"Pizza, Cocktails and Female Condoms Anyone?" - asks the YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand
It is a campaign with a twist but YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand and Positive Women NZ have not let that stand in the way of their involvement in the International Paper Dolls Campaign that raises awareness of female condoms.
The campaign is funded by Universal Access to Female Condoms (UAFC ) to illustrate the growing, world-wide demand for female condoms by creating massive chains of paper dolls, each one with a personal message that reflects people’s thoughts on female condoms. The campaign highlights the urgency to those at the UN, governments and decision making positions that right now, less than 1% of all condoms distributed globally are female condoms.
The message has been going throughout New Zealand with regional workshops that are interactive, informative and inspiring. Through games, hands on training and exposure of the female condom, young and old alike are becoming educated. Young women, health promoters, women’s organisations, local politicians and media are all being exposed to female condoms.
“We have held some great events. We called them the ‘Paper Dolls Cocktale’ events and have non alcoholic cocktails, pizza and nibbles for those on arrival. The young women in particular love the food as it attracts them to attend, and once they enter, we have goodie bags with condoms, educational material and other small presents. They soon realise that they are about to be part of something not only fun and interactive, but important,” says Sarah Davies of the YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand.
YWCA of Aotearoa New Zealand and Positive Women New Zealand will also participate in the upcoming BodyPositive HIV Treatment Update conference in Auckland to run a workshop on the female condom.
Although New Zealand is a developed country, they have rising rates of STI and HIV infection and the highest teenage pregnancy rate in the OECD. “Although we don’t expect the female condom to become a popular contraception option in New Zealand, we believe it’s important to promote choices and raise awareness of the need to promote greater investment by governments in the female condom. The International Paper Doll campaign has been a great way to do this,” says Davis.
One of the surprising outcomes of the workshops are the messages young women write on their Paper Dolls. “We want female condoms,” “ make female condoms affordable to everyone,” are just some of the reflections being made.
The female condom is the only female-initiated prevention method that provides protection against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. Studies report a high satisfaction rate by both women and men who have used the female condom.
However, it’s not just the factual evidence that is keeping participants interested in the Paper Dolls Campaign. “ We have feedback from those who attend our workshops that they want to be involved in an international advocacy campaign such as Paper Dolls because they want to assist women worldwide who need female condoms as a life saving device,” says Davis.
When the campaign concludes in the next few months, both organisations are still keen to promote the female condom. “ Our work won’t stop here. It has just started. If there are ways that as New Zealanders we can contribute to global investment and awareness of female condoms then we shall assist,” says Davis.
