A New Agenda for Girls' and Women's Health and Rights

Publication Date: March 2008

Publisher: Better World Campaign; International Women's Health Coalition

Author(s): Adrienne Germain

Research Area: Health; International relations

Keywords: Women's rights; Presidential transition; Women's health

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

In 2000, the United Nations (UN) agreed on targets to guide and focus international cooperation on behalf of enhanced quality of life and social justice in the coming decades. The resulting Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) constitute an action plan to halve poverty by 2015, in service of a more stable, secure, and prosperous world.

Unfortunately, international progress on women's health and rights has stalled in recent years.

Implementation of two of the great global agreements of the 20th century-- the groundbreaking action plans agreed at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the Fourth World Conference on Women (FWCW)--has been hampered by politics and ideology.

The new American President will have a fresh opportunity and profound responsibility to re-energize U.S. leadership on women's health and human rights.

Beginning on day one, the President should articulate a new agenda for international cooperation on women's health and rights.