The crisis of unintended pregnancies: Shortcomings of modern contraception

The report is titled ‘Seeing the Unseen: The case for action in the neglected crisis of unintended pregnancy’ and through speeches, research presentations, testimonial videos and a panel, we want to address this crisis and discuss the ways forward for modern contraception.

HRH The Crown Princess will attend the event as an honorary listener.

Please register here.

Registration closes 23 May at 12:00. Only 100 seats are available.

Background

This year’s State of World Population Report focuses on the fact that almost half of all pregnancies – a total of 121 million pregnancies each year – are unintended. For the affected women and girls, one of the most important choices in life – whether one wants to be pregnant or not – is not a choice at all.

The groundbreaking report warns that this not only constitutes a failure to fulfil a basic human right but is a crisis that has serious consequences. Consequences for society, women and girls, global health, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Over 60% of unintended pregnancies end in abortions. 45% of abortions take place under unsafe conditions and cost thousands of women and young girls their lives every year.

Globally, it is estimated that 257 million women who want to avoid pregnancy are not protected by effective contraception. About half of women who start using contraception stop within two years. They often stop due to their side effects, not because of a change in need.

In a number of countries, on average, barely a quarter of all women are unable to say no to sex with their partner. Moreover, there may be social pressure on women and girls to become mothers.

In other words, unintended pregnancies are not necessarily the result of personal error but of inadequate forms of contraception; of women’s lack of self-determination; of the value one attributes to women’s lives.

Programme

13:00 Doors open and mingling

13:25 Welcome to the HRH The Crown Princess

13:30 Welcome by Bente Merete Stallknecht, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

13:35 Video testimonial from the Masanga Hospital in Sierra Leone: Setting the scene

13:36 Q&A with Ib Petersen, Deputy Executive Director, UNFPA, and Flemming Møller Mortensen, Minister for Development Cooperation and Minister for Nordic Cooperation

13:50 Video testimonial from the Masanga Hospital in Sierra Leone: The issues of modern contraception

13:51 Presentations from:

• Anders Aagaard Rehfeld, Researcher, Rigshospitalet and University of Copenhagen: A new male method of contraception
• Øjvind Lidegaard, Professor, Researcher, Rigshospitalet and University of Copenhagen: Side effects of hormonal contraception
• Maria Lindhardt, Senior Political Advisor, Danish Family Planning Association: Societal barriers to contraceptive use in a development context

14:05 Panel discussion: The ways forward for modern contraception

14:25 Final questions to Flemming Møller Mortensen and Ib Petersen: What have we learnt today, and how can it be used to impact new policies and strategies for the future?

14:30 Thank you for today

14:30 Mingling and soft drinks in the View Point