Giving birth is typically the most joyful moment in a woman’s
life. Yet, this very process takes the life of so many women
worldwide. Every day, some 800 women die in pregnancy or
childbirth from complications that are very often preventable.
And for every woman who dies, around 20 more suffer debilitating
childbirth injuries, such as obstetric fistula. We already have
an international consensus on how to address that. All we need
now are resources and accelerated and sustained action. Working
for the survival and the well-being of women and girls is a
human right imperative. And in order to take advantage of
women’s full potential in the development of their nations, they
must be able to plan their lives and families. This is why the
international community is determined to making universal access
to reproductive health a priority. Today, as we commemorate
World Population Day, it is time to re-energize our commitment
to universal access to reproductive health services, especially
voluntary family planning.