UPIGO Actions






Dresden (1999)
• Ongoing medical training
• Site www.upigo.org set up. This regularly updated site gives quantities of information about UPIGO, and contains the minutes of the General Assemblies held since 1999.

Poznan (2000)
• Screening in gynecology-obstetrics
• Professional civil liability.

Marrakesh (2001)
• Major study of conditions of exercise in gynecology-obstetrics : a detailed slide-show can be consulted on www.upigo.org
• Social security cover for maternity.

Dakar (2002)
• Judicial problems in gynecology-obstetrics
• Study on the practice of gynecology-obstetrics in West and Central Africa.

Bratislava (2003)
• The role of professional organisations in ongoing training for obstetrics teams
• Maternal mortality: first results of the UPIGO study.

Berlin (2004)
• Private practice in gynecology-obstetrics
• Responsibility
• Following the general report on maternal mortality, UPIGO decided to commit itself to raising public awareness and combating this terrible plague.

In Strasbourg, at the Council of Europe
For several years, UPIGO has been officially recognised by the Council of Europe as an INGO (international non-governmental organisation) and currently has participative status.
UPIGO has been represented at the Council of Europe since 1999 by its secretary-general, Guy Schlaeder, who replaced Claude Colette in 1999.
In association with seven other INGOs, UPIGO pleaded for a policy in favour of sexual health before the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee. It insisted on the necessity of starting sex education for young children.
“As the problems of sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies and other sexual dysfunctions can arise among adolescents, it is essential to begin sex and relationship education at an early age. Such education should draw on the world-renowned work of the Swiss theorist Jean Piaget, which has provided valuable insights into child development.
A child is an individual who must be respected in his or her entirety. In the context of sex education, a child’s right to privacy must be paramount. The various people involved in sex education must ensure that their discussions with children remain entirely confidential.
It is for this reason that the family and school environments have their limits in teaching about sexuality. Competent outside contributors (health professionals or youth educators) can provide valuable input to sex and relationship education.
The purpose of education is not merely to avoid the damage caused by dysfunctional sexuality. It should facilitate physiological sexuality. A balanced sexuality is one of the prime keys to self-fulfilment and individual and social happiness”.
The members of the NGO Sub-Group on Health and Sexuality for the Assembly who were part of the “health” group at the Council of Europe were :
• Roger Beaufils, International Abolitionist Federation
• Jean Brunault, Eurotalent
• Sylvie Colle, MIAMSI (Mouvement International d’Apostolat en Milieux Sociaux Indépendants)
• Christian Colpaert, AEEMA (Association Européenne pour l’Education aux Milieux Audio-visuels)
• Neil Datta, IPPF-EN, International Planned Parenthood Federation - European Network
• Chantal Hueber, FIEF (Fédération Internationale pour l’Economie Familiale)
• Joachim Josch, The European Union of Dentists
• Georges Bernard Krantz, IUEGS, International Union of European Guides and Scouts
• Prof. Guy Schlaeder, secretary-general of UPIGO, International Professional Union of Gynecologists and Obstetricians, and co-ordinator of the NGO Sub-Group on Health and Sexuality for the Assembly.
On October 2004, the Parliamentary Assembly approved the report by Christine Mc Cafferty, an MEP for the United Kingdom, and transmitted its recommendations to the Committee of Ministers of the “big Europe” which currently includes 46 countries.
The work of the INGOs was appreciated. Mr Glassener, President of the Social, Health and Family Affairs Committee, thanked them warmly before the Parliamentary Assembly.