Seventh International Conference on Family Planning

Acting as one to bring the latest evidence and tools to the people who need them the most

The World Health Organization (WHO), together with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the UN Special Programme in Human Reproduction (HRP) and the IBP Network, will actively participate in the seventh International Conference on Family Planning (ICFP), taking place in Bogotá, Colombia, from 3 to 6 November 2025, with pre-conference activities starting 1 November.

ICFP is the world’s largest scientific conference on family planning and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and 2025 marks the first time the conference will be hosted in Latin America. With over 5 000 participants expected in person and 10 000 joining virtually, ICFP brings together leaders, advocates, researchers, policymakers and civil society to advance progress in SRHR.

This year’s theme, Equity through Action: Advancing Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights for All, resonates with our commitment to ensuring equitable access to essential health services worldwide.

Highlights at ICFP 2025

Strengthening partnerships and implementation

Partnership is at the heart of WHO, PAHO, HRP and IBP engagement at ICFP. Together with the IBP Network, WHO will co-lead the Implementation Track, coordinating multilingual sessions to highlight civil society and community voices from Latin America, Africa, Asia and beyond. In partnership with PAHO, WHO will bring forward regional priorities and lessons from Latin America and the Caribbean, ensuring local experience informs global progress.

Advancing global guidance

The delegation will be featuring a number of anticipated guidelines and tools including:

• The launch of the updated Medical Eligibility Criteria (MEC) and Selected Practice Recommendations (SPR) for contraceptive use.
• A workshop on the updated WHO guideline on preventing early pregnancy and poor reproductive outcomes among adolescents in LMICs. This half-day participatory workshop will bring together youth advocates, governments, implementers, researchers, and funders to identify practical ways to adapt and implement the new WHO Guideline on preventing early pregnancy and child marriage across diverse country contexts. 
• The updated guideline on preventing adolescent pregnancy and poor reproductive outcomes, with new recommendations on preventing child marriage and supporting adolescent access to contraception.
• Guidance on scaling up task sharing, post-pregnancy family planning, and social and behavior change in family planning.
• Evidence on men’s SRH services, infertility estimates, post-pregnancy contraception and the impact of contraceptive use on women's health and socioeconomic outcomes.

Sessions will bring together country stakeholders, researchers, and implementers to discuss practical strategies for applying WHO evidence-based recommendations in diverse contexts.

Capacity building in SRHR research

WHO’s Scientific Writing, Mentoring and Coaching Course will once again support young investigators, particularly from low- and middle-income countries, to develop their abstracts into publishable manuscripts. This initiative strengthens capacity and amplifies the voices of emerging leaders in SRHR research.

Engaging with diverse audiences

• Youth engagement: we will co-lead sessions at the Youth Pre-Conference, including work on comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and adolescent pregnancy prevention.
• Country and regional priorities: WHO and PAHO and the IBP Network will host a Spanish language Pre-Conference highlighting Latin America and the Caribbean experiences in family planning, ensuring regional challenges and local solutions, including those from indigenous groups, inform the global agenda.

Global Leadership in SRHR

WHO has consistently shown global leadership in SRHR with a focus on generating and disseminating the evidence through research and guideline development. Through its one WHO approach engaging regional and country offices, along with key stakeholders like ministries of health and civil society, WHO has also leveraged its global presence to ensure the world has a consistent and trusted leader in evidence-based public health, including FP and SRHR. During this time of uncertainty, mistrust, and changing global landscapes, this steadfast commitment places WHO at the forefront of leading the world in evidence-based SRHR.

The Director of LHR, Dr Pascale Allotey, will provide opening remarks during the opening plenary on Equity through Action before introducing the Director General of WHO.

The Director General, Dr Tedros, will give a video address highlighting WHOs leadership in SRHR and commitment to providing evidence-based research and guidelines

Virtual booth

For the first time, we will host a virtual booth, making our latest guidance, tools, and resources accessible to participants around the world. The booth will also provide opportunities to connect directly with our experts and partners.

Full Programme

WHO, PAHO, HRP and IBP will feature our work in a wide-ranging programme of pre-conference workshops, panels, debates, and youth engagement activities throughout ICFP 2025.

Looking Ahead

ICFP 2025 is a pivotal opportunity to advance our global leadership in SRHR, share evidence-based guidance, and reinforce partnerships across regions. As Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has emphasized, “Quality family planning and reproductive health and rights are essential components of universal health coverage and primary health care.”