The maternal health community has been hard at work the last two weeks with several key events and exciting accomplishments.
UN passes historic resolution on ending child marriage – November 21
In the 69th session of the General Assembly, 116 member states supported a historic resolution on ending child marriage. “The resolution marks the first time that UN member states have agreed upon substantive recommendations for the steps that countries, international organisations and others must take to address the problem. It also situates child marriage firmly within the post-2015 development agenda, recognising the need for a target to end child, early and forced marriage to be included in the final framework,” said Heather B. Hamilton, Global Coordinator of Girls No Brides.(girlsnotbrides.org) Collaborative commitments are critical since 15 million girls aged under 18 are married globally each year, cutting short their childhood and education and threatening their security.
‘Delhi Declaration’ – November 25-26
A new roadmap for adolescents and youth was presented at the 11th International Inter-ministerial Conference on Population and Development. Through this landmark statement, the Dehli Declaration calls for laws, entitlements, policies, and an enabling environment for decreasing violence against women and girls; ending gender inequality and discrimination; and ensuring reproductive, maternal, child and adolescent health services. Recognizing the key role of boys and men, the importance of male engagement is a key aspect in commitments made by member states.
Launch of “African Health Stats” Site – November 26
At the 4th Annual CARMMA (Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal, Newborn and Child Mortality in Africa) awareness-raising week, partners launched the website “African Health Stats.” The website presents data for African countries with a easy to use and interpret design. Check out the site to create column, timeline, scatterplot, and map visualizations of a myriad of indicators. The site also allows you to easily compare indicators across countries.
Global Consultation Launch for the Global Financing Facility – November 26
The Global Financing Facility (GFF), announced in September 2014, is a new funding mechanism to support not only the acceleration needed to achieve MDG 4 and 5, but also a more long-term vision through 2030 to end preventable maternal and child deaths. Now, partners are asking for a global consultation on the GFF before it is finalized. Check out the new consultation hub to learn more about the global financing facility, take a survey, find a guide for hosting a consultation, submit results from a consultation, and utilize social media tools to spread the word.