International Training Programmes in Sweden

RFSU has been internationally engaged in projects and initiatives concerning sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for many years. Why is SRHR so important? Here are som examples.

Every year 358,000 women die from pregnancy related problems and as many as 8.7 million women are injured or develop infections in connection with childbirth.

2.6 million people are infected with HIV every year; 45 percent of them are between the ages of 15 and 24.

Every year 19 million unsafe abortions are preformed. 47,000 of those abortions end up killing the woman, and an additional 5 million women must be hospitalised due to injuries caused by these unsafe abortions.

More than 85 countries in the world criminalise homosexual acts. Punishments are varied and in some cases include lengthy prison sentences, lashings or, in the worst cases, the death penalty.

Swedish foreign aid is distributed in large part through framework organisations that work closely with Sida (the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency). RFSU has been a framework organisation of Sida’s since 2008. The first agreement period, which will begin in 2010, is comprised of efforts and projects with long-term financing in ten countries. This agreement will improve conditions for making efforts concerning SRHR in the respective countries more successful.