Celebrate International Women's Day‏!

How many more women need to die in childbirth because they have little or no access to medical care, before the world says, enough?

Today is International Women’s Day. The UN is currently hosting the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). For two weeks each year, world leaders come together to discuss the status of women and girls around the world. Last Friday, I joined the conversation at the UN, in support of the UN Secretary-General’s Every Woman Every Child initiative. The session, called “Keeping Promises and Measuring Results,” focused on accountability taking responsibility and reporting back on what governments and international organizations are doing upholding their commitments to improve the health and lives of women and girls.

Speaking from the floor, World YWCA General Secretary and Commissioner Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda made an impassioned plea that women must be a driver not beneficiary of that accountability. “We are tired of dying. We are tired of burying each other on the way to the clinic,” she said, urging greater health access for rural women.

Commemorating International Women’s Day means answering that call. It means pushing for education, safe pregnancy, safe labor and delivery, and healthy babies.

As we raise our voices, we create more space for others to be heard—those who don’t have a voice. Yet.



What can you do to honor International Women’s Day? Take action.

Go to millionmomschallenge.org/action and choose an action. Join the conversation and share a post from our blog or community — stories that highlight women across the globe.

"Like" us on Facebook, and then share our page with your friends to spread the message of healthy outcomes for all mothers and babies around the world. You could post:

Learn about the Million Moms Challenge to help women and children everywhere survive and thrive! Learn more and get involved at MillionMomsChallenge.org or "Like" them at facebook.com/millionmomschallenge

Coming together to promote healthy mothers and babies around the world with the Million Moms Challenge — learn more about this great work MillionMomsChallenge.org or "Like" them at facebook.com/millionmomschallenge

Follow us on Twitter and tweet:

Check out the great work of @amillionmoms to promote healthy moms and babies around the world millionmomschallenge.org

The millionmomschallenge.org stands for healthy pregnancies, healthy births and healthy kids all around the world @amillionmoms

**Disclosure: This post is for information purposes only. No compensation was received. All opinions are my own.