Latin America & the Caribbean Spotlight
Colombia made history as the first country in the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region to host the International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP).
This landmark decision, supported by the William H. Gates Sr. Institute for Population and Reproductive Health (WHGI), the Government of Colombia, Profamilia, and Fundación Valle del Lili as co-hosts, marks a significant milestone for LAC and the global sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) community.
After extensive deliberation and evaluation of potential host countries, Colombia emerged as the top choice, reflecting its exemplary commitment to advancing reproductive health and rights. Colombia’s progressive policies exemplify its commitment to fostering an environment where every individual can make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health.
ICFP 2025 also spotlighted momentum for SRHR across the broader LAC region. Explore how partners from across Latin America and the Caribbean contributed to and shaped the conference below.
“The ICFP held in Colombia in November 2025 was not just a global convening — it was a celebration of progress, courage, and collective commitment. Hosting ICFP in a country that has advanced reproductive autonomy through transformative legal and policy reforms sent a powerful message: family planning is a cornerstone of equality, health, and human dignity. The energy in Bogotá was vibrant and inspiring — youth leaders, governments, providers, researchers, and advocates came together in solidarity, reaffirming that even in challenging global times, the movement for sexual and reproductive rights is strong, united, and forward-looking.
For 60 years, Profamilia has worked to expand access, protect rights, and strengthen reproductive autonomy in Colombia. Serving as co-host of ICFP 2025 was both an honor and a testament to that journey. The conference elevated Colombia and Latin America as essential voices in shaping the global SRHR agenda. It was a moment of visibility, pride, and shared leadership — proof that representation matters and that progress in our region contributes meaningfully to global solutions.
Beyond inspiration, ICFP 2025 delivered impact. Participants left with renewed partnerships, practical strategies, and the confidence that evidence-based family planning transforms lives and strengthens societies. In a world facing uncertainty, Bogotá offered something powerful: momentum. The conference reminded us that when science, solidarity, and political will align, progress is not only possible — it accelerates.”
Marta Royo,
CEO of Profamilia Colombia
Colombia’s Leadership in SRHR
FPNN Reporting Trip Across Colombia Uncovers Stories of Resilience
Ahead of ICFP 2025 in Bogotá, the Family Planning News Network (FPNN) brought 12 international journalists across Colombia to capture diverse health and rights realities, challenges, and innovations taking place in the country.
From deserts to jungles, from bustling cities to the Caribbean coast, this reporting trip uplifted voices shaping the future of SRHR. These stories remind us all that community-driven, equity-focused approaches to work.
Explore Stories from Each City Below:
ICFP 2025 Opening Video Uplifts Colombia’s Community-led Progress
Watch the official ICFP 2025 opening video below. Produced by FPNN and based on stories gathered during its reporting trip across Colombia, the video set the tone for the entire conference. It highlights examples of SRHR progress across the country—from programs tailored to the needs of individual communities to more holistic approaches to care that expand access to family planning and reproductive health services.
What the Evidence Shows:
A Region Driving Rights-based Progress
ICFP 2025 featured 269 scientific presentations focused on the LAC region (out nearly 1,600 total), reflecting strong regional engagement across the scientific program. This was the first time ICFP accepted Spanish-language abstract submissions and presentations, and thus research from LAC featured prominently in the program.
The highest representation appeared in the following scientific tracks:
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Adolescents and Youth (57)
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Equity Through Action (51)
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Access, Integration, Quality, and Technology (42)
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Gender and Power Dynamics (30)
Across tracks, LAC-focused research concentrated on inequities in SRHR access, adolescent reproductive health, gender norms and power dynamics, service delivery reform, and evolving legal and policy contexts. Compared to some regions, the LAC portfolio showed particularly strong attention to rights-based frameworks, abortion policy environments, and youth-centered approaches.
Below we summarize the main takeaways from the LAC-focused scientific papers presented at ICFP 2025 in Bogotá.
Centering Adolescents and Young People
A dominant theme was adolescent pregnancy prevention, comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), and youth-friendly service models, alongside the persistent gap between progressive national policies and uneven local implementation.
Common barriers included stigma, confidentiality concerns, provider bias, fragmented CSE, and weak referral systems. Promising approaches featured peer-led models, community engagement, digital platforms, and culturally adapted communications.
Several studies also examined adolescent autonomy in abortion decision-making, particularly in reform contexts such as Argentina.
Putting Equity and Reproductive Justice into Practice
Research across tracks emphasized structural inequities tied to income, geography, ethnicity—especially among Indigenous and Afro-descendant populations—migration status, and rurality.
Importantly, many studies moved beyond service coverage to focus on autonomy, dignity, and reproductive justice. The region’s rights-based legal landscape—especially around abortion—featured prominently, with multiple analyses highlighting the persistent gap between legal reform and service availability.
Policy responses discussed included UHC expansion, decentralization of services, and integration of SRHR into primary care.
Innovating Service Delivery for Greater Reach
Service delivery innovation was a major focus, particularly integration of family planning with maternal health, HIV services, and primary care.
Persistent system challenges included:
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Stock-outs
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Provider shortages
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Uneven counseling quality
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Weak continuity of care
In response to such challenges, studies highlighted solutions such as task-sharing, telehealth expansion, mobile outreach, and quality improvement collaboratives.
Technology featured prominently through telemedicine abortion, digital follow-up systems, self-care methods, and LARC expansion, though many analyses noted regulatory, training, and supply chain bottlenecks.
“The signature of the FP2030 commitment was a huge advance of SRHR for the whole community—It is not just a recognition of this effort, it is a guarantee to promote sexual health in the country.”
“To be able to participate at the most challenging time globally, regionally, locally, during a funding crisis and with a lot of risk with SRHR around Colombia and in Bogotá was invaluable.”
“This was the first time PAHO was involved in the organization of the ICFP. We think that the ICFP was a real success. The program was well organized and the sessions were very interesting. I was honored and proud for having been a part of all of this.”
Confronting Gender and Power Dynamics
Gender norms and reproductive agency remained central themes. Studies examined intimate partner dynamics, male engagement, reproductive coercion, and decision-making autonomy.
Researchers also explored how abortion law reforms are influencing provider attitudes and women’s agency, while gender-transformative and community dialogue approaches showed promise in shifting norms.
Navigating Evolving Abortion Landscapes
Compared to other regions, LAC abstracts showed particularly strong focus on abortion policy and implementation, with Argentina, Mexico, and Colombia frequently represented.
Key barriers included conscientious objection, misinformation, uneven subnational enforcement, and provider stigma. Several studies highlighted telemedicine and decentralized models as important innovations in many settings.
Reaching Migrants and Other Underserved Groups
A smaller but important body of work examined migrants, displaced populations, and small island Caribbean contexts, highlighting cross-border access challenges and service continuity gaps.
The Road Ahead for SRHR in LAC
In terms of priorities and focuses for organizations, researchers, and advocates in the LAC region, three clear patterns emerged:
- Strong rights-based and legal reform momentum, especially on abortion—paired with ongoing implementation gaps
- Sustained focus on adolescents and young people as central to progress
- Persistent structural inequalities despite comparatively advanced policy environments
Together, the evidence positions SRHR in LAC not only as a service delivery challenge, but as a question of equity, accountability, and policy coherence. The regional agenda is increasingly focused on translating progressive laws into consistent, high-quality, and accessible services while scaling innovation and gender-transformative approaches.
ICFP LIVE Stage:
Segments from the LAC Region
Habla LAC Series
Amplifying the Voices of Activists, Professionals, and Organizations Working to Advance SRHR in Latin America and the Caribbean
In preparation for ICFP 2025, FPNN produced the Habla LAC (LAC Speaks) series to bring the broader global SRHR community into the LAC region—where countries are making meaningful strides toward SRHR gains, often in complex and challenging policy environments.
Developed in partnership with sexuality educator Laura Ramos Tomás, the series spotlights SRHR experiences in Peru, Chile, Honduras, Venezuela, Argentina, Guyana, Brazil, Panama, Guatemala, and Colombia.
See insights from these country profiles—filled with interviews and statistics—below!
