Rutgers WPF Indonesia

Rutgers WPF Indonesia is the Indonesian branch of Rutgers WPF, an international centre of expertise on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) founded and based in the Netherlands. The Indonesian branch was established in 2007, founded originally under the name of WPF. Rutgers WPF is the result of the merger between the World Population Foundation (WPF) and Rutgers Nisso Groep, a Dutch Expert Centre on Sexuality in 2010. Rutgers WPF focuses on improving sexual and reproductive health and the acceptance of sexual rights and gender equality in developing countries across Europe, Africa and Asia. Since 2009, the organization is headed internationally by executive director Dianda Veldman and by Monique Soesman in Jakarta, Indonesia since 2014.

History

WPF Indonesia started its work with a project in Sumatra in Indonesia in 1997. From 1998 to 2004 it expanded to other areas. In 2005 the first office was opened and in 2007 there was a MoU between the government and WPF. By the end of 2010, Melanie Schultz van Haegen, Chairperson Supervisory Board of WPF, announced in the annual report of 2009, that a fusion will take place: WPF merged with Rutgers Nisso Groep, the Dutch Expert Centre on Sexuality. WPF was an international organisation, that had had experience in developing countries and a reputation in the field of international advocacy. Rutgers Nisso Groep was known for its research and work in the Netherlands. The result if this, Rutgers WPF, was founded to work at improving sexual health in the Netherlands and in developing countries.^[1]

Methodology

Rutgers WPF Indonesia soon became an institution that focused on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and the implementation of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). It has declared an international non-profit organization that serves as an intermediary between the government and operators in Indonesia. Rutgers WPF Indonesia began to be calculated either by government agencies, as well as among development partners (UN agencies).^[2]

Objective

Rutgers WPF Indonesia is responsible to provide assistance to their local partners in program development from planning, monitoring, implementation, until evaluation. It is an intermediary organization, so Rutgers WPF Indonesia facilitates their partners’ capacity building, such as communication strategies, technical recommendations, trainings (e.g. program cycle management or training teachers on sexuality education) and public campaigns on SRHR and SGBV. Organizations that are partnered with Rutgers WPF Indonesia focus also on improving education on sexual and reproductive health and rights and access to sexual and reproductive health services with primary targets being women, youth, and marginalized groups, as stated in the Semi Annual Report of 2014.^[3] Rutgers WPF Indonesia supports the implementation of programs and advocacy efforts to ensure policies that support the SRHR agreed in international treaties. This international agreement, among others, was written down in Cairo in 1994 and in the Millennium Development Goals. Difficult has proven the implementation of projects and its consequences, because of cultural nuances that have to be put under special attention. The main aims are to shape responsible and healthy sexual behaviour, preventing unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV and AIDS. Discussing sexual and reproductive health issues, such as family planning and the right to self-determination, in a country where these are viewed as sensitive topics can be counted to Rutgers WPF Indonesia's main objective. By doing scientific research Rutgers WPF Indonesia tries to undermine this.

Vision

Rutgers WPF Indonesia’s vision is in the first step to create an enabling SRHR environment with the help of the government and a wider community. The vision is based on the following principles:

1. The recognition of and respect for human rights
2. Supporting efforts to establish the values of non-violence
3. A positive and open attitude towards sexuality and diversity
4. All activities are based on the sensitivity of the cultural context, gender, race/ethnicity, age, religion, and the active involvement of the target group

Mission

Rutgers WPF Indonesia works for the fulfilment of human rights by promoting the principles of non-violence through education, access to services and integrating sensitive issues like gender-based violence and sexuality issues. It wants to raise awareness about the importance of those issues and its relation to a fulfilling life. The main concerns are women victims of violence, male perpetrators of violence, adolescents, children, special needs groups (including the disabled, street children and children in conflict with the law), LGBT and PLWHA. It has the mission to serve as an intermediary and a catalyst for the government and its strategic partners. Rutgers WPF wants to work closely with allies that have similar goals and values, to organize various initiatives. The financial aspect, the mobilization of resources to realize its aims, was also written down as one of Rutgers WPF's main missions.^[4]

Programs

At the moment (February 2015) Rutgers WPF Indonesia has 4 programs running. Programs change regularly and are supported by Rutgers WPF for a certain time.

• Dance4life takes four steps to reach youth and teach them about sexuality, unwanted pregnancies and HIV. Through Inspire, Educate, Celebrate and Activate young people are empowered to take their own actions and become Agents4Life to support dance4Life’s values and become educated about those still sensitive issues.^[5]
• Men Care+ encourages the involvement of men in playing an equal role in the process of caregiving and the division of labour in the households in order to improve the quality of women’s and children’s health. It empowers men to change their behaviour and interact with their partners with an attitude of mutual respect as the basis for equal and non-violent relations between men and women.^[6]
• ASK (Access, Service, Knowledge) helps young people to find sexual and reproductive health information that is often not available to them in their community. By launching the website Sobat ASK, youth is encouraged to educate themselves and share their information to friends. In this way, knowledge on sexual and reproductive health issues can be attained.^[7]
• The UFBR program is designed to fulfil the right to health, with the main objective of improving the quality of health of the Indonesian people, especially sexual and reproductive health of the Indonesian people, as part of the Millennium Development Goals. It focuses on the achievement of the MDG’s and on building the capacity of civil society organisations in Indonesia.^[8]

References and external links

• Rutgers WPF Indonesia
• MenCare+ Indonesia
• Rutgers WPF International
• MenCare+ International
• A Little Piece of Heaven in Bondowoso