Advocates for Youth, an organization focused on helping young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health, has kick-started their “Time is Now” campaign. It was developed in collaboration with a youth advisory board of 40 young people from around the world, and revolves around changes for greater inclusion of gender and youth in the upcoming Rio+20 summit. Read more...
Updates
Countdown Update Fosters Country Accountability, Supports Global Strategy
March 22nd, 2012
As follow-up to the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health, Countdown to 2015 released Accountability for Maternal, Newborn & Child Survival: An update on progress in priority countries, with updated profiles on high-burden priority countries that account for over 95% of maternal and child deaths. The report will be launched at the 126th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, which takes place in Kampala, Uganda from 31 March through 5 April 2012. Read more...
Women Need Access to Dual Protection—Effective Contraceptives and HIV Prevention Options
February 17th, 2012
WHO recommendations related to use of hormonal contraceptives remain unchanged. The use of condoms—male and female—is a reliable method of HIV prevention.
GENEVA, 16 February 2012—A stakeholder consultation convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva has reviewed recent epidemiological studies related to HIV transmission and acquisition by women using hormonal contraceptives. After careful review of all available evidence, the stakeholders found that the data were not sufficiently conclusive to change current guidance. Read more...
Michelle Bachelet Outlines Action Agenda to Advance Equality as UN Women Completes One Year
February 2nd, 2012
Statement Of Ms. Bachelet On UN Women One Year Anniversary: Calls for global mobilization and commitment to women’s rights as political and economic changes continue worldwide
New York, 2nd February — At a press conference in New York today, UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet called for galvanizing greater commitment and action for women and gender equality, as political and economic upheaval threaten progress on women’s rights (remarks enclosed here). She called the press conference to report on the first year of operations of UN Women. With austerity measures, budget cuts and political changes impacting women’s lives, worldwide, Ms. Bachelet outlined the action agenda of the organization in her first press conference of 2012. Read more...
The UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women Announces the 2011 Call for Proposals
December 8th, 2011
The United Nations Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women is accepting applications for its 16th grant cycle (2011) from government authorities, civil society organizations and networks — including non-governmental, women’s and community-based organizations and coalitions, and operational research institutions — and UN Country Teams (in partnership with governments and civil society organizations). Read more...
Celebrate Solutions: Hospitals and Clinics in Senegal Improve Access to Family Planning
November 7th, 2011
By: Rati Bishnoi, Special Projects Intern
The West African nation of Senegal has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world—with 410 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births. Considering an estimated five children are born per woman, it is clear that the health and safety of women in the country greatly depend on their ability to control if and when they have children.
Despite prevailing views placing emphasis on the value of larger families, more Senegalese are choosing to space their births, have fewer children, and seek long-term family planning options, Fatou Seck, a midwife at Hospital Centre for Health and Hygiene in Medina, Senegal, recently told IRIN News. Read more...
2015+: Join Our Critical Online Discussion Forum on the Future of Reproductive and Maternal Health
November 1st, 2011
With the deadlines for the Millennium Development Goals and the International Conference on Population and Development’s Program of Action fast approaching, Women Deliver is calling on the entire reproductive and maternal health community—from policymakers to health workers to advocates—to participate in an online discussion to shape the future of our field.
Join this critical global conversation at www.knowledge-gateway.org/womendeliver and weigh in on where we are, where we need to be, and how we need to get there. This means taking stock of lessons learned, challenges ahead, and tackling the critical question: What will—and what must—happen to the MDGs and ICPD after 2015? Read more...
Corporate Buzz: Private Sector and UNFPA Join Forces to Address our World at 7 Billion
October 27th, 2011
By: Kristin Rosella, Program Associate, Strategic Partnerships, Women Deliver
Earlier this week, SAP, Churchill Club, and UNFPA co-hosted the high-level conversation “Innovating for a World of 7 Billion.” The event, which marked the official beginning of the 7-day countdown to 7 billion, gathered industry thought-leaders from around the world to discuss the challenges and opportunities that population growth presents. Read more...
Additional Investments in Youth Needed as World Population Tops 7 Billion, States UNFPA Report
October 27th, 2011
This year's State of World Population report, People and Possibilities in a World of 7 Billion, looks at the the dynamics behind the numbers. It explains the trends that are defining our world of 7 billion and documents actions that people in vastly different countries and circumstances are taking in their own communities to make the most of their--and our--world. Read more...
2015+: What Happens To the Millennium Development Goals When They Expire?
October 26th, 2011
By: Rachel Cernansky, winner of the Women Bloggers Deliver contest
The Millennium Development Goals are set to expire in 2015, which means it's time to start looking ahead to what happens once they do. And looking back to see what good they've served. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon released a report in July, highlighting progress achieved toward the goals so far, including: Read more...
G(irls)20 Summit Communiqué Lists Recommendations for G20 Leaders on Closing Gender Gap
October 25th, 2011
Delegates participating in the G(irls)20 Summit in Paris presented French President Nicholas Sarkozy with a communiqué featuring recommendations on how G20 leaders can help reduce gender inequality and recognize the pivotal role women and girls play in advancing the global economy. Drafted by 21 young delegates -- all women under the age of 20 -- the communiqué features more than 30 specific recommendations on gender-based violence and inequality; education, training, and employment; political, economic, and social representation; and health; designed to influence global leaders convening at the G20 meetings in Cannes, France next month. Read more...
The Countdown to 7 Billion
October 24th, 2011
A week from today, our global population will reach 7 billion. In order to highlight the magnitude of this occasion, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), continues to promote dialogue through their 7 Billion Actions Campaign. The campaign, a worldwide advocacy effort which began July 11th and ends October 31st, aims to encourage discourse on what it means to live in a world with so many people, and to encourage action on issues that affect us all.
Interview with Jill Sheffield, President, Women Deliver from 7 Billion Actions on Vimeo.
UN Resolution on Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Adopted
October 4th, 2011
By: Joanna Hoffman, Special Projects Manager
Last week on September 28th, the United Nations Human Rights Council adopted a resolution reaffirming the importance of addressing maternal mortality and morbidity, and calling for direct action to save mothers’ lives. Specifically, the resolution calls for the development of practical guidance, through an expert workshop, to assist States, the United Nations system and all stakeholders in applying human-rights based frameworks to programs and policies aimed at preventing maternal death and disability. Read more...
Women Deliver Has Strong Presence During UNGA Week
September 29th, 2011
The third week of September was a busy one for Women Deliver. The United Nations General Assembly and the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), amongst other events, filled the city with Heads of State and agents of change, providing ample opportunity to discuss maternal health, sexual and reproductive rights and gender equity. Here are a few of our highlights:
- The World Bank: “Realizing the Demographic Dividend, Challenges and Opportunities for Ministers of Finance and Development” panel focused on the policy actions necessary in family planning, health, education, gender equality, and labor market policies, if positive economic returns are to be secured. Women Deliver Founder and President, Jill Sheffield, who spoke at the event, reinforced this point by stating: "The fact is: that women drive economic development. They operate the majority of small businesses and farms in developing countries and their unpaid work equals roughly 1/3 of the GDP." Read more...
African Ministers of Health Join Multi-Sector Partners In Forum On Improving Women’s Health
September 23rd, 2011
Meeting was aimed at determining ways to accelerate progress to improve the health of girls and women in developing countries.
New York, NY, September 23 – Ministers of Health from several African countries joined high-level participants yesterday to identify programs and policies that will most effectively support the needs of disadvantaged women and girls in their countries. Timed to coincide with the 66th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the forum focused on improving maternal health, which is one of eight global Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) aimed at ending extreme poverty and strengthening health outcomes by 2015. Read more...
UN Secretary General Progress Update on Every Woman Every Child
September 20th, 2011
Private sector involvement in women’s and children’s health is crucial to saving 16 million lives, says UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praises ‘historic effort’ of private sector in Every Woman Every Child but warns that pace of implementation must be accelerated
New York, 20 September 2011 – The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today praised the involvement of leading businesses in the global effort to tackle women’s and children’s health. During the Every Woman Every Child meeting attended by Heads of State, CEOs of the private sector and NGOs, and other UN and government officials, the Secretary-General announced progress in the effort to save women’s and children’s lives, and highlighted new and game-changing commitments made during the past year. Read more...
Analysing the Commitments to Advance the Global Strategy for Women’s & Children’s Health
September 20th, 2011
PMNCH Report 2011 - Massive Push to Improve the Health of Women and Children: Tens of billions have been committed from both rich and poor countries
20 SEPTEMBER 2011 | GENEVA/NEW YORK - In only one year, more than 100 countries, foundations, multilateral organizations, the UN, the private sector, and academic and professional associations have made unprecedented financial and political commitments to greatly improve the health of women and children. Read more...
Merck Joins Global Fight to Help Save Women’s Lives During Pregnancy and Childbirth
September 20th, 2011
President and CEO Ken Frazier Announces 10-Year, $500 Million Mobilization: "Merck for Mothers" Joins Global Community to Apply Scientific and Business Expertise in Support of UN Goal to Decrease the Maternal Mortality Ratio by 75 Percent
NEW YORK, N.Y., September 20, 2011 – Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced that it will join United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and heads of state at the UN later today to launch "Merck for Mothers," a long-term effort with global health partners to create a world where no woman has to die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth (merckformothers.com). Read more...
Leaders Call for New Approach to Women’s Health
September 19th, 2011
September 19, 2011, New York. Government, UN and civil society leaders today called for a new approach to women’s healthcare to address the devastating impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases in low and middle-income countries. Today, more than half of all female deaths in low and middle income countries are caused by NCDs. Read more...
Women for a Healthy Future: New Global Movement Demands Action Against NCDs
September 19th, 2011
September 19, 2011, New York. Today, as world leaders gather at the United Nations for a historic health-focused summit to plan the world's response to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), thousands from around the world are demanding action. These women — and some men — from more than 95 countries are signatories on an online petition (http://www.change.org/petitions/women-demand-a-healthy-future-free-of-chronic-disease), the first activity of a new movement, Women for a Healthy Future. The petition is still open – we encourage women to sign. Read more...