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| International Women’s Day, March 8th, 2008 |
Recognizing that women’s health is primarily correlated with social determinants, it is fitting to reflect
today on the progress of women reaching their potential globally. Women are truly at the centre of development -
of the 8 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), women stand out as development agents in at least 6 of the 8 MDGs:
poverty reduction, education, gender equity, child health, maternal health and HIV/AIDS.
Poverty reduction (MDG 1): women tend to use cash incomes on family needs - such as school fees, school
uniforms or shoes - to a higher extent than men. Microcredit schemes for women or girls have been found to
be effective means for rural development.
Primary school education for all (MDG 2) – but particularly for girls and women - is probably the most cost-effective
intervention, in all categories, for development in low and middle income countries.
A maternal death (MDG 5) very often means family break up, and a very high mortality for all her children.
Last year, September 2007, access to reproductive health services was finally added to MDG 5, with the
recognition that this goal would not be achieved without such universal access. In countries where the life
time risk of maternal death is 1:10 or 1:20, maternal deaths take a heavy toll on the economy of families,
communities and the country. Saving mothers´ lives is good business.
Child health (MDG 4) largely depends on maternal care. With declining infant mortality, more of the remaining
mortality is due to birth-related causes. Skilled birth attendance, with back-up of emergency obstetric care,
is the strategy to save both newborn lives and maternal lives.
Gender equity (MDG 3) determines much of the above. Women with autonomy, and equal rights as regards
e.g. opening a business, signing a contract, seeking health care, receiving education or determining
when and with whom to bear children – such women have a great potential as development agents.
The HIV/AIDS pandemic (MDG 6) is in many parts of the world largely driven by gender inequity.
There is progress. For instance, the gender gap in primary school enrolment is closing in much of the world.
Globally, 95 girls were in school for every 100 boys in 2005 compared with 92 in 1990. The major gaps are
today concentrated in the Arab states, South and West Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa, where 91, 93 and 87 girls,
respectively, were enrolled for every 100 boys. (http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg )
There is also much work to do to address such harmful traditional practices as child marriage and female genital
mutilation (FGM) that compromise women’s development potential directly and indirectly. Sexual violence has
been recognized as a significant contributor to HIV/AIDS. Supportive legislation, such as making harmful
traditional practices and female feticide illegal, is an important first step taken by many countries.
Religious leaders have been speaking out, such as the Grand Mufti in Egypt proclaiming that FGM was
“Forbidden, forbidden, forbidden” after 2 deaths within a few months in 2007, in procedures performed
by health professionals. Similarly, countries where development of women is challenging have begun to
introduce legislation to address violence, including sexual violence.
FIGO wishes to highlight the continued need to invest human and financial resources in all these key areas
in order to reach the agreed goals for global development, the MDGs, by 2015. Governments across the globe
have committed to such actions – leaders of FIGO member societies and others are in a position to influence
and assist parliamentarians and support their governments in achieving their commitments. Obstetricians and
gynaecologists across the world understand first hand the consequences of valuing women, or not, in terms
of their health and survival.
We cannot afford to hesitate.
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