SCORA

Manual

Imprint
Standing Committee Director
Carlos Acosta - Brazil
International Team
Carles Pericas Escale - Spain
Anthony Kerbage - Lebanon
Afolabi Oluwatoyosi Tolulope - Nigeria
Jenna Webber - Canada
Anshruta Raodeo - India
Elissa Abou Khalil - Lebanon
Pepe Ferrer Arbaizar - Spain
Publications Team
Firas Yassine - Lebanon
IFMSA
The International Federation of Medical Students
Associations (IFMSA) is a non-profit, non-governmental
organization representing associations of medical
students worldwide. IFMSA was founded in 1951 and
currently maintains 130 National Member Organizations
from 122 countries across six continents, representing
a network of 1.3 million medical students.
IFMSA envisions a world in which medical students
unite for global health and are equipped with the
knowledge, skills and values to take on health leadership
roles locally and globally, so to shape a sustainable and
healthy future.
IFMSA is recognized as a nongovernmental organization
within the United Nations system and the World
Health Organization; and works in collaboration with
the World Medical Association.

Publisher
International Federation of Medical
Students Associations (IFMSA)
International Secretariat:
c/o Academic Medical Center
Meibergdreef 15, J0-208
1105AZ Amsterdam,
The Netherlands
Phone: +31 2 05668823
Email: gs@ifmsa.org
Homepage: www.ifmsa.org
This is an IFMSA Publication
2016 - Only portions of this publication
may be reproduced for non political and
non profit purposes, provided mentioning
the source.
Disclaimer
This publication contains the collective
views of different contributors,
opinions expressed in this publication
are those of the authors and do not
necessarily reflect the position of IFMSA.
The mention of specific companies
or of certain manufacturers products
does not imply that they are endorsed
or recommended by the IFMSA in
preference to others of a similar nature
Notice
All reasonable precautions have been
taken by the IFMSA to verify the
information contained in this publication.
However, the published material is being
distributed without warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied. The
responsibility for the interpretation and
the
use of the material herein lies with the
reader.
Some of the photos and graphics used in
this publication are the property of their
respective authors. We have taken every
consideration not to violate their rights.

Contact Us that are not mentioned.

vpprc@ifmsa.org
 Welcome Message
Contents Page 3

History of IFMSA
Page 4

History of SCORA
Page 5

SCORA Structure
Page 7

Regional Meetings & General Assemblies

Page 9

SCORA Start-up Kit

Page 10

SCORA within the Regions

Page 13

SCORA Capacity Building

Page 15
www.ifmsa.org

SCORA Programs
Page 17

SCORA External Representation

Page 21

SCORA Projects & Events

Page 24

SCORA X-Change
Page 30

Tips & Tricks

Page 3
 Welcome Note
Carlos Andrs Acosta Casas
Director on Sexual & Reproductive
Health incl. HIV/AIDS 2016-17
The SCORA Manual
Dear SCORAngels,
Dear readers & curious medical students,
Before you start reading, I want to thank you for being here
and checking us out! This manual was made with the sole
efforts of students from around the world, who want to wake
in you the spirit of advocacy for Sexual and Reproductive
Health and Rights (SRHR), aided by members of two SCORA
International Teams. The only purpose is to help you. Dont
think of this manual as you would of any other textbook
you have. SCORA is a space to innovate and create new
experiences, to shape new leaders, to reform and rethink!
This is just a representation (a small one indeed) of all the
amazing things weve seen SCORAngels do over the years!
It is our little base to help you jump higher!
We want to create change among our members and we
hope that this change is reflected in the world someday.
Albert Einstein once said Life is like a bicycle. In order for
it to travel, it needs to be in constant movement. So are
we! In a few years time, we will need to update this manual
and fill it with the new eyes of many other angels that pass
through the IFMSA. But as for today, we crafted this little
piece of our experiences for you to use it with freedom, to
be comfortable, and to know what is going on with SCORA,
and in which direction we are moving!
Please use the content wisely for the good of future
generations to come and to advocate better for the voices
unheard!
Enjoy your fresh, renewed
SCORA Manual !
3
 History of IFMSA

The year was 1951. Medical students from 8 countries

(Austria, Denmark, England, Finland, Germany, The
Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland)
gathered in Copenhagen to start a non-political
organization for medical students. The purpose was to
study and promote the interests of medical students
cooperation on a purely professional basis, and promote
activities in the field of student health and student relief.
So was born the International Federation of Medical
Students Associations (IFMSA).

Initially, 3 committees are formed: the Standing

Committee on Medical Exchange (SCOME), the
Standing Committee on Professional Exchange
(SCOPE), and the Standing Committee on Students IFMSA Vision
Health (SCOSH). A bureau of information was set up A world in which all medical students unite
in Geneva to establish contact between all members
and international organizations. A year later the first
for global health and are equipped with the
General Assembly (GA) took place in London, where knowledge, skills and values to take on health
30 students took part, representing 10 countries. This
leadership roles locally and globally.
year, in 2016, IFMSA celebrated its 65th anniversary.
The 8 founding member countries have been joined by
many more. IFMSA is now the worlds largest student-
run organization, representing medical students from
122 countries worldwide. Over the past 65 years, the
IFMSA Mission
structure and functions of IFMSA have been changed IFMSA unites medical students worldwide to lead
several times. The IFMSA principles have been further initiatives that impact positively the communities
defined in the present constitution, and state:
we serve. IFMSA represents the opinions and
The Federation pursues its aims without political,
religious, social, racial, national, sexual or any other
ideas of future health professionals in the field
discrimination, of global health and works in collaboration
The Federation promotes humanitarian ideals among with external partners. IFMSA builds capacity
medical students and so seeks to contribute to the through trainings, projects and exchange
creation of responsible future physicians,
opportunities, while embracing cultural diversity
The Federation respects the autonomy of its members.
so as to shape a sustainable and healthy future.

4 www.ifmsa.org
 History of SCORA

In 1992, a new working group in IFMSA was formed,

named SCOAS or the Standing Committee on AIDS SCORA Mission
and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. The committee was
To provide our members with the tools necessary
formed out of concern of the IFMSA on the growing
number of people living with AIDS and the strong to advocate for sexual and reproductive health
will of medical students to participate in programs for rights within their respective communities in a
prevention of HIV and STIs.
culturally sensitive fashion. This is accomplished
The activities in SCOAS later developed from HIV/STIs
advocacy and awareness campaigns, to encompass a
through building the skills and knowledge of our
wider range of reproductive health-related issues. This members, providing trainings on comprehensive
lead to a change of focus of the committee in 1998,
sexuality education and other reproductive
resulting in a new name: the Standing Committee on
Reproductive Health including AIDS, or SCORA in health issues, exchanging ideas and projects, as
short. From its beginning, SCORA has always believed well as drafting policies and working with our
that one of the important methods of fighting AIDS is
prevention, and the only way of prevention is education.
external partners in order to create change at
Therefore, the main focus of SCORA is on activities that the local, regional, and international level.
emphasize already existing solutions, and create new
educational programs for medical students and the
promotes medical students empowerment and activities
general population, especially teenagers. Other activities
aiming at improving sexual and reproductive health and
have been directed towards promotion of healthy sexual
rights led by students for the benefit of their communities.
and reproductive behaviour, prevention of HIV and STIs,
This is primarily done through peer education and
trainings, advocacy and awareness campaigns at all
levels from grassroots to international.
SCORA Vision
With a large number of members SCORAngels as
A world in which every individual is empowered
they are called SCORA has grown wide in its work,
to exercise their sexual and reproductive centered around five focus areas which are strongly
health rights equally, free from stigma and related to sexual and reproductive health and rights.
In 2014 the name of SCORA changed once more to
discrimination . Standing Committee on Sexual and Reproductive
Health including HIV/AIDS as it is more adequate in
prevention of unsafe abortion and appropriate use terms of topics and problems that SCORA is targeting in
of contraceptives, reproductive rights, womens rights its actions.
(gender equality), the fight against domestic violence,
Female Genital Mutilation, and maternal health. A
number of international workshops have been organized
by SCORA throughout the years, which mirror the
development of this committee. SCORA develops and

The SCORA Manual 5

 History of SCORA

SCORA Focus Areas

1. Comprehensive Sexuality Education 4. Maternal Health & Access to Safe Abortion
2. Sexuality and Gender Diversity 5. Gender Based Violence
3. HIV and other STIs

6 www.ifmsa.org
 SCORA Structure
SCORA International Team
Director on Sexual and
Reproductive Health incl. HIV/AIDS
The SCORA-D is elected once a year by the General
Assembly in the August Meeting by the National Member
Organizations (NMOs) of the IFMSA. The SCORA-D
coordinates the work done by National Officers; keeps
an overview of the ongoing activities worldwide and
offers support wherever needed. The SCORA-D supports
local, national and international projects and promotes
those to members and externals. The SCORA-D provides
members with information, tools and resources to ensure
the aims of SCORA: to raise awareness amongst the
wide public, to spread knowledge regarding HIV/AIDS
and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and to
decrease stigma and discrimination against people living
with HIV/AIDS as well as assure that the right messages
are disseminated in the appropriate language. Not only
giving out information but also collecting data to spread
it within the groups as well as presenting it to partners is
one of the tasks. Papers, leaflets and manuals need to be
kept up to date and they need to be made accessible to
The SCORA Manual
members. Also the SCORA-D is responsible for planning,
organizing and assuring that the SCORA meetings at
the IFMSA General Assemblies in March and August go
smoothly.
Liaison Officer for Sexual & Reproductive
Health issues incl. HIV/AIDS
The LRA is responsible for external contacts. The LRA
represents SCORA to external partners, like UNFPA,
UNAIDS, and other UN Agencies and NGOs related
to SCORA work. All external contacts should go through
the LRA.
Regional Assistants (RAs)
SCORA has 5 regional assistants for Africa, the Americas,
Asia-Pacific, the Eastern Mediterranean, and Europe.
The regional assistants are responsible for international
tasks and regional tasks. Internationally, they help the
director in international campaigns, development of
SCORA manuals and strategic planning and preparing
for the SCORA sessions in the GAs. Regionally, they
prepare the Regional meetings sessions with a content
that matches the requirements of the region, help with
Capacity Building for SCORA within the region, help the
NORA with their activities, and coordinate the regional
activities such as SECSE.
Development Assistant (DA)
The SCORA DA works closely with the SCORA-D on
various matters. He or she has to set up agendas and
timelines with the SCORA-D and assist in reports that
have to be done during the term such as the reports of
the General Assemblies and the Regional Meetings.
In addition to that, the DA has to assist the Director in
preparing starter kits and manuals that are revised or
newly written. Since SCORA has a lot of campaigns
throughout the year the DA is assisting on the creation
7
 SCORA Structure

of promotional outlines for international and regional

campaigns. The DA also works closely with the Program
Local Officers (LORAs)
LORAs work at the grassroots level and are in charge
Coordinators on the implementation and development
of activities on local level, i.e. the medical school. The
of each program, under the supervision of the Director
LORAs should communicate with and report to the
and the VPA. He or she is the link between the PCs and
NORA (and sometimes to the RA or SCORA-D).
the IT and always has to encourage the communication
between them. Last but not least the Development Assistant
has to update and revise the resources for SCORA which Active Members
is extremely important in terms of sustainability. The Active members are present on the local, national
and international level. They attend most of the SCORA
Contact the International Team meetings and actively participate in all the campaigns
and the projects.
SCORA-D: scorad@ifmsa.org
Liaison Officer: lra@ifmsa.org
Development Assistant: da.scora@ifmsa.org
RA for Africa: ra.scora.africa@ifmsa.org
RA for Americas: ra.scora.americas@ifmsa.org
RA for Asia-Pacific: ra.scora.asicpacific@ifmsa.org
RA for EMR: ra.scora.emr@ifmsa.org
RA for Europe: ra.scora.europe@ifmsa.org

On the National and Local Levels

National Officers (NORAs)
NORAs are elected by his or her NMO. The task of
a NORA is to coordinate and to encourage local or
national activities in the respective country. The NORA is
also responsible for communication with and reporting
back to the SCORA Director and the Regional Assistant.
NORAs are recommended to attend the IFMSA GAs
in March and August, representing their country within
SCORA as well as regional meetings. At these meetings,
NORAs network with other NORAs, exchange ideas
and attain new knowledge and motivation to bring back
home to the local committees.

8 www.ifmsa.org
 General Assemblies & Regional Meetings

Youve, of course, heard about these two before. They are the great spaces where medical students gather
to discuss global issues, exchange ideas, and do many more.

General Assemblies (GAs) Regional Meetings (RMs)

IFMSA General Assemblies are among the biggest
youth events around the world. Held twice a year, once
in March and once in August, the GAs are attended
by 800-1000 medical students from more than 100
countries. GAs are core meeting of our Federation, since
we vote for the Officials to lead us in the upcoming year,
sign exchange contacts, get trainings to improve our
skills, learn about a specific topic during theme events,
work in small working groups and present our own or
hear about others peoples activities.
A lot of things can happen during GAs, and many of us
find ourselves returning home with new perspectives on
global health, loads of materials to start working with,
life-long friendships, arranged collaboration with other
NMO/s, new skills and the memory of the best 7 days
of your life
IFMSA has five regions: Africa, Americas, Asia-Pacific,
Eastern-Mediterranean and Europe. Each of them has its
own Regional Meeting, held once a year. These meetings
bring together medical students from all over the region
to discuss and formulate ideas for policies that shape
the future of healthcare within the continent. Activities at
regional meetings include Standing Committee Sessions,
Theme Events, Small Working Groups (SWGs), and
Trainings.
By definition, a Regional Meeting is the most important
event of each region, and it is undoubtedly important
for SCORAs regional work. During a RM, SCORA
Sessions are conducted exclusively to fit the needs of
SCORAngels and the population in that region.

To ensure a full experience at these events, here are the resources you need to follow:
1. Invitation packages: These explain the logistics, finance and travel information about the event. They are made by
the Organizing Committee in collaboration with the TO, and they are the first looks at the event youre attending!
2. SCORA Sessions Survival Kits: Yes, we say survival not because something wrong is going to happen but
because these explain all you need to know about the SCORA Sessions: the activities held, the topics to discuss,
and what to bring, etc. The Survival Kits are made together by the SCORA IT and/or the SCORA Sessions Team.
3. Toolkits: These are useful pieces of background information to read in advance so you don't get lost in the
discussions during Sessions. They are generally very simple to read, since their purpose is just to provide a notion
of the currently important regional/global issues and discussions.
4. SCORA Sessions Reports/Follow-Up Kits: If you ever commit the crime of not going to a meeting, we do provide
a second chance! You can check out the reports/ follow-up kits to catch up on discussions, information, and useful
resources!

The SCORA Manual 9

 General Assemblies & Regional Meetings
Besides all these documents, it's also important to take in
mind the logistical organization of the SCORA Sessions:
1. Sessions Team and Support Person: You will be
directly and actively involved in the process of
planning, conducting and evaluating SCORA
sessions together with the International Team. You
also have to be available at all times during General
Assemblies therefore its highly recommended that
The SCORA Start-Up Toolkit
What are SRHR ?
According to the UN, Sexual and Reproductive Health
and Rights (SRHR) encompass the right of all individuals
to make decisions concerning their sexual activity and
reproduction free from discrimination, coercion, and
violence. Specifically, access to SRHR ensures individuals
are able to choose whether, when, and with whom to
engage in sexual activity; to choose whether and when
to have children; and to access the information and
means to do so.
It includes the right of all persons to:
Seek, receive, and impart information related to
sexuality;
Receive sexuality education;
Have respect for bodily integrity;
Choose their partner;
Decide to be sexually active or not;
Have consensual sexual relations;
Have consensual marriage;
Decide whether or not, and when, to have children;
Pursue a satisfying, safe, and pleasurable sexual life
10
you dont apply for any conflicting position. You also
have to take minutes of SCORA sessions & help with
the preparations of The SCORA Sessions report.
2. International Team: RAs + DA + SCORA-D + LRA
are in charge of having the recipe and cooking the
content of the sessions.
Comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH)
services include:
Contraceptive information and services, including
emergency contraception and a range of modern
contraceptive methods;
Maternity care, including antenatal and postnatal
care, and delivery care, particularly skilled
attendance and emergency obstetric care;
Prevention and appropriate treatment of infertility;
Safe abortion and post-abortion care;
Prevention, care, and treatment of sexually transmitted
infections, HIV/ AIDS, reproductive tract infections,
and reproductive cancers;
Information, education, and counseling;
Prevention and surveillance of violence against
women (VAW), care for survivors of violence;
Actions to eliminate harmful traditional practices
such as FGM and early and forced marriage.
As you can see, SRHR present a wide variety of areas
which need improvement, and issues that you can work
on in order to improve and solve them locally, regionally
or even internationally.
Reference: (Click Here).
www.ifmsa.org
 The SCORA Start-Up Toolkit

How to Start SCORA in Your Country?

Think globally and act locally!

One of the strengths of IFMSA/SCORA is that we

work together both locally and worldwide. Through
campaigning, workshops and peer education, we intend
to increase the awareness among medical students, as
well as in the general population, of safe sexual behavior
and HIV prevention, of gender equality and womens
health. Knowing that these are global issues, yet complex
and multifaceted, we encourage medical students to
voluntarily take active part in local campaigning for
better health as a crucial aspect of our work.

medical school taking into consideration both what

Starting up SCORA Step-by-Step
Find out about your National Member Organization
of IFMSA. Get in contact with the president, find out
about the structure of the organization and introduce
your ideas.
You need to research the reproductive health, HIV/
AIDS, attitudes and behaviors regarding sexuality in
your country.
Find a few students interested in the topic. With a
dedicated team, small or large, success is secure!
Learn about local/national organizations involved
in reproductive health. Contact them, they might
provide you with valuable material, suggestions and
contacts.
Collect information about already existing projects
locally or nationally: What has been done so far
concerning reproductive health and HIV/AIDS? Are
there any peer education projects on sexual health?
No activities up till now? Consider starting locally
first. Start small and let your group grow gradually
with the size of your activities.
Form a group of students interested in SCORA.
Start a reproductive health campaign at your
needs to be worked on as well as what is possible to
be discussed within your country.
Check your medical curricula, anything missing?
Look in your university for the programs concerning
reproductive health and try to organize an event:
lecture about sexual education, sexually transmitted
infections, female genital mutilation (FGM), etc.
Arrange a discussion about womens empowerment
on International Womens Day (March 8th).
Distribute ribbons for various awareness dates
concerning Reproductive Health Issues
Give out information, leaflets and condoms on World
AIDS Day (Dec 1st).
Organize a training on peer education.
Contact a NGO dealing with people living with
HIV/AIDS and arrange for a meeting.
Visit a youth clinic.
Hand out condoms and information leaflets in local
pubs, university campuses, etc.
Start a mailing list between students in your university
to exchange ideas and enthusiasm. If there are
different programs at different universities, consider

The SCORA Manual 11

 The SCORA Start-Up Toolkit
building a national net-work for collaboration and
exchange of ideas.
Suggest to your NMO to have national meetings to
exchange ideas and enthusiasm.
Start a national mailing list (Yahoo or Google
Groups work best)
Compile a national activities report and distribute it
to each university. Make sure to distribute to both
Faculty and Members
Get in contact with an active SCORA from another
country that can share its experience, the problems
faced and the success achieved (aka, a SCORA
Buddy). Have your Regional Assistant facilitate this,
for many regions already have a functional Buddy
System.
12
Contact the SCORA-D (scorad@ifmsa.org) who
can provide you with up-to-date information about
current SCORA activities and subscribe you to the
international SCORA mailing list for exchange of ideas
with other NORAs (National Officer on Reproductive
Health including AIDS). Just send a blank email to
ifmsa-scora-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to join the
international mailing list.
Attend a regional or international IFMSA/SCORA
meeting to get motivation, new ideas, and amazing
friends! And that is the magical recipe of how to
start up a SCORA in your own country. With a bit of
dedication, a lot of motivation, and just a little bit of
help, anything is possible!
www.ifmsa.org
 SCORA Within the Regions
AFRICA ra.scora.africa@ifmsa.org
The Angels in Africa also aim to see that the achievement
of the mission and vision of SCORA is actualized as
well in Africa. In Africa, most especially Sub-Saharan
Africa, issues that are most prevalent as relating to
SCORA include; HIV stigma and discrimination, FGM,
Early Child marriage and other forms of Gender based
Violence and Gender inequality.
However with 17 NORAs and over 100 LORAs, different
measures have been taken at both local and National
level by this wonderful and passionate Individuals to
see that they contribute their quota towards curbing the
menaces associated with stigma and discrimination,
bridging the gap created by lack of knowledge by
educational interventions, standing as a voice for the
younger and vulnerable generation, encouraging self
worth and the ability to take responsibility and also
equipping people with right attitudes, skills and values
that are needed to have excellent Leadership spirit.
Its easy therefore to see the dedication and commitment
displayed can be felt through the various projects and
campaigns that have been embarked upon within the
Region, notable among this include; Anti-FGM Campaign
(MedSIN-Sudan), Brain has no Gender (NiMSA-
Nigeria), SCORA Retreat (MedSAR-Rwanda), Family
Planning and contraceptives Awareness Workshop
(TAMSA-Tanzania) etc., and also through Regional
projects such as the SCORA PAIR and regular Online
Meetings (which is at least once in a month )as well to
update, motivate and empower each other.
But however, despite all this, the SCORAngels in Africa
are still on the move with no plans to give up as we
believe all this is still a tip of an iceberg, through hopes
to keep being the voice of the African Youths as we work
hand in hand to ensure that sexual and reproductive
Health Rights of not just Africans but even others across
the globe is respected, and we are dead bent on always
being an ANGEL.
The SCORA Manual
AMERICAS ra.scora.americas@ifmsa.org
SCORA in the Americas is a multi-cultural, multi-faceted
being that holds at its core the values of choice,
adaptability, ingenuity and inclusivity. Thanks to our
wonderful partners and advocates, this region prospers
in its capacity building initiatives, such as LACMA 2016.
Speaking to the unique perspectives of our peoples,
we discuss matters that are not necessarily considered
in traditional SCORA topics, such as interculturalism,
spirituality, and geography as well as their links to SRHR.
Much ground remains to be covered but we are
headed in the right direction. Our initiatives focus on
critical thinking, values clarification, and capacity
building amongst our members, in addition to larger
campaign participation. In this sense, our members are
able to conceptualize and critically examine evidence,
strategies and interventions in a socially sensitive and
accountable manner.
While we acknowledge and are proud of our strengths,
we are also aware of our limitations. Notably, we are
currently lacking in academic involvement, publication
and reform. Amongst other strategies to address this
opportunity, we have been working to develop and
implement sustainable and comprehensive sexual
education models that can be incorporated into all
countries in our region.
We are eager to build upon the work of our past
advocates, implement new and innovative projects,
develop and reinforce global collaborations, and
contribute overall to the advancement of the SCORA
portfolio within the IFMSA.
13
 SCORA Within the Regions
ASIA-PACIFIC ra.scora.asiapacific@ifmsa.org
The Asia-Pacific Region has 12 SCORA active NMOs
and we are definitely growing bigger. SCORA Asia
Pacific encompasses all the focal areas of SCORA.
Some major issues of this region are the Gender based
violence, early marriages, gender discrimination and
high stigma on different sexuality and gender identity
along with the STIs and AIDs at high level.
SCORA Asia Pacific had been working relentlessly to
raise the voice of the victims, create awareness among
the general population and providing health cares and
supports to the victims and patients.
Some very effective events took place in the region in
recent years were, World AIDS Day campaign, Breast
Cancer Awareness month, Awareness campaign and
sanitation drive for Menstrual Hygiene (especially by
MSA India and BMSS-Bangladesh), FMS-Taiwan also
pulled off the big LGBT support campaigns in this region
like Im Coming Out, Pride Parade and a CSE project
Rainbow project. CIMSAISMKI (of Indonesia)
organized a number of Maternal Health campaigns
together with the Health ministry, WHO and other
national and international organizations.
EMR ra.scora.emr@ifmsa.org
Tackling SRHR in the EMR region is one of the most
challenging in a region where cultural and religious
beliefs play an important role in defining SRHR. The
region is growing and opening to SRHR but there is too
much work that still needs to be done.
One important thing to always remember is that beneath
all the obstacles we face lay endless opportunities for
medical students to have an impact on SRHR in the EMR.
HIV rates are increasing, treatment is not available
everywhere and discrimination against HIV positive
people is not over yet. Abortion is still illegal in most of
the EMR countries, women are deprived from their rights,
sexuality and gender identity is still a taboo topic and
comprehensive sexuality education is still not available
14
for everyone. Besides all this, the political instability in
the region, and the refugees crisis, are making it harder
to move forward.
With around 13 SCORA active NMOs in the region,
that are still expanding, HIV awareness campaigns have
been done, gender based violence is being tackled.
Sexual Assault, FGM and early marriage are some of
the main topics we work on within the EMR.
Together, with the motivation, passion and will to make a
difference, we will be able to change the status of SRHR
in the EMR, from a medical, social and human rights
perspective.
Europe ra.scora.europe@ifmsa.org
In the past few years, huge progress has been made in
Europe regarding Sexual and Reproductive Health and
Rights. However, there is still a lot of work to be done,
and one of the main issues is to face the inequalities
between the different sub-regions in Europe.
While many countries have achieved access to safe
abortion, sexuality education or sexuality and gender
identity, others are still behind in these aspects and face
a conservative society and restricting laws. Furthermore,
in the whole Region were still facing some problems as
the constant new HIV diagnosis and the worrying data
on gender based violence.
This is why nearly 40 NMOs are working and fighting
each year to face their National and Regional issues. With
the main focus on Comprehensive Sexuality Education,
European SCORAngels work and collaborate to achieve
an even Region that respects and cares about SRHR.
To empower this cooperation, we have established
transnational meetings over the past years. In these
meetings, SCORAngels from Europe have the chance to
exchange experiences, knowledge, methods concerning
their different sexuality education projects. In northern
Europe NECSE (Northern European Cooperation on Sex
Education projects) is held since 2004 and in southern
Europe SECSE (Southern European Cooperation on
Sexual Eduaction) takes place since 2013.
www.ifmsa.org
 SCORA Capacity Building

Capacity Building
Capacity building does not merely support what we do. Training
It is what we do. Every single activity in IFMSA aims to
Training sessions are the best space for capacity
empower medical students from around the world to be
agents of positive change in their communities. It is in our building in our Federation. They are a space
projects, our trainings, our activities, our campaigns and where you can take all your knowledge and put
our workshops that the magic happens.
it into practice, and actually feel confident of the
During IFMSA Meetings, General Assemblies, congresses,
and conferences, members have the opportunity to be information you acquired to be able to reproduce
trained in many different areas. Capacity building allow in your local context. In SCORA specifically,
us to empower our members and find innovative ways
to let their voices be heard in order to facilitate their
we currently popularized two training sessions
roles as agents of change at the local and international that are the I PET (International Peer Education
level. Our capacity building efforts offer an engaging
Training, Developed by the UNFPA) and the Ipas
opportunity to empower members with the skills and
confidence they need to efficiently carry out the tasks (young and adolescent womens health and access
required in each of the different standing committees to safe abortion). This doesnt mean we cannot
and other relevant activities. This concrete and hands-
on approach has strengthened sentiments of common
propose other topics to make trainings about,
ownership among members, and has allowed IFMSA to but these two became popular over the years.
grow as an organization.
As a matter of fact, the SCORA IT searches each
Peer-education is at the heart of IFMSA capacity building
efforts, and as such, programs and opportunities have
year for new trainings that can be beneficial
been put in place to ensure that medical students are for SCORAngels. During trainings we see the
able to strengthen their own skills by giving back to their
practical settings of our discussions and try
peers. Most of the topics integrated in the training division
arent discussed and/or taught in medical schools, and to merge with the social needs to create new
as such, allow medical students to further develop set of activities or ideas to tackle them.
skills and abilities often required in the professional life
of any healthcare worker.
For instance, an important part of the IFMSA capacity building program are the Training New Trainers workshops (TNT).
During this three-day workshops, medical students are trained to become trainers themselves. To ensure continuity and
to keep trainers motivated, the Training Old Trainers workshops (TOT) have also been established. Some examples of
the training topics provided by the IFMSA are: Advocacy, Communication Skills, Conflict Prevention, Debating Skills,
Facilitation Skills, Financial Management, Fundraising, Handover and Continuity, Intercultural Learning, Leadership,
Motivation Skills, Negotiation Skills, Project Management, Public Relations and Marketing, Time Management.

The SCORA Manual 15

 SCORA Capacity Building
Campaigns
You must all be familiarized with campaigns.
These are massive, communicative actions that
help sensitize a specific target group with a
problem we think its important for them to
know. We also run international campaigns from
the SCORA IT so it is important to keep posted
on the email servers and facebook groups to
know the upcoming ones and the participation
characteristics. Campaigns can take different
popular elements that we use on a daily basis
and we use them in the best ways to create more
impact. We can use the social media, a concert or
even our own streets with balloons and flyers
to raise awareness.
Here are some mini-steps to help you build a project:
Objectives: Set the aim of your activity! What is that
thing that you want to change in the world? Why are
you designing this?
Target Groups: Who will benefit from your project?
What is the story of these individuals? Why do they
need your help!
Methods: How will you achieve the objectives above?
What are the steps that you are going to follow?
Materials Used: something you need? A banner? A
poster? A Monkey? It can really be whatever!
Chronology/Implementation plan: Here you set
your plan on when to do the steps you state in your
methodology! Having a clear plan helps you prepare
all the things you need :)
Expected outcomes: Do you expect to fully achieve
16
Projects / Activities
Projects is what we are here for and it is our
ground work, what we believe can change the
world. Projects are the best thing you can do
as a medical student because they represent
not only a crazy idea you had a friday night
after a long day of rounds, it represents the
potential change you can do to a community.
Projects are amazing and they really can have
a positive outcome if you plan them good. This is
why we have a capacity building division in our
federation, to be able to compose amazing things
using accurate knowledge and creativity.
your goals when the project is ready? Do you think
you would need extra time? How many people do you
think it will involve?
Final Impact and measurement of it: the results! Did it
help? How many people received the benefit?
We hope this small guide helped you plan a little bit your
mind with the activities we have in our federation and
gives you a clear picture of what you can do. Remember
that our activities are not limited to the last stated ones.
We just like to give you the hint start. Remember that
your Directors, Liaison Officers and Regional Assistants
are always welcome and available to help you to follow
guidelines or create a better activity so ask for help
and support your fellow NORAs/LORAs as well!
www.ifmsa.org
 SCORA Programs

IFMSA Programs are centralized streams of activities,
which are organized by IFMSA National Member
Organizations (NMOs) and/or IFMSA internationally.
IFMSA Programs address problems within a specific field
that we as medical students and global health advocates
stand up for while connecting local, national and
international activities and opportunities that contribute
to the final outcome.
All IFMSA Programs connect the work of NMOs locally
and nationally with the IFMSA vision and mission. NMOs
decide which programs are to be adopted by IFMSA
by voting on the Programs proposed by the Executive
Board during the General Assembly. Programs are led
by Program Coordinators and supervised by the IFMSA
Standing Committee Directors and Executive Board to
ensure their quality of implementation, consistency and
sustainability of the programs. It is important to note that
one of the major aspects of IFMSA Programs is to ensure
a way to measure the impact of IFMSA and its NMOs
on the societies we serve.
All NMOs and members of NMOs locally and nationally
are encouraged to join an IFMSA Program by enrolling
their activities, whether that be projects, campaigns,
celebrations, workshops, events, trainings or theme
based publications. These activities are coordinated by
Activity Coordinators locally, nationally or internationally
with the help and support from Program Coordinator
and the relevant Standing Committee Director. Internally,
these activities dont need to be just projects, campaigns,
events, etc. but different research and capacity building
activities as well as organized advocacy efforts on local,
national and international level.

Structure of Programs
IFMSA Programs encompass mutual efforts of the IFMSA Team of Officials, Program Coordinators and National
Member Organizations (NMOs) in addressing different global health issues, including medical education through a
wide range of activities related to capacity building, research and advocacy. They are strongly linked to the work of
the Standing Committees and other capacity building streams in IFMSA ensuring that Programs receive the needed
support in terms of scientific background and basic studies. Having a centralized stream of work in each field allows
our Federation to monitor and evaluate the impact of mutual efforts of all NMOs towards solving emerging global
health issues. IFMSA Programs also serve as a network between NMOs activities including them on a bigger picture
corresponding to the role of IFMSA as a network of NMOs. With the IFMSA Program Impact Reports, IFMSA
showcases its position within the global society as a Federation by proving a needs assessment for other organizations
working in a similar field, while increasing the organizational credibility.

For more information, for example on how to

enroll your own activity, you can refer to the
Programs Toolkit: (Click Here).

The SCORA Manual 17

 SCORA Programs
There are currently 5 SCORA-related-programs, each of them handling one of our focus areas.
Gender-Based Violence
gbv@ifmsa.org
The IFMSA program on Gender-Based Violence (GBV)
aims to raise awareness and to take positive steps to
address and also prevent the harmful effects of GBV on
individuals and communities. As the regions in which the
IFMSA operates are very diverse, research regarding
regionally specific issues and causes of GBV will be
an overarching goal to successfully implement relevant
programming.
Topics under The Program: Violence against women,
female genital mutilation, womens rights, gender
equality, sexual violence, women empowerment, gender
based abortion, healthcare for victims of sexual abuse,
sexual harassment, domestic violence, honor crimes,
kidnapping and trafficking.
Note: This list is not restrictive, its based on activities
submitted in the past year. If other topics related to
the program are suggested they will also be included.
GBV is a sensitive topic so it is open to as many types
of activities as possible so as to maximize the positive
effect that is being propagated.
Sexuality & Gender Identity
sexualitygender@ifmsa.org
All societies have norms about what forms of sexuality
and what expressions of sexuality is seen as acceptable.
Discrimination and stigma towards LGBTI+ individuals
and sex workers make these populations more likely to
engage in high-risk behaviors and less likely to access
healthcare systems. There are many misconceptions
about sexuality and gender identity even among medical
students and doctors. These misconceptions reinforce
the already pervading social stigma surrounding this
issue and becomes an additional barrier to access to
healthcare in these groups.
This program constitutes positive and respectful
18
approach to sexuality and sexual relationships is needed
to increase access to healthcare and reduce risky
behaviors among vulnerable groups. The SGI program
aims to raise awareness about discrimination faced by
vulnerable groups, with a special focus on the LGBTI+
community and sex workers; inform medical students
and doctors about barriers to healthcare access in these
groups; and upskill the medical fraternity in SGI issues,
enabling them to provide healthcare in a respectful and
non-confrontational manner, and to be an advocate
for these vulnerable groups. The program also aims to
promote safe sexual practices and provision of safe and
age appropriate sex education to young adults.
Maternal Healht & Access to Safe
Abortion maternalhealth@ifmsa.org
Every year, hundreds of thousands of women die due to
complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. The
fact that otherwise harmless circumstances as pregnancy
and delivery are something women die from every day
is worrisome, especially when most of these deaths are
preventable. Unsafe abortions contribute significantly
to the burden of maternal morbidity and mortality,
especially in countries where abortion laws are very
strict and hence restricting all forms of access to safe
services. Furthermore, poor health systems and maternal
healthcare services fail to detect and prevent the most
common and primary causes of maternal mortality and
morbidity.
The Maternal Health and Access to Safe Abortion
Program aims to improve maternal health by first of
all building comfort and capacity on the topic among
medical students and other healthcare providers. The
program is important for our collaboration with Ipas, and
therefore one of the main capacity building activities of
the program is a training workshop on issues pertaining
to safe abortion using a module curriculum (Youth Act
for Safe Abortion) developed by Ipas, IFMSA and other
www.ifmsa.org
 SCORA Programs
partners.
This year, enrolled activities have all worked hard on
improving maternal health whether they have educated
almost 3000 high school students in reproductive health
in Pakistan, or educated around 1500 medical students
from Indonesia in maternal health care. Following
IFMSAs key collaboration with Ipas, activities on
access to safe abortion are central for the program.
Furthermore, this program covers topics regarding for
example family planning, obstetric violence, humanized
birth, breastfeeding, and postpartum sequelae. Sufficient
maternal healthcare services are achieved by providing
antenatal care during pregnancy, skilled care during
childbirth, and care after childbirth. Therefore, we also
need medical students and other healthcare providers all
over the world to work for overcoming some of the main
barriers to inadequate access to maternal healthcare
as poverty, cultural and religious understanding, lack of
information, and untrained healthcare professionals.
As there are currently no activities enrolled in the
program, it is important that you make sure to enroll all on-
going and future activities in the area of maternal health.
The current picture is not reflecting the real situation
in SCORA, so let us all work together and ensure that
our true impact on maternal health and access to safe
abortion can be measured.
Comprehensive Sexuality Education
cse@ifmsa.org
Comprehensive sexuality education covers the wide
array of topics that affect sexuality and sexual health. It
is grounded in evidence-based, peer-reviewed science.
Its goal is to promote health and well-being in a way that
is developmentally appropriate. It includes information
and communication skills building as well as values
exploration. Ideally, sex education in school is an
integrated process that builds upon itself year after year,
is initiated in kindergarten, and is provided throughout
the entire education system, meaning until the last grade
of high school.
The SCORA Manual
The goals of comprehensive sexuality education are
to help young people gain a positive view of sexuality
and to provide them with developmentally appropriate
knowledge and skills so that they can make healthy
decisions about their sex lives now and in the future.
Medically accurate sex education is an investment in
our childrens future their well-being. Our return on
investment could be a generation of young people
who have heard more helpful messages about sexuality
than the provocative media images and/or silences they
currently witness. It could be a generation of women
and men comfortable in their own skin; able to make
well- informed, responsible decisions; form healthy
relationships; and take care of their bodies.
HIV/AIDS & Other STIs
hivaids@ifmsa.org
There are more than 1 million sexually transmitted
infections (STIs) acquired every day worldwide. This
means that each year, there are an estimated 357
million new infections. This program was born from the
need to tackle issues related to HIV/AIDS and other
STIs which have proven to be a major public health
concern. Human rights are inextricably linked with the
spread and impact of these infections on individuals and
communities around the world.
The ultimate goal of activities under this program consists,
in a general level, of improving healthcare attention to
those living with HIV/AIDS or with any other STI and
reducing stigma and discrimination by raising awareness
and education. But the current situation related to this
topic also affect future healthcare professionals. The
latter are an important step in the improvement of health
in general, which makes it important to also cater to them
if we want to make a real change.
The subsequent objectives are focused on affected
population, the general public, as well as future
healthcare professionals:
19
 SCORA Programs
1. Through advocacy, sharing of knowledge and
capacity building this program will work on raising
awareness and providing skills on ways of transmission,
prevention and testing and also on how to avoid and
fight stigma and discrimination against people living
with HIV/AIDS and with other STIs.
2. Providing useful trainings and information in order to
assure that current and future health providers will deliver
appropriate medical attention and follow-up to patients
living with HIV/AIDS and with other STIs.
3. Empowering people living with HIV/AIDS other STIs
20
and preventing them from becoming passive targets of
the HIV/AIDS and other STIs response.
4. Advocating on these issues with the aiming of ensuring
accessible treatment to all affected individuals and to
develop and optimizing how the healthcare system is
currently set, towards one that is more comprehensive,
stigma-free and nonjudgmental. Advocacy activities
are also important because it reminds the public and
Government that this topic has not gone away there
is still a vital need to raise money, increase awareness,
fight prejudice and improve education.
www.ifmsa.org
 SCORA External Representation

The IFMSA has always been a large organization with recognition from highly relevant entities in a global and
regional scale (such as the UN) which gives us the possibility to go beyond the borders of our Federation and
share our values and mission and vision. In SCORA we have a strong external representation, with multiple partners
providing us with capacity building opportunities and enhancing our advocacy actions during meetings or day to
day. In this section, youll get a brief explanation on which SRHR-related external partners we work with, the policy
statements we use to represent our stance and the bylaws that regulate the submission of our policies. Please, contact
the Liaison Officer for Sexual and Reproductive Health issues including HIV/AIDS for information around external
representation at lra@ifmsa.org.

External Partners Long-Term Collaborations

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION
Founded in 1973, Ipas is a global nongovernmental organization
dedicated to ending preventable deaths and disabilities from unsafe
abortion. Through local, national and global partnerships, Ipas works
to ensure that women can obtain safe, respectful and comprehensive
Ipas abortion care, including counseling and contraception to prevent future
unintended pregnancies. IFMSA has had a long lasting collaboration
with Ipas in the form of multiple workshops delivered to our members
(using the toolkit attached) and numerous advocacy efforts. For more
information: www.ipas.com | Toolkit (Click Here)
PMNCH is an alliance of more than 700 partner organizations that are
actively working for the implementation of the Global Strategy for Wom-
The Partnership for Maternal, Newborn
ens, Childrens and Adolescents Health. Keeping an active collabora-
and Child Health (PMNCH)
tion with them as members of their newly founded Adolescents and Youth
Constituency. For more information: www.who.int/pmnch/en
IFMSA is one of the co-founders of The PACT, which is a coalition of
youth led organizations that aim to work strategically to tackle the
The PACT HIV epidemic. As of 2016 we are leading one of their priorities and
keeping an acting role in all their actions. For more information:
www.youthpact.org/the-pact

The SCORA Manual 21

 SCORA External Representation

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION
Youth Coalition is an international organization of young people
(ages 18-29 years) committed to promoting adolescent and youth
sexual and reproductive rights at the national, regional and interna-
tional levels. They are students, researchers, lawyers, health care pro-
Youth Coalition for Sexual and
fessionals, educators, development workers, and most importantly,
Reproductive Rights (YCSRR)
we are all dedicated activists. IFMSA has had punctual collaboration
with them throughout the years, highlighting a potential workshop on
youth-friendly services, to be delivered July 2017. For more information:
www.youthcoalition.org
Since HIV is a field many of our NMOs work intensively on, involving
Global Network of Young People Living
People Living with HIV in our actions is without a doubt an efficient way
with HIV (Y+)
to galvanize our efforts. For more information: www.yplusleadership.org
The fact that IFMSA is a body recognized by the UN provides us with the
chance to collaborate with some of its agencies. In the SRHR field weve
been working with the following ones:
United Nations Agencies
UNAIDS
UNFPA
UNWOMEN

External Partners Collaborations Started in 2016

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION
The World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) is an international
umbrella organization representing sexological societies and sexologists
worldwide. It was previously named World Association for Sexology, but
World Association for Sexual Health
changed its name in order to stress that sexology is a tool for achieving
(WAS)
sexual health. We engaged with WAS late 2016 to discuss potential
collaborations with medical students around their congress, held in
Prague, May 2017. For more information: www.worldsexology.org
Being an initiative that envisions a world in which women are represented
in equal numbers to men at the highest levels of decision-making bodies
Women Leaders in Global Health
WLGHI could provide us with the background to expose and understand
Initiative (WLGHI)
the gender inequities still existing in our Federation. For more information:
www.globalhealth.org/about-us/wlghi
The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) is
a non-profit, interdisciplinary professional and educational organization
devoted to transgender health. Their professional, supporting, and
student members engage in clinical and academic research to develop
World Professional Association for
evidence-based medicine and strive to promote a high quality of care
Transgender Health (WPATH)
for transsexual, transgender, and gender-nonconforming individuals
internationally. In the IFMSA we just established connection with them
recently, but expect great outcomes and new fields to explore. For more
information: www.wpath.org

22 www.ifmsa.org
 SCORA External Representation
Policy Statements
An IFMSA policy statement is a document that describes
our position reflecting a global health issue that the
federation wants to take a stance on. It must be in line with
IFMSA vision and missions, bounded by its constitutions
and bylaws and should be used by our members within
the external and internal activities of IFMSA.
Policy statements may be used for a variety of reasons
by an organization. Generally, they are used to allow
a group to assert its belief and values regarding certain
issue. Examples could be the policy which emerges
from the World Health Assembly of the United Nations
or national medical association policy. In each of
these and other cases, the policy is used to convey
the organizations position in relation to the issue in
focus, outlining key points or expectations regarding
that issue. Creating and writing policy statements gives
members the opportunity to have a say in what issues
their organization work in. It fosters debate, and allows
members to become better informed advocates through
settling on a consensus position which is agreeable by
the majority of an organizations membership. External
organizations and the general public can understand
what the IFMSA believes in, and the reasons for this,
through reading and hearing their position statements.
The SCORA Manual
This could be online, at conferences, meetings or through
sending the policy statement to relevant stakeholders in
the health arena.
In the IFMSA as of October 2016 we have 10 active
Policy Statements (they expire every 3 years) find their
list below:
Ending AIDS by 2030 (August 2016)
Sexuality and Gender Identity (August 2016)
Comprehensive Sexual Education (March 2016)
Womens Rights to Sexual and Reproductive
Health (March 2016)
Gender Equity (March 2015)
Breastfeeding (August 2014)
Early Childhood Development (August 2014)
Abolishing Child Marriage (August 2014)
Ending Discrimination to better the health of
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals
(March 2014)
Access to Safe Abortion (March 2014)
IFMSA Policy Statements are updated regularly on:
ifmsa.org/policy-statements.
23
 SCORA Projects & Events

The events in SCORA are within the scope of the five main Focus areas and they can be carried out in various ways
such as:

Campaigns Capacity Buildings

Workshops Small Working Groups
Seminars/Talk Peer Education
Contest

Below is a timeline of important Days and events celebrated worldwide and are aligned with the focus areas of
SCORA and some are quite marked within SCORA and are followed by further information, but note however that
events are not limited to these:

DATE EVENT
February 6 International Day of Zero Tolerance to Genital Mutilation
February 12 Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Day
March 8 International Womens Day
April Sexual Assault Awareness Month
3rd Sunday of May International AIDS Candlelight Memorial Day
May 17 International Day Against Homophobia & Transphobia
August 1-7 World Breastfeeding Week
September 23 BiVisibility Day
September 28 Global Day of Action for Access to Safe and Legal Abortion
October Breast Cancer Awareness Month
November Movember (raising awareness of Cancers related to Men)
November 25 International Day of Elimination of Violence against Women
December 1 World AIDS Day

and gender equality. These efforts should comprise

International Day of Zero Tolerance
for Female Genital Mutilation
Female genital mutilation (FGM) are procedures that
involve altering and/or injuring the female genitalia for
non-medical reasons. Since it reflects inequality between
the sexes and displays an extreme form of discrimination
against women and girls it is internationally recognized
as a violation of the human rights of girls and women.
To raise awareness for FGM and promote abandonment
of FGM coordinated efforts are needed which must
engage whole communities and focus on human rights
empowerment of communities to act collectively to
and the practice and address sexual and reproductive
health needs of women and girls who suffer from its
consequences. Reference (Click Here).
Sexual & Reproductive Health Awareness
Day
Held on the September 4 of each year, this day is
an opportunity to raise awareness about sexual and
reproductive health issues and to educate to reduce
the spread of sexually transmitted infections. Health

24 www.ifmsa.org
 SCORA Projects & Events
awareness events create publicity for health issues
and aims to improve the condition and help save lives,
sometimes these events encourage preventative action
against conditions becoming more serious. It focuses on
spreading knowledge about the most common STIs, and
their signs and symptoms. Source: (Click Here).
International Womens Day
International Womens Day is a traditional international
day that focuses on raising awareness about problems
related to girls and women all across the globe. In this
part of the Manual, you will have the possibility to
explore the history and specific themes related to this
event, as well as to get few pointers on International
Womens Day in the IFMSA.
International Womens Day (March 8) aims at honoring
the achievements of women and promoting womens
rights. Recognized as a national holiday in numerous
countries, it has been sponsored by the United Nations
(UN) since 1975 under the name of United Nations Day
for Womens Rights and International Peace. Ever since
1996 UN has selected a special theme for IWD in order
to put a special focus on one aspect of empowerment of
women all across the globe.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month
In 1976 when women marched and protested
against rape, sexual assault and the fear that women
encountered walking the streets at night. These events
coordinated to a movement across the US and Europe.
In the late 1980s the National Coalition Against Sexual
Assault (NCASA) determined in cooperation with other
sexual assault coalitions a preferred date for a national
sexual assault awareness week and April was selected.
In 2009 Barack Obama was proclaimed April as Sexual
Assault Awareness Month. Reference (Click Here).
The SCORA Manual
International AIDS Candlelight Memorial
The Candlelight Memorial began in 1983 when a
mysterious disease spread within the gay community in
San Francisco. At that time four men decided to put a
face on the disease and coordinated a march during
the night with candles in their hands behind a banner
reading Fighting For Our Lives. This movement inspired
countless other people living with HIV and AIDS in
other countries to raise awareness for communities and
national leaders. Since more than 30 years not the
Candlelight Memorial has brought together people in
every region of the world to honor those who lost their
lives to AIDS and support people living with HIV. This
day is organized annually every 3rd Sunday of May.
Reference (Click Here).
International Day Against Homophobia
& Transphobia
The International Day against Homophobia was created
in 2004 and mainstreamed through its acronym I.DA.
HO to raise awareness for violence and discrimination
experienced by LGBTI people internationally. The date
was chosen to commemorate the decision of the World
Health Organization to remove homosexuality from
the International Classification of Disease of the WHO
in 1990. In 2009 Transphobia was added explicitly
in the title of the name in recognition between sexual
orientation and gender expression. Therefore, IDAHOT
became another popular acronym used alongside with
the initial one. Since 2015 Biphobia is added to the title
to acknowledge the specific issues faced by bisexual
people.
IDAHOT is now celebrated in more than 130 countries
which unite millions of people in support for the
recognition for human rights for all irrespective to sexual
orientation or gender identity or gender expression.
Reference: (Click Here).
25
 SCORA Projects & Events
World Breastfeeding Week
The World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action WABA
was formed in 1991 with the goal to follow up on the
Innocenti Declaration done by UNICEF. The declaration
supports a global breastfeeding culture and support
or breastfeeding everywhere. In 1992 the WABA)
brought the World Breastfeeding Week to life. Now it is
celebrated during the 1st and 7th of August in over 120
countries by UNICEF, WHO and their partners including
individuals, organizations and governments. Reference
(Click Here).
BI VISIBILITY DAY
The Bi Visibility Day was first observed in 1999 in the
U.S. when three bisexual rights activists started to raise
awareness for bisexual people. Ever since the Stonewall
riots (demonstrations by the gay community) in 1969
the gay and lesbian community gained strength and
visibility. Up to that point the three activists felt that
the bisexual community gained strength but somehow
remained invisible. Apart from being visible the goal
of the day was to raise awareness for the prejudice of
bisexual persons received by the straight and the LGBT
communities. Nowadays the 23rd of September, the Bi
Visibility Day, is celebrated around the globe in various
countries. Reference (Click Here).
Global Day of Action for Access to Reference (Click Here).
Safe & Legal Abortion Movember
This day is celebrated on the 28th of September and has
its origins on Latin America and the Caribbean where
womens groups have been mobilizing on that day for
the last two decades to demand their governments to
decriminalize abortion and provide access to legal
and safe abortion. Another aim was to end stigma and
discrimination towards women who choose to have
an abortion. In 2011 the Womens Global Network
26
for Reproductive Rights (WGNRR) took that day to the
global level in solidarity with the womens movement
in Latin America. Access to safe and legal abortion
continues being denied for too many women in too many
countries. In African countries abortion is prohibited
and only allowed in cases to save the mothers life. In
some Asian countries abortion is permitted by law but
it is still severely restricted. In some European countries
opposition groups wish to cut womens reproductive
freedom by imposing legal and financial restrictions to
abortions.
Due to all those restrictions this day is standing for a
global movement for sexual and reproductive rights for all
women. In 2012 this day together with the International
Campaign for Womens Right to Safe Abortion joint
global SRHR networks. Reference (Click Here).
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
The Breast Cancer Awareness Month is celebrated
during the month of October across the world. Aim of
this month is to increase and support for the awareness,
early detection and treatment. Since Breast cancer is
the most common cancer found in women worldwide
in developed and developing countries and in low and
middle income countries another goal of the breast
cancer awareness month is to raise funds for research
into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure.
Movember was found in 2004 by three men in Australia.
Aim of that charity event is to raise awareness and
funds for mens health issues like prostate and testicular
cancer and change the face of mens health. Therefore,
during the month of November pen are growing their
moustaches to raise awareness. Their platform is
movember.com where people have the opportunity to
form teams and donate money for the cause of mens
www.ifmsa.org
 SCORA Projects & Events
health. In 2012 Movember was listed was on the the
worlds top 100 Non-governmental organizations.
Reference (Click Here).
International Day of Elimination of
Violence Against Women
On 19th of December in 1999 the United Nations
General Assembly designated the 25th of November as
the International Day of Elimination of Violence Against
Women.
Womens activists have marked the 25th of November
as violence against women since 1981 and this day is
rooted in history of the assassination of the three Mirabal
sisters in the Dominican Republic in 1960. Since 1999
it is the aim to raise awareness violence against women
since it is a violation of human rights, the consequence
of discrimination against women and impacts on and
impedes progress in many areas including poverty
eradication. Reference (Click Here).
World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day was conceived and adopted
unanimously by 140 countries meeting at the World
Summit of Ministers of Health on AIDS, London in January
1988. The day was envisaged as an opportunity for
governments, national AIDS programs, non-governmental
and local organizations, as well as individuals
everywhere, to demonstrate both the importance they
attached to the fight against AIDS and their solidarity in
this effort. World AIDS Day is commemorated around
the globe on December 1st. It celebrates progress made
in the battle against the epidemic and brings into focus
remaining challenges. Community based actions take
place all over the world, media supported campaigns
take place to attract peoples attention and remind them
that HIV/AIDS is not to be forgotten. World AIDS Day
is also important in reminding people that HIV has not
gone away, and that there are many things still to be
The SCORA Manual
done.
In June 2010, UNAIDS adopted new vision strategy:
zero HIV-infections, zero AIDS-related deaths, zero
discrimination. It is the vision we all should work towards
achieving by the year 2015, the year set by Millennium
Developmental Goals. Each year we in SCORA put
together a World AIDS Day Report from all of the
projects created by all of you SCORAngels for World
AIDS Day and share this with all of IFMSA as well as
our externals. In early 1991 Visual AIDS in New York
created the idea for a global symbol in the fight against
AIDS. A symbol for solidarity and tolerance with those
often discriminated by the public - the people living with
HIV and AIDS. The Red Ribbon was born.
The Red Ribbon
In early 1991 Visual AIDS in New York created the idea
for a global symbol in the fight against AIDS. A symbol
for solidarity and tolerance with those often discriminated
by the public - the people living with HIV and AIDS. The
Red Ribbon was born.
The Red Ribbon is Red like love, as a symbol of passion
and tolerance towards those affected. Red like blood,
representing the pain caused by the many people that
died of AIDS. Red like the anger about the helplessness
by which we are facing a disease for which there is still
no chance for a cure. Red as a sign of warning not to
carelessly ignore one of the biggest problems of our
time.
On December 1st, medical students all over the world
try to raise awareness through numerous activities, such
as lectures, exhibitions, distribution of condoms and
pamphlets, charity concerts etc.
For the full information of what SCORA members have
been doing on World AIDS Day and what you could
do, check out the latest World AIDS Day report which
is stored in the SCORA Yahoo groups or ask the current
SCORA-D to send it to you!
29
 SCORA X-Change

The SCORA X-Change is a 3 4 week long unilateral exchange program for medical students, focused on sexuality,
reproductive and maternal health and rights related issues. It provides opportunities to get informed about the
medical services of the hosting countrys healthcare system and civil society related mainly to HIV/AIDS, as well
as the country's prospective about other STIs global epidemic.
This project was developed for the first time in Sweden and since 1999 it is being held also in Romania. Later on,
Romania and Poland joined forces, and by 2002 the project was recognized as an IFMSA transnational project.
After this, other countries started creating SCORA X-Changes of their own, making this project bigger and bigger!
Up to 2016, many NMOs from different countries have also given a step forward and ventured to organize
this event. Among them we can find DENEM-Brazil, AECS-Catalonia Egypt, Estonia, Hungary, Indonesia, Italy,
Lithuania, Nigeria, The Netherlands, Portugal, Rwanda, Serbia, Spain, Sudan, Tunisia and Turkey. This many
NMOs joining the X-Change shows more and more interest globally in starting new programs.
SCORA X-Change is a great opportunity for members to learn and get informed on SRHR issues, while having fun,
learning about different cultures and growing as a person at the same time.

30 www.ifmsa.org
 Tips and Tricks
TIP #1
General assemblies or GAs are the highlights of the
IFMSA year. Attended by all NMOs, it the perfect
place for you to meet new people, make friends and if
youre attending SCORA sessions, youll leave a part
of a tribe. Before each GA, a toolkit is shared with all
delegates. The toolkit consists of the agenda, the topics
to be discussed and things to carry with you. While the
agenda from each meet changes, there are some things
you are always expected to carry:
A red t-shirt (for the group picture)
Condoms from your country
Enthusiasm and excitement like Harry upon
entering the Great Hall
TIP #2
The best thing that you can do in SCORA sessions is to
SPEAK UP! Each session is aimed to be as interactive as
possible and it is most effective if you, as a participant,
gets involved. Each session ends with feedback and as
a delegate, the feedback you give is utilised to make
sessions better. Thus try to be as accurate in your
appraisal of each session and be honest about your
experience. The last thing is the most important: ENJOY
each and every minute because youll probably cry (of
happiness) when it ends.
TIP #3
There is a lot to take in (lots of names and procedures).
DON'T FREAK OUT! Always know you have your fellow
LORAs and NORAs to help you out! Contact your
corresponding RA for any question! Oh, you are a new
NMO? The DA will be there for you 24/7!
The SCORA Manual
TIP #4
If you want to host a SCORA event or training email
your RA with your amazing ideas! This request will be
analyzed by the SCORA International Team together
with the Vice President of Activities (VPA) and Capacity
Building (VPCB).
TIP #5
Open up your mind! You will learn so much. Your
experience in SCORA is a one-in-a-lifetime experience
where you will get to you will be exposed on SRHR
world from many different perspectives, in a multicultural
environment. So bring all your passion, motivation, love,
and ideas because youre about to sail to SCORA land
and believe us, you will never be the same person again!
TIP #6
It's all about turning creativity into reality, if you can
think it, then you can do it. We stand to think globally
and act locally. The only thing you might need to make
that live turning campaign might be just your passion,
commitment and a click of others. The manuals are
written guides to help out and so is the RA. Don't forget,
we're Angels without Wings.
TIP #7
Are you worried about speaking or understanding
another language? Please, dont be! Meetings are safe
spaces where everyone has the right to participate, be
heard, and understand what is going on. The SCORA
team will work hard to translate if there are words or ideas
that you find difficult to understand in English. Besides,
fun fact: SCORAngels are amazing at charades! So, one
way or another, we get the message across (and have
fun doing it).
31
 Tips and Tricks
SCORA: Standing Committee on Sexual and
Reproductive Health and Rights including HIV & AIDS
SCORA D: Director
SCORA RA: Regional Assistant
LRA: Liaison Officer on Sexual and Reproductive health
issues including HIV/AIDS
SCORA IT: International Team
NORA: National Officer on Sexual and Reproductive
Health Rights including HIV & AIDS
LORA: Local Officer on Sexual and Reproductive Health
Rights including HIV & AIDS
Focus Areas
CSE: Comprehensive Sexuality Education
GBV: Gender Based Violence
MHASA: Maternal Health and Access to Safe
Abortion
SGI: Sexuality and Gender Identity
HIV/AIDS & Other STIs
Partners:
United Nations (UN)
UNAIDS: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/
AIDS
UNFPA: United Nations Fund for Population Activities
UN Women: United Nations Entity for Gender
Equality and the Empowerment of Women
WHO: World Health Organization
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization
IPAS
Y+: Global Network of Young People living with HIV
The PACT Coalition of Youth Organizations committed
and actively working in the HIV response.
WPATH: World Professional Association for Transgender
Health
WAS: World Association for Sexual Health
YCSRR: Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive
Rights
FIGO: International Federation of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists
WMA: World Medical Association
Y-PEER: Youth Peer Education Network
32
Collaborators
SCORA International Team 2016/17
Carlos Andres Acosta- SCORA Director
Carles Pericas Escale-LRA
Anthony Kerbage- SCORA Development Assistant
Pepe Ferrer Arbaizar- SCORA Regional Assistant for
Europe
Elissa Abou Khalil- SCORA Regional Assistant for the
EMR
Anshruta Raodeo-SCORA Regional Assistant for Asia
Pacific
Jenna Webber- SCORA Regional Assistant for the
Americas
Afolabi Oluwatoyosi-SCORA Regional Assistant for
Africa
SCORA International Team 2015/16
Carles Pericas Escal- SCORA Director
Michalina Drejza- LRA
Vivian Chen- SCORA Development Assistant
Anna Zahlut-SCORA Regional Assistant for Europe
Sarah El Sayed-SCORA Regional Assistant for the
EMR
Fahim Abrar Houssein- SCORA Regional Assistant for
Asia Pacific
Carlos Andrs Acosta-SCORA Regional Assistant for
the Americas
Afolabi Oluwatoyosi- SCORA Regional Assistant for
Africa
SCORA Program Coordinators 2016/17
Chantal Marchini - HIV/AIDS and Other STIs
Ahmed Taha - Comprehensive Sexuality Education
Emmeli Fredsgaard - Maternal Health and Access to
Safe Abortion
Laalithya Konduru - Sexuality and Gender Identity
Elizabeth T. Peters - Gender Based Violence
www.ifmsa.org
 Algeria (Le Souk) Ghana (FGMSA) Pakistan (IFMSA-Pakistan)
Antigua and Barbuda (AFMS) Greece (HelMSIC) Palestine (IFMSA-Palestine)
Argentina (IFMSA-Argentina) Grenada (IFMSA-Grenada) Panama (IFMSA-Panama)
Armenia (AMSP) Guatemala (ASOCEM) Paraguay (IFMSA-Paraguay)
Australia (AMSA) Guinea (AEM) Peru (IFMSA-Peru)
Austria (AMSA) Guyana (GuMSA) Peru (APEMH)
Azerbaijan (AzerMDS) Haiti (AHEM) Philippines (AMSA-Philippines)
Bangladesh (BMSS) Honduras (ASEM) Poland (IFMSA-Poland)
Belgium (BeMSA) Hungary (HuMSIRC) Portugal (PorMSIC)
Benin (AEMB) Iceland (IMSIC) Republic of Moldova (ASRM)
Bolivia (IFMSA-Bolivia) India (MSAI) Romania (FASMR)
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BoHeMSA) Indonesia (CIMSA-ISMKI) Russian Federation (HCCM)
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Republic of Iraq (IFMSA-Iraq) Russian Federation - Republic of Tatarstan
Srpska (SaMSIC) Iraq - Kurdistan (IFMSA-Kurdistan) (TaMSA)
Brazil (DENEM) Ireland (AMSI) Rwanda (MEDSAR)
Brazil (IFMSA-Brazil) Israel (FIMS) Serbia (IFMSA-Serbia)
Bulgaria (AMSB) Italy (SISM) Sierra Leone (SLEMSA)
Burkina Faso (AEM) Jamaica (JAMSA) Singapore (AMSA-Singapore)
Burundi (ABEM) Japan (IFMSA-Japan) Slovakia (SloMSA)
Canada (CFMS) Jordan (IFMSA-Jo) Slovenia (SloMSIC)
Canada - Qubec (IFMSA-Qubec) Kazakhstan (KazMSA) South Africa (SAMSA)
Catalonia (AECS) Kenya (MSAKE) Spain (IFMSA-Spain)
Chile (IFMSA-Chile) Korea (KMSA) Sweden (IFMSA-Sweden)
China (IFMSA-China) Kosovo (EMSA-Pristina) Switzerland (swimsa)
China - Hong Kong (AMSAHK) Kuwait (KuMSA) Syrian Arab Republic (SMSA)
Colombia (ASCEMCOL) Latvia (LaMSA) Taiwan (FMS)
Costa Rica (ACEM) Lebanon (LeMSIC) Thailand (IFMSA-Thailand)
Croatia (CroMSIC) Lesotho (LEMSA) The Former Yougoslav Republic of
Cyprus (CyMSA) Libya (LMSA) Macedonia (MMSA)
Czech Republic (IFMSA CZ) Lithuania (LiMSA) Tanzania (TaMSA)
Democratic Republic of the Congo Luxembourg (ALEM) Togo (AEMP)
(MSA-DRC) Malawi (UMMSA) Tunisia (Associa-Med)
Denmark (IMCC) Mali (APS) Turkey (TurkMSIC)
Dominican Republic (ODEM) Malta (MMSA) Uganda (FUMSA)
Ecuador (AEMPPI) Mexico (IFMSA-Mexico) Ukraine (UMSA)
Egypt (IFMSA-Egypt) Mongolia (MMLA) United Arab Emirates (EMSS)
El Salvador (IFMSA-El Salvador) Montenegro (MoMSIC) United Kindgom of Great Britan and
Estonia (EstMSA) Morocco (IFMSA-Morocco) Northern Ireland (Medsin)
Ethiopia (EMSA) Namibia (MESANA) United States of America (AMSA)
Fiji (FJMSA) Nepal (NMSS) Uruguay (IFMSA-URU)
France (ANEMF) The Netherlands (IFMSA NL) Uzbekistan (AMSA-Uzbekistan)
Gambia (UniGaMSA) Nicaragua (IFMSA-Nicaragua) Venezuela (FEVESOCEM)
Georgia (GMSA) Nigeria (NiMSA) Zambia (ZaMSA)
Germany (bvmd) Norway (NMSA) Zimbabwe (ZimSA)
Oman (SQU-MSG)

www.ifmsa.org
medical students worldwide