Did you know that 1 woman dies every minute of everyday due to complications with pregnancy and childbirth? Did you know that 99% of maternal deaths take place in the developing world? Did you know that maternal mortality is the leading cause of death for girls between the ages of 15-19 in poorer countries?
Reading these statistics places a hugely different perspective on the issue of maternal mortality and morbidity around the world. When we hear these numbers, we generally imagine rural women from central Africa or from south Asia. Rarely do we picture that these women are also young teens forced into adulthood faster than they can recite lyrics from a famous poem or learn parts of the human anatomy.
These young women find themselves trapped in the shadows of a, often times, broken society struggling to survive in the midst of a suffering economy, lack basic living necessities, a healthcare system in disarray, limited to no access to an education, and a continuation of traditional and cultural practices that greatly impact the health and well-being of mostly women and girls.
In previous posts from this year's January and February eZine issues, Val and I discussed the urgency for the U.S. to do its part in the reduction of maternal mortality and morbidity in the developing world, and holding itself and other donor countries accountable for fulfilling the promises made at the Cairo Conference of 1994 and the U.N.'s Millennium Development Goal #5 (MDGs).
That is why in commemorating March 8, International Women's Day, the FMF team is calling for young feminists across the country to join in on a very special FREE webinar to learn about this crisis affecting half the world's population and how YOU can help save the lives of millions of young women and girls across the globe.
At 7:00pm EST, you will have the opportunity to listen and dialogue with Feminist Majority Foundation President, Eleanor Smeal, our Global Programs Coordinator, Anushay Hossain, and me, your friendly National Campus Organizer. Please don't miss out on a wonderful discussion!
We have limited reserved spaces and we encourage you to RSVP as soon as possible! Don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity!
For more information, go to our website at www.feministcampus.org or contact your campus organizer at 1-866-444-3652 or campusteam@feminist.org.
Also, if you think you would benefit greatly from conversations like this one, then you'll want to take part in our upcoming National Young Feminist Leadership Conference on March 20 -21, hosted by the University of the District of Columbia in Washington D.C. Come and network with hundreds of young feminists across the country and notable speakers that range from heads of progressive women's organizations to members of Congress.
Get informed, get energized, GET ACTIVE!!!
Happy Women's History Month and International Women's Day!!!
This article was featured in our March 2010 monthly Choices eZine. Sign up for our alerts to stay up-to-date with the latest feminist news and to receive the monthly eZine.
1 comment:
Alot of people don't realise that the majority of people hungry around the world are women... and yet these women produce 60-80% of the food! The answer to hunger, I really believe lies with women. You can also send a message of solidarity to women across the world for International Women’s Day at http://www.wfp.org/women
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