Mainstreaming Sexual and Reproductive Health Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality

Statement by Thoraya Ahmed Obaid, Executive Director, UNFPA

Mr. Chairman, distinguished ministers,

I am pleased to represent UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund, at this round table. There is a real sense of urgency as we count down to 2015.

As the Secretary-General has stated in his In Larger Freedom report, "At this defining moment in history, we must be ambitious. Our action must be as urgent as the need, and on the same scale."

Today, the need is urgent indeed.

Poor sexual and reproductive health accounts for up to one third of the global burden of ill health among women of reproductive age, and one fifth of the total global burden.

Every minute, one woman dies needlessly from complications of pregnancy and childbirth, and 20 women suffer illness and disability.

Every minute, another 10 people are newly infected with HIV/AIDS.

The problem is not due to lack of know-how or resources. Effective interventions exist and more and more resources exist. The problem is one of political priorities.

I strongly believe that political leadership can make a difference. And I strongly believe that our job is to make sure that it does.

Greater political leadership and investment is needed for women's rights and sexual and reproductive health. This was reinforced in the Stockholm Call to Action.

UNFPA is working to mainstream reproductive health and rights and gender into development and humanitarian efforts. We believe, and have every reason to believe, that this reinforces the links between development, security and human rights.

I am here to stress that the health Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to improve maternal and child health and reduce the spread of HIV and AIDS cannot be achieved unless greater attention and resources are devoted to sexual and reproductive health and women’s empowerment and gender equality.

This view is shared by the UN Millennium Project, the Commission for Africa and the Secretary-General of the United Nations. And it is reflected in their respective reports.

The Millennium Project stresses that expanding access to sexual and reproductive health information and services is a "quick win," a cost-effective action that can put countries on the road towards achieving the MDGs and produce real results in fighting poverty and improving the quality of women’s lives in the short and long term.

Empowering women through education, legal rights, zero tolerance of gender-based violence, and sexual and reproductive health is also central to the fight against AIDS.

In the countdown to 2015, UNFPA is working to scale up coverage of HIV prevention and maternal and child health, with special attention to Africa. We are working to more fully link efforts for sexual and reproductive health and HIV/AIDS.

With a bold effort by partners and country ownership, the health MDGs can be reached in most countries.

But it cannot be business as usual. We need a rapid and sustained increase in reproductive health coverage starting today. Effective interventions need to reach more people, especially those who are poor and marginalized.

Maternal deaths would fall by 73 per cent if coverage of key interventions became available. Countries as diverse as Sri Lanka, Thailand, Egypt and Honduras have cut maternal mortality rates dramatically. So, it can be done.

Emergency obstetric care and skilled attendance at birth save the lives of mothers and babies. Today, the needs are highest in Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Central to the achievement of the health MDGs is reproductive health commodity security. Family planning alone could reduce maternal deaths by 20 to 35 per cent by preventing unwanted pregnancy and reducing unsafe abortion.

And condoms, along with behaviour change, are a vital tool in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

It is clear that special attention must be paid to fragile States where the challenges require focused efforts.

Overall, we know that addressing the high levels of maternal mortality and morbidity and HIV/AIDS in low-income countries requires stronger health systems—both in terms of infrastructure and human resources. The migration of health workers to greener pastures and the death of health workers from HIV/AIDS are serious and growing challenges that must be addressed urgently.

This major 10-year effort in the countdown to 2015 must be country-driven and country-owned. National leadership and the active involvement of civil society and communities are key. The focus must be on capacity-building, and leveraging resources, both national and international, to achieve our common goals.

Overall, the estimated cost for HIV prevention is $10 billion annually by 2007. And for maternal and infant health, the cost is estimated at $39 billion over a decade for 75 high-need countries.

So, our challenge is to join hands and ensure that the money is wisely spent to scale up services where they are needed most. UNFPA is committed to working with partners to achieve lasting results.

Thank you.