By Gemma Bulos, Director of the Global Women’s Water Initiative.

Water is keeping girls safe in school in Amuria and providing a foundation for them to have a healthy future. Everyone wins.

Crowdblog by FHI 360 & the Women Deliver Community

There is no doubt that substantial progress has been made in women’s leadership, not just in traditional areas such as health and education but as leaders in finance, government and communications, and as cultural icons. Younger women can rise to leadership sooner. Yet, even the world’s most powerful women speak of challenges and of being ignored. This will be a lively and intimate look at how women leaders see their own leadership. It will also explore the latest in leadership theories, with the panelists’ perceptions of what makes for great leaders in the 21st Century.

Crowdblog by FHI 360 & the Women Deliver Community

Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’Sri Haji Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak welcomed participants to Women Deliver 2013 during the opening session.

Crowdblog by FHI 360 & the Women Deliver Community

Achieving gender equality requires addressing the reproductive heath needs of women. Yet despite improvements in gender equality in other domains, too little progress has been achieved on this critical front. The lack of investment in reproductive health is a missed opportunity for development. This panel will review the economic benefits of investing in reproductive health, including improved labour productivity, reduced out-of-pocket expenditures, enhancing the human capital of future generations, and promoting economic growth. Investing in reproductive health is smart economics for policy makers in developing countries. Yet obstacles still exist, and we will explore proven and promising policy levers to accelerate progress.

By Jennifer McCleary-Sills

Consider this: Half of the world’s population – more than 3.5 billion people – is under 30 years old. In the next decade, approximately 142 million girls will be married before the age of 18 and many will likely be pressured to prove their fertility soon after their nuptials. Indeed, of the nearly 16 million girls between the ages of 15 and 19 who give birth each year, 90 percent are married.

Given this reality, it is critical that the women’s health and rights communities gathering today in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for the Women Deliver conference commit to involve young people – especially young women – in ensuring universal access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health.

| Full Post |

By Amie Newman
Originally posted on Impatient Optimist on May 20, 2013.

As we head into the week prior to the 2013 Women Deliver conference, the largest global meeting of the decade to focus on the health and well-being of girls and women, we thought it would be a perfect time to highlight the voices and stories of some of the amazing advocates, from around the world, who are attending this monumental world meeting. Today, meet Julia Wiklander founder of Girls’ Globe. | Full Post |