herning Silkeborg Århus Naestved Municipality ”Remember Condom” campaign in Helsingør Skanderborg of Odsherred September 2007. Halsnæs Ringkøbing-Skjern Ikast-Brande Fredensborg HiHillerllerødød Odder 44.551 Municipality of Randers The next great challenge will be Horsens Samsø Odsherred Frederikssund Egedal City of to secure permanent funding of – Every year 300 people die due to STIs. – The money we spend on prevention Hedensted Vejle of Soroe the network’s activities. In 2007, the This corresponds to an airplane crash- today is no way near the level of the Kalundborg Holbæk Ro skilde Varde Lejre Municipality of Struer network received funds from the ing every year killing everyone inside. If 80’ies. It would be sending a strong Fredericia Solr ød Nordfyns Køge Vejen Sorø of Soenderborg National Lottery and Football Pool instead they died in terror attacks, I am signal, if we politicians set up a pool Kolding Middelfart Kerteminde Esbjerg Fanø Odense of Thisted but the financial basis for 2008 is not sure the politicians would react imme- earmarked for this purpose. Slagelse Næstved Faxe Assens of Vejen yet secured. diately. Kirsten Brosbøl Haderslev Faaborg-Midtfyn Today, The Sexual Health Network Kamal Qureshi (Social Democrats) Svendborg Vordingborg Tønder Aeroe Municipality for Professionals counts 129 mem- (Socialist People’s Party)

Aabenraa Sønderborg Municipality of Aabenraa bers from 61 municipalities. Langeland Ærø

Lolland Guldborgsund MUNICIPALITIES 5 Red thread between the North and the South Sex & Samfund integrates experience from the South in its international advocacy work in the North.

The key word for Sex & Samfund’s international activities is advocacy. an actual youth SRHR policy. As for the second project, efforts are made Whereas most of our national activities consist of delivering services both regionally in all of South Asia and nationally in the four project such as seksual counselling and education, this form of service delivery countries participating in the project to promote and improve women’s is not the main focus of Sex & Samfund’s international activities. reproductive health and rights.

– We only assume the role of service provider in our partnerships if we can gain experience that is relevant to our advocacy work in con- Phase 1 towards the end of the project in Uganda nection with the projects in question. We cannot solve the health Phase 1 of Sex & Samfund’s HIV prevention project in the sector problems in say Uganda. But we can help put the problems district of Mbarara in Uganda was coming to an end in 2007. at the top of the political agenda, says Henny Hansen, Head of The project has been running smoothly and the daily activities Sex & Samfund’s International Department. have reached a large number of people. During 2007, advocacy workshops were organised – with the help of Sex & Samfund – Similarly, Sex & Samfund integrates experience from its partnerships in and monitoring and evaluation were implemented as part of the the South in its international advocacy activities in the North. capacity-building just as the final evaluation of phase 1 was com- pleted. The latter established that over all the project had been – Our partners’ experience with for instance delivering of services forms a success. the basis for and weight of the arguments we use towards e.g. other NGOs, On this basis, Sex & Samfund and the local partner in Uganda Danida and political decision-makers in Denmark and the EU to encourage – RHU, Reproductive Health of Uganda (former FPAU) decided to them to pay more attention to sexual and reproductive health and rights submit an application to Danida for a phase 2 grant – an applica- (SRHR) in the development assistance, Henny Hansen points out. tion resulting in a 5-year grant of DKK 9.99 million.

Looking at the four international development projects that Sex & Sam- In phase 2, emphasis will be placed on advocacy activities fund is involved in, advocacy is a vital element in the activities. towards politicians and other decision-makers in Uganda and In Uganda, we focus on getting the message of safe sex across to facilitating strategic partnerships between RHU and other private vulnerable young people. This we do by using young people from the and public actors working with HIV/AIDS. target group as role models - a kind of advocates – but we also work on influencing local politicians and decision-makers to put extra emphasis – Before the end of the project, it is our hope that the advocacy on young people’s SRHR. activities will have increased the local leaders focus on young peo- In Vietnam, Sex & Samfund’s activities focus on changing the rural ple’s desires and needs within SRHR in the district of Mbarara, says population’s attitude towards young people’s sexuality. This is done Project Assistant , Elisabeth Riber Christensen from Sex & Sam- locally by establishing a dialogue between young people and their fund’s International Department and continues: parent and nationally by strengthening Sex & Samfund’s partner in the country – CGFED (Research Centre for Gender, Family and Environment – At the same time we hope that RHU and their local partners have for Development) – and help them improve their advocacy capacities strengthened their capacity to disseminate gender sensitive informa- towards authorities. tion, counselling and health services. Finally, the projects in India and South Asia focus solely on advocacy. As regards the first project, the goal is to make one Indian State adopt

6 INTERNATIONAL Sex & Samfund launched new project in India The goal is to make the Indian State of Uttar Pradesh adopt an official SRHR youth policy.

Young people are the focal point of a new 4-year development project Busy days in Colombo in India which Sex & Samfund initiated in 2007. The project may have 2007 entailed several important meetings to Sex & Samfund’s been new, but the partner was an old acquaintance – namely the Indian regional development project WHRAP – Women’s Health and women’s organization SAHAYOG which Sex & Samfund has worked with Rights Advocacy Partnership – in Southeast Asia. In September, previously. various meetings and workshops were held in Colombo the capital of Sri Lanka. Delegates from the six national women’s – They are a really good choice of partner to us and they are very competent, organizations in the WHRAP network participated as well as Sex among others when it comes to establishing networks, carry out advocacy & Samfund’s project partner organization ARROW – Asian Pacific and rights-based activities, explains Project Assistant Lena Hothes from Resource Centre for Women. Sex & Samfund’s International Department. The days in Colombo were spent on preparing a regional task force meeting for selected decision-makers in the region and on The overall goal is to make the State of Uttar Pradesh – where the preparing WHRAP’s participation in the major Asian Pacific Con- project is located – adopt an official SRHR youth policy. To prepare the ference on Reproduction and Sexual Health which took place at way for this, SAHAYOG have had to use all of their networking skills. the end of October. According to the project description, the organization shall identify 10 At the moment, the WHRAP-project has moved into its 2nd local partner organizations working with young people. The 10 organi- phase which runs until July 2010. zations are then to set up 10 youth groups each and from each of the 100 youth groups a youth leader is found who will receive training in SRHR, management, organizational theory and advocacy. Simultane- ously, efforts will be made to establish a so-called Youth Policy Network Commencing phase 2 in Vietnam consisting of youth leaders and local, political key figures who will join Phase 2 of Sex & Samfund’s development project in Vietnam was forces to ensure that Uttar Pradesh adopts an SRHR youth policy. off to a good start in 2007. In the course of the year, planning and monitoring workshops were organised in all of the four provinces – In order for the youth groups to be as representative as possible, SAHAYOG where the project is based. has really put great effort into the selection process making sure to include The aim of phase 2 is among others to make 1,200 young peo- young people from all walks of life: All casts, the untouchables, married ple able to defend their right to sexual and reproductive health and unmarried, men, women, young working people and students as and enable their parents to talk to them about it. well as young people with handicaps. It is a very broad spectre, says Lena Already, the project is well on track to meet the target. So far, Hothes. 451 young people have received training in topics such as gen- der, youth participation and young people’s SRHR which have And the project is greatly needed. Despite the fact that Uttar Pradesh improved their knowledge so they feel able to talk about these is the Indian state with the highest child and maternal mortality ratio, issues with their parents. Similarly, 515 parents have received the the authorities have banned sexsuality education in schools. same kind of training enabling them to discuss sexual health with their children. Furthermore, Sex & Samfund also adviced the Vietnamese part- ner organization on how to put more emphasis on changing mindsets, rights and advocacy work during phase 2.

INTERNATIONAL 7 Advocacy +Sex Conference became a huge success activities Link between SRHR and Millennium Development Goals made clear at +Sex Conference.

Danish politicians, youth politicians, representatives from The list of guest speakers included Senior Advisor, Sam Bern- gained praise Danida, NGO representatives, staff and students from the Dan- stein from UNFPA, Manager, Indu Capoor, from the Indian NGO ish teaching and research institutions. Counting 75 participants Chetna and Secretary General from the International Planned packed together in the meeting room of the Social Democrats at Parenthood Federations (IPPF), Gill Greer. and money Christiansborg, the +Sex Conference on 6 June 2007 was a huge At the conference, the All-Party Network promised to actively success. work to ensure the implementation of the MDG target. Sex & Samfund’s advocacy received both pro- It was the second of three conferences on SRHR organised by Moreover, Sex & Samfund distributed new fact sheets on the fessional and financial recognition in 2007. the All-Party Network on Sexual and Reproductive Health and link between SRHR and the Millennium Development Goals. The The latter came in the form of a 3-year grant Rights and it was held exactly one year after the No Sex Confer- fact sheets were prepared by Sex & Samfund with the help from of DKK 360,000 from IPPF. Both IPPF and Sex ence focusing on the US inspired abstinence policy. UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund. This was a part of & Samfund participate in a major European This time the focus of the conference was the link between Sex & Samfund’s advocacy efforts. NGO syndicate supported by the Bill & Melin- sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and the UN Mil- da Gates Foundation. The syndicate’s most lennium Development Goals (MDG) and the message was clear: important task is to influence and mobilise The world’s poverty problems can only be solved and the other the EU and to round up European support MDGs only be met by promoting SRHR in developing countries. for SRHR. The project is entering phase 2 tak- The Minister for Development Cooperation, Mrs. Ulla Toer- ing on the supplies problem and the growing naes, emphasised this by stating that SRHR is an important tool need for contraception. in bringing forward the fulfilment of the MDGs – including the Apart from the indirect support from the new target on universal access to reproductive health. Gates Foundation, Sex & Samfund’s advo- cacy efforts have received support from the Hewlett Foundation since 2006. The professional recognition manifested itself in Danida’s new Strategy for Africa Minister met which was presented in the early summer of 2007. Sex & Samfund followed the process carefully and Danida took several of our com- All-Party Network ments into account in the final product – e.g. They already know each other, but on 3 October 2007 the Danish the minister was merely one of many international highlights. It women’s equal rights and SRHR. All-Party Network on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights started out in January with the joint statement of support for the Similary, advocacy activities were used held its first informal meeting with the Minister for Development yes side in the Portuguese abortion referendum. Then followed to highlight the budget analysis problem of Cooperation, Ulla Toernaes (The Liberal Party) and afterwards the +Sex Conference in June marking another highlight and soon equipping foreign partner organizations thus the minister had nothing but praise for the network: after came the general election in November where the network enabling them to better understand govern- once again made its presence known – stronger than ever. On mental budgets. – I think it was an extremely beneficial and constructive meeting 6 November, the All-Party Network held a preliminary recruiting This was carried out through the NGO net- with the network. We really need to mobilise support to promote meeting and added new members to the network now counting work Thematic Forum just as Sex & Samfund women’s reproductive health and rights and in this respect the All- 33 members, thus increasing the number of members prior to the was actively involved in a number of other Party Network plays an important part. general election. With the new members, all political parties are network – including Aidsnet, the Child and now represented in the network. Right from the beginning Sex & Youth Network and the Project Counselling The cooperation with the network took up a large part of Sex Samfund has acted as secretariat for the All-Party Network. Service. & Samfund’s advocacy activities in 2007 and the meeting with

8 IPPF IPPF is a global service provider and a leading advocate for SRHR for all.

International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is an inter- care be integrated into sexual and reproductive health services. national movement of national organizations working with and IPPF works to meet the sexual and reproductive health needs for communities and individuals in 180 countries worldwide. of all, but particularly the poor, marginalized and those who do Sex & Samfund was one of the earliest members of IPPF, joining not have access to public health facilities. the Federation in 1956, and has been a pioneering organization for sexual and reproductive health and rights ever since. • IPPF Member Associations provided 11.5 million sexual and IPPF and Sex & Samfund’s work is essential to defending the reproductive health services to young people under the sexual and reproductive health and rights of people everywhere age of 25 years, including six million contraceptive services, because these are indispensable human rights critical to indivi- over three million gynaecological and maternal and child dual and social well-being. health services, and over 700,000 HIV-related services Sexual and reproductive ill health is a serious public health issue that disproportionately affects the poorest and most mar- • IPPF Member Associations distributed over 105 million con- ginalized women, men and young people in the poorest coun- doms for HIV prevention services, and provided 2.5 million tries on the planet. Every year more than 529,000 women and HIV-related services, including 1.5 million sexually trans- girls die as a result of pregnancy and childbirth; millions more mitted infection services. More than 610,000 HIV-related suffer injury, illness and disability as a consequence. The majority counselling services were provided in 2006, including HIV of these deaths are preventable. prevention counselling and pre- and post-test HIV counsel- Globally, this means that one woman out of every 74 will die ling. from maternal causes; in some African countries the rate is as high • IPPF is committed to making safe abortion services as one in every 16. In Denmark the rate is one in every 9,800. accessible to the fullest extent of the law, and, where re- Despite repeated international commitments, tens-of-millions strictive abortion laws exist, to advocate for their liberali- of women, men and young people still have no access to sexual zation because safe, legal, and accessible abortion services and reproductive health services. 201 million women who want it save women’s lives. More than half of all IPPF Member As- do not have access to modern contraception; this put millions of sociations are working in their countries to increase access women at risk of unintended and unwanted pregnancy, and each to safe abortion; in 2006 IPPF provided 435,294 abortion and every year this results in an estimated 19 million women and related services, 139,441 of these to young women under girls facing the deadly consequences of unsafe abortion. 68,000 the age of 25 years. women and girls die each year from unsafe abortion, nearly all live in developing countries. • IPPF provided over 20 million contraceptive services and An estimated 33.2 million people worldwide are living with over 18 million other sexual and reproductive health ser- HIV. Despite the fact that HIV is both preventable and treatable, vices from its 56,000 service delivery points in 2006. in 2007 2.5 million people were newly infected with HIV and mil- lions still cannot access the treatment and care they need. In the most affected countries in Africa, women and girls now account for the majority of new infections, and across all age groups 59 per cent of people living with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa are wo- men. HIV is largely a sexually transmitted infection, and address- ing the epidemic requires that HIV prevention, treatment and

9 Hectic year for sexuality education An unprecedented number of pupils visited Sex & Samfund in 2007.

2007 was an extremely active – not to say diverse – year for Sex The health zone & Samfund’s sexuality education programme. This was true not Sex & Samfund also reacted immediately only for the supplementary sexuality education at the head office when the Copenhagen Healthy City project in Copenhagen where a total of 5,324 7th-10th graders attended decided to set up so-called health zones at a a two hour course, but also to a very large extent for the meth- number of technical colleges in Copenhagen. The ods teaching of e.g. primary school teachers and visiting nurses. health zones were set up at specific week days for a period of Yes even scout leaders from The Green Girl Scouts of Denmark four weeks. The objective was to change young people’s habits attended our sexuality education courses. towards a more healthy way of living, and Sex & Samfund fought for the young people’s attention together with similar booths on – We managed to reach a greater number of Educational Resource smoking, exercise and drugs. Centres where around 200 teachers have attended our half day or A very special area to Sex & Samfund was the teaching of eth- whole day courses in 2007. On top of this, we held another eight nic minorities which expanded significantly in 2007. In total, 55 courses aimed at health visitors. Our courses are in great demand different language schools, residential areas, drop-in centres, Thumbs up for sexuality education programme in this line of work. Finally, because the colleges of education are women’s groups, mother’s groups, counselling centres, organiza- Sex & Samfund’s sexuality education programme received now under obligation to offer sexuality education courses as of the tions, professionals etc. benefited from Sex & Samfund’s sexuality the mark of approval from the primary teachers in 2007. For autumn semester, we also organized a course at one single college, education as opposed to 40 in 2006. the first time ever, the sexuality education programme was says Project Assistant, Robert Holm Jensen from Sex & Samfund’s Finally, it should be added to the list of successes that the evaluated in November and a staggering 99 % of the teach- National Department. online forum for people working with sexuality education ers said they were so satisfied with the education programme www.bedreseksualundervisning.dk (improved sexuality edu- that they would recommend it to their fellow teachers. World Contraception Day cation) had more visits than ever before in 2007. In total 31,485 Among others the teachers stated that a great advantage In 2007, Sex & Samfund had an unexpected opportunity to make visited the site which equals an average of 86 visits every single of outsourcing parts of the sexuality education is that the an extra effort aimed at 10th graders. In September, the pharma- day. This is more than a doubling compared to the website’s first pupils can talk more freely. Or as a teacher noted in the evalu- ceutical company Schering decided to dedicate a whole month 11 months in 2006 where 14,315 visitors entered the site. ation: to highlighting the World Contraception Day. Consequently, Schering asked Sex & Samfund to organize various national – I think some comments and remarks would not have been activities. As a result Sex & Samfund offered 60 free courses of 2 uttered had I been present. hours each to all 10th graders across the country. And the extra courses were snapped up in no time. More than 130 school class- The fact that the sexuality education is offered to the schools es signed up, so the lucky winners were found by the first come, for free is also an important factor because due to significant first served principle. budgetary cutbacks the schools cannot afford to pay for the non-scheduled subjects. Only 14 % of the teachers would continue to send their pupils to Sex & Samfund for education if user payment is introduced.

10 NATIONAL Knowledge centre for abortion and STIs At-risk groups’ clinic itself at risk During 2007, the two websites www.abortnet.dk (on abor- tion) and www.sexsygdomme.dk (on STIs) continued to Support for the sexual health clinic was massive but the money scarce. consolidate their position as Denmark’s leading knowledge centre within abortion and STIs – towards professionals as well as non-professionals searching for new, qualified and More than three quarters of the users of Sex & Samfund’s counsel- updated information in this field. ling clinic in Copenhagen are from at-risk groups, e.g. young girls Sex Helpline in www.abortnet.dk topped 80,656 visits – a slight decline under the age of 16, ethnic women, young people in residential danger of closing despite of 1 % compared to 2006. In return, the number of visits at institutions, prostitutes and drug addicts. massive succes www.sexsygdomme.dk grew rapidly from 45,654 visits in However, in 2007 it was the clinic’s turn to be put at risk. Just 423,542! 2006 (the first year of the site) to 91,470 visits in 2007. This before summer, the City of Copenhagen announced that as of That is the number of clicks with the mouse registered dur- equals an increase of just over 100 %. In total, the two web- 2008 the municipality would no longer finance the running of the ing 2007 on Denmark’s oldest and largest online sex counsel- sites registered more than 172,000 visits or an average of 470 clinic. After the effect of the local government reform, the munici- ling service www.sexlinien.dk. This constitutes an increase visits a day. pality was of the opinion that the responsibility for the running of of more than 80,000 visits in just one year or nearly 25 %. the clinic now rested with The Capital Region of Denmark. How- This also marked the end of good news for some time. ever, the Capital Region was not quite sure how to piece togeth- Despite massive success, the Youth Sex Helpline was in dan- er a cooperation agreement leaving the clinic in somewhat an ger of being closed down when it took too long for the 2008 New contraception website administrative squeeze. funding to fall into place when the National Action Plan on In 2007, Sex & Samfund’s national department put And the confusion was not helped when Lars Loekke Rasmus- abortion expired. efforts into expanding the organization’s broad range sen, the Minister of the former Ministry of the Interior and Health, An unexpected Advent gift from the pharmaceutical of websites with a new homepage on contraception – in a reply to MP Birthe Skaarup (Danish People’s Party) stressed company Pfizer of DKK 25,000 could not stop the growing www.præventionsguide.dk (contraception guide). The aim that the services of the Contraception and Counselling Clinic are deficit. Not until the end of February 2008 did the pieces is to provide easy access to information on the various meth- the responsibility of both the municipality and the region. come together in the form of extra funding from the rate ods of contraception, addresses on contraception clinics all Sex & Samfund had to wait until New Year before the clinic was adjustment pool scheme to finance operations in 2008. over the country as well as articles, reports and statistics. saved in the last minute when the City of Copenhagen set aside www.præventionsguide.dk opened in January 2008 and got extra funding of DKK 900,000 to give the clinic extra time to find off to a good start. Since the opening, there have been 14,379 a more permanent solution with the municipality and the region registered visits. during 2008. While the politicians hesitated, the support for the clinic poured in from every corner. A petition campaign showed that the clinic has broad public and political support not to men- Sex & Samfund’s counselling and information services in figures tion support among the doctors and institutions referring people to the clinic. 2007 2006 Similarly, a user survey carried out Youth Sex Helpline (sexlinien.dk) 423,542 visits 342,706 visits in the spring of 2007 showed that 99 7,898 questions 7,720 questions % were satisfied or very satisfied with 1,705 telephone calls 2,251 telephone calls the service provided by the clinic. The users in particular emphasize services Abortnet.dk 80,656 visits 81,512 visits such as easy and quick access to see- Sexsygdomme.dk 91,470 visits 45,654 visits ing a doctor, the high level of Bedreseksualundervisning.dk 31,485 visits 14,315 visits knowledge and expertise AIDS Helpline 7,191 inquiries 7,719 inquiries on contraception, abor- Sexual Health Clinic 1,607 visits 1,779 visits tion and STIs and the Supplementary sexuality education 5,324 pupils 5,155 pupils possibility of being Distributed leaflets 118,014 copies 187,014 copies anonymous.

NATIONAL 11

Two weeks of condoms Denmark’s All over Denmark people talked about condoms during the condom campaign. sexiest politicians Besides being MPs, Kamal Qureshi from the Socialist People’s Party) and Helle Sjelle from the Con- Condoms … condoms … condoms … servative Party also held the title as Denmark’s sexiest politician From the north to the south of Denmark the little rubber things were the talk of the town in in mid November. early September 2007, when The National Board of Health and Sex & Samfund launched the The focus was not on large breasts or a firm bum but on atti- campaign ”Remember Condom” aimed at young people between 16-25. tudes. The nomination was based on a comprehensive question- The campaign was established because statistics show that the number of abortions and naire which Sex & Samfund handed out to all MP candidates dur- people infected with STIs have gone up – especially among teenagers and young people. ing the general election. The candidates were asked to react to The number of young people testing positive for chlamydia has doubled since 1998 just 10 fundamental statements concerning sexual health – e.g. on as the abortion ratio for young women between 15-19 and 20-24 is starting to go up after sexuality education, chlamydia, the need for more information several years of status quo. activities and Denmark’s international role in relation to sexual Sex & Samfund was asked to coordinate the local part of the campaign and did so with and reproductive health and rights. Approximately 770 question- great success. During the two week campaign, more than 300 local Remember Condom naires were handed out and the response came immediately: events were organized across the country. However, Sex & Samfund did point out that campaigns do not do it alone: – At the deadline, 455 candidates – more than 60 % of all candidates – had filled in and returned the questionnaire. It exceeded even our – The campaign and the many activities have generated attention to the area here and now. wildest expectations, says Sex & Samfund’s Chairman, Christian What we need is long-term efforts where each municipality draws up a plan for the preven- Graugaard, and adds: tive efforts on sexual health. Fortunately, the campaign also showed that the majority of municipalities have now appointed a resource person responsible for the area, explains – The survey showed a broad and wide interest in sexual health across Project Assistant, Joachim Maxen from Sex & Samfund. the political spectre and perhaps we have the sexiest Parliament ever. The politicians also made lengthy comments on their visions for the As part of the campaign, young people were encouraged to come up with the area. It is a positive sign pointing to an increased focus on sexual worst excuse for not using a condom. This resulted in more than 600 suggestions health both at home and abroad. We only hope that the politicians and the judges – radio host Huxi Bach and actress Katja K – picked the following will put their visionary words into action. excuse as the winner: Kamal Qureshi and Helle Sjelle both received a – I am so creative that every time I get a condom in my hand I cut it into an diploma of their new titles the day before Election Easter card. Day. Both MPs are actively engaged in the All-Party Network on Sexual and Repro- ductive Health and Rights.

– We are very pleased that the campaign messages have reached a wide audience. The evaluation shows that messages about use of condoms get a high score when it comes to generating awareness and the municipali- ”ties have been strong partners thanks to the efforts of Sex & Samfund. Jan Fouchard, National Board of Health

12 NATIONAL

Denmark’s Tent pegs and long nails do not match Youth Group provided counselling and helped guests live out their sex fantasies at the Roskilde Festival. sexiest politicians

A young woman dressed in a shiny, red plastic raincoat and hat wearing red lip- stick and stockings in red patent leather boots looking like somebody’s wet dream. What is the Youth Group? And a guy in a long dress, pink wig and long, • The Youth Group was set up pink nails that came dangerously close to in February 2004 by 10 young breaking as he hammered tent pegs into the Danes as an independent group ground. within Sex & Samfund. The goal With sceneries like these, Sex & Samfund’s was to strengthen and further Youth Group brightened up the Roskilde Fes- develop youth activities. tival 2007 making it more interesting for the participants. • The youth group members are The group has been a recurring event at the between 15 and 27 years old. festival for the past years. With their spectacu- • Since the beginning, the youth lar and striking events they promote the organi- group has had a representative zation’s messages of sexual well-being and the on Sex & Samfund’s board and fight against unwanted pregnancies and STIs. regularly contributes to the as- In 2006, the group focused on the US Global sociation’s activities on sexuality Gag Rule whereas the group in 2007 went along education, campaigns, ethical with the festival theme of diversity. discussions etc. with a ‘young perspective’. – It is about living your sexual fantasies and show- ing tolerance and respect, explains Lene Stavngaard • The Youth Group meets once a from the Youth Group who attended the festival. month to discuss different rele- vant topics for the association. The group brought along a ”transformer box” and • The Youth Group also has an in- everybody was welcome to stop by the box to get a ternational focus via IPPF. Since make-over and be transformed into their inner sexual 2005, one of the members, Lene fantasy whether this was a callgirl, a kinky nurse or a Stavngaard, has represented drag queen. The box was like a magnet drawing in peo- the youth group in IPPF’s top ple – not least local reporters who had a little make-over network, the Governing Council, themselves. whereas another member of the The Youth Group also provided sexual counselling dur- group, Adam Qvist, is involved in ing the festival. One of Sex & Samfund’s regular counsel- IPPF’s attempt to start a Euro- lors also participated in the festival equipped with a cellu- pean youth group. lar phone offering anonymous over the phone counselling to the festival guests. Several guests used this possibility to get tips on the best way to have sex in a sleeping bag or how to kiss another guy.

13 Organizational status 2007

When Sex & Samfund was founded in 1956 the goals were Sex & Samfund's Council Sex & Samfund’s Presidium legal abortion, compulsory sexuality education in schools and Sex & Samfund’s council includes individual members and information on contraception. Today – 50 years later – we have the following organizations: • Professor MD, Mogens Osler expanded our field of activities to include the entire world and • GP, Hanne Risoer work with all issues relating to sexual and reproductive health • AIDS Foundation • Nurse and Anthropologist, Lise Kaalund Joergensen and rights (SRHR). • Center for Sex and Health • Photographer, Henrik Saxgren • Centre for Promotion of Sexual Health, Municipality of • Professor MD, Preben Hertoft Sex & Samfund’s goals are: • Politician, Helle Degn • Copenhagen unit of Danish Sadomasochist Society • Executive Director, Morten Kjaerum, Danish Institute for Sexual well-being – We work for a world where people enrich • Danish Association for Clinical Sexology Human rights their lives through the possibilities offered by their sexuality in • Danish Association of Health Services Managers • MD, Halfdan Mahler accordance with their own desires and needs and in respect for • Danish Association of Medical Women • Author, Hanne-Vibeke Holst those of others. • Danish Association of Midwives • Journalist and Author, Lone Kühlmann • Danish Association of Social Workers • Former member of the European-Commission, Poul Nilson Wanted children – We work for a world where people decide for • Danish Association of Youth and Leisure Time Centres. themselves if and when they want children. • Danish College of General Practitioners • Danish Demographic Association No sex diseases – We work for a world where the quality of peo- • Danish Federation of Early Childhood Teachers and Youth ple’s lives is not impaired by STIs. Educators Sex & Samfund wish to thank: • Danish Medical Association Former Danish Ministry for the Interior and Health, Danish Ministry • Danish Medical Society for Child Health of Foreign Affairs (Danida), Danish Ministry of Education, Nation- • Danish Mothers’ Aid Organization of 1983 al Board of Health (Centre for Health Promotion and Prevention ), Sex & Samfund’s Board • Danish National Association for Gays and Lesbians City of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Healthy City, National Lottery • MD and Sexologist, Christian Graugaard (Chairman) (2) • Danish Nurses Organization and Football Pool, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, • HIV/AIDS Officer WHO, Jeffrey Victor Lazarus • Danish Pharmaceutical Association The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Pfizer, (Vice Chariman) (1) • Danish Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Schering for their financial support and the other 27 municipali- • Consultant, Bjarne Rasmussen (4) • Danish Women’s Society ties that Sex & Samfund has made cooperation agreements with • Former Manager of Lysthuset, Carsten Borup (6) • HIV Denmark as well as the many individuals and organizations that have sup- • Anthropologist, Catrine Christiansen Support Centre against Incest in Denmark ported Sex & Samfund through their membership. • Associate Professor of Educational Theory, Co-ordinater of • the Child and Youth Network, Annemette Danielsen • Medical student, Lene Stavngaard (5) • Master of Theology and former Member of the European–Parliament, Ulla Sandbæk (3) • Sex therapist, Pia Struck (substitute) • Consultant, Teacher/MA , Else Marie Buck (substitute)

14 Sex & Samfund’s accounts 2007 National activities Other activities Training Clinic and education Hivinfo 2% 3% (Copenhagen) 3% 2007 was a financially good year for Sex & Samfund. Once again, the association increased its level of 16% Information services activities and set a record high turnover of DKK 23 million. In general, income equalled expenses. The to young people ordinary operating result showed a deficit of DKK 362,000. However a positive development in the finan- and ethnic minorities cial interest income yielded a total surplus of DKK 122,000 which is considered a satisfactory result. The etc. (Copenhagen) association’s equity amounted to DKK 9.21m at the end of 2007. AIDS Helpline 8% 30% As appears from the accounts, ministries and municipalities finance up to 50% of Sex & Samfund’s activities whereas Danida finances the main part of the association’s international programmes. To cover administrative expenses, Sex & Samfund has received project overheads totalling DKK 1.7m which is Sex Helpline, abortnet, equal to 8 % of the total income. Funding from foundations and companies has increased in 2007 and Remember Condom campaign sexsygdom now cover 10 % of Sex & Samfund’s income. We are very pleased with this development as it strengthens 7% Improved sex education 15% 16% Sex & Samfund’s financial standing and independence from public funding. We will continue to further raise this amount and to increase income from members and private donors whose contributions also are vital for our independence and credibility as advocate of sexual health and rights. International activities In addition, income derived from the sale of materials also grew in 2007 and now constitutes 6 % of the total turnover. Finally, the figures show that Sex & Samfund’s turnover has tripled since 1997. The Aidsnet International advocacy National Department accounts for almost 50 % of Sex & Samfund’s activities whereas the International 16% 25% Department has grown over the years and now accounts for almost one third of the turnover. SAHAYOG (India) 7%

Development in turnover 1997 - 2007 CGFED (Vietnam) 17% RHU (former FPAU), Uganda 19% Mio. kr. WHRAP (Southasia) 25 National Programme International Programme Information Administration 16%

7% 9% 20 6% 6% Income 2007 9% 9% Sale of services 8% 6% Member contributrions (publications, clinic, 34% and royalties 1% 15 10% education etc.) 12% 29% Foundations and companies 8% 30% 6% 13% 38% (Danish) 4% Ministries, municipalities 11% 8% Foundations (foreign) 49% 13% 27% 10 15% 15% 6% 10% 30% 18% 13% 22% 24% Project overhead 18% 22% 11% 14% 8% 5 12%

58% 49% 51% 52% 47% 61% 54% 53% 55% 48% 51%

0 Danish Development Assistance 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 (development activities) 26% 15 Sex Week: 5 tough ones to the Secretary General

Why do Sex & Samfund find it necessary than 5,000 pupils each year. So we have gained a vast amount to carry out a sexuality education project in a country of experience in this field and it is this experience we now share. where sexuality education has been an obligatory part of the Sex Week should be seen as a help- curriculum since 1973? ing hand to primary schools and a The major support for the Sex Week clearly proves that there is a much needed opportunity to high- great need for more and improved sexuality education in schools. light sexuality education – a kind Facts on The pupils have a real thirst after knowledge and teachers have a of national sexuality education Sex Week thirst after tools to help them improve sexuality education. Since you might say. But we only pro- • Sex Week is a national sexuality education sexuality education is one of our core competences it is only natural vide the framework. It is up to project developed by Sex & Samfund and that we make the first move. the schools and teachers to fill takes place every year during week 6 (pro out the blanks. nounced week sex in Danish). Are teachers really that bad when it comes to sexuality education? • Sex Week is targeted at 6th to 10th graders.- Certainly not. There are many good teachers who do an excellent What now? Was Sex Week 2008 • During the 2008 Sex Week, brand new job. The problem is that they do it because they are so dedicated to just a one night stand? teaching material was presented which what they do and happen to be passionate about the subject – and Not at all. The overwhelming included advice on how to best plan sat not as a consequence of targeted efforts at the colleges of education interest from schools and the isfactory sexuality education. The material or in schools. massive media coverage show was based on five overall themes: Young- that there is a need for activi- people and sex, contraception and STIs, Does it matter where young people learn about sex? ties like this. So Sex Week falling in love and girl/boyfriends, the first Yes it does, and we believe schools play an important part. If 2008 is merely the first step. time, and finally pornography and the the teachers do not have the necessary tools or receive the We will return next year with media. necessary training in this subject, they tend to use themselves too an even bigger project which • In 2008, 39,000 pupils from more than 565 much when teaching. Similarly, there is a risk that the teaching of the will also include elements schools across the nation participated in the subject is not interesting to the pupils or even worse that the teacher directly aimed at the pupils. Sex Week project. oversteps the pupils’ boundaries. Among others we plan • Sex Week 2008 received extensive media to involve the pupils’ fav- coverage from articles in local news papers Is Sex & Samfund out to control sexuality education in schools? ourite media such as cellu- to appearances on national TV both in the No, but as I have already said, we have been carrying out supple- lar phones and the inter- morning and late afternoon. Moreover, 29 mentary sexuality education for many years and teaching more net. MPs signed a statement of support.