New Ibero-American Network of Sexual Health and Reproductive Health Professionals (REDISSER)

15 Oct New Ibero-American Network of Sexual Health and Reproductive Health Professionals (REDISSER)

REDISSER originates from prioritizing the importance of networking, with the objective of strengthening and supporting the commitment of all, the defense of Sexual Rights and Reproductive Rights, facilitation of access and equity to these rights in our countries; this highlighting the value existing in the exchange and joint work done in the countries.

According to United Nations estimates, approximately 14 million children are born to teenage mothers (15 to 19 years old), and almost 2 million are born in Latin America and the Caribbean, which represents 13% of all births.

In the report “Acceleration of the process towards reducing teenage pregnancy in Latin America and the Caribbean” UNFPA, we can see that the global teenage pregnancy rate is estimated in 46 births every 1,000 girls, while teenage pregnancy rates in Latin America and the Caribbean continue to be the second highest rates in the world, estimated at 66.5 births every 1,000 girls between 15 and 19 years old, and this is only surpassed by those in sub-Saharan Africa. During the last 30 years in Latin America and the Caribbean, total fertility has decreased, fertility rates in adolescents have decreased slightly, but the upward trend is observed in teenage pregnancies under the age of 15. It is estimated that 15% of all pregnancies take place in teenagers under 20 years of age and 2 million children are born to mothers between the ages of 15 and 19¹ in the region, on a yearly basis.
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If we analyze these pregnancies, we can see a high rate of unplanned or unintended pregnancies, evidencing sexual and reproductive rights inequality and vulnerability, and therefore, inequality and vulnerability of human rights. To this end, one of the principles gathering us together is to be able to work to increase the use of modern contraceptive methods, focusing on long-lasting methods. A significant increase in the use of these methods has been achieved in Latin America and the Caribbean, but there is still a long way to go in the use of long-term methods to reduce inequality in contraception in our countries².

Placing ourselves in this scenario, REDISSER was created in the City of Asunción, Paraguay, on May 31, 2019.

The representatives of the Scientific Societies of the Ibero-American countries, we meet in order to create a NETWORK which purpose is the scientific exchange and cooperation, with a non-for-profit spirit. To that end, we herein sign this FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT, which defines the basic guidelines agreed upon and the operating methodologies of the NETWORK. The objectives that bring us together are:

1. Contributing to the exchange of scientific knowledge and the communication, study and research of the different aspects of sexual health and reproductive health in all the countries members of the NETWORK
2. Stimulating the discussion of ideas and concepts aiming at the protection of citizens’ rights in our field of competence.
3. Carrying out gatherings, courses and meetings which promote the scientific exchange and the continuous evolution of its members’ training.
4. Fostering interdisciplinary meetings to coordinate approaches to assistance, teaching and research in this field.
5. Representing Ibero-American professionals who study the different disciplines of sexual health and reproductive health before the International Scientific Associations, Societies and Organizations which goals are similar and/or complementary.
6. Helping national, provincial and supranational government organizations to design and implement appropriate health policies, especially regarding the topic of concern.

In our Network there are two types of membership:

1. Institution Members.Any Civil Association, Scientific Society or any other scientific body with development and solid tradition in the field, which states its willingness to join the NETWORK in writing and which has been approved by the Council of Representatives by means of a resolution.
2. Individual Members.Professionals with a solid tradition in the field who request to join the NETWORK on an individual basis, and have been accepted by means of a resolution of the Council of Representatives.

For further details, please see our website: http://www.redisser.org or our email at: redissersaludsexual@gmail.com

1. https://www.unicef.org/panama/spanish/EmbarazoAdolescente_ESP(1).pdf
2. Rodolfo Gomez Ponce de Leon, Fernanda Ewerling, Suzanne Jacob Serruya, Mariangela F Silveira, Antonio Sanhueza, Ali Moazzam, Francisco Becerra-Posada, Carolina V N Coll, Franciele Hellwig, Cesar G Victora, Aluisio J D Barros Contraceptive use in Latin America and the Caribbean with a focus on long-acting reversible contraceptives: prevalence and inequalities in 23 countries.Lancet Glob Health 2019; 7: e227–35