Reprolatina

Although both the Brazilian constitution and a federal law passed in 2006 affirm adolescents’ right to access affordable, confidential, comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, few such services are available through the public health system, and as a result, rates of pregnancy and HIV/AIDS continue to rise among Brazilian youth. Founded in the southeastern city of Campinas in 2000, Reprolatina conducts research, advocacy, and training aimed at strengthening the quality of sexual and reproductive health services in Brazil, particularly for adolescents. Since 2005, EMpower’s support has helped Reprolatina build a cadre of adolescent peer educators and health promoters in several Brazilian municipalities.

Our fifth and final grant supports local advocacy to ensure young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services in two municipalities of São Paulo state, with the goal of demonstrating to the Brazilian Ministry of Health that local implementation of the National Adolescent Health Policy is possible.