The Honorable

Joyce Banda
Vice President,
Malawi

“For me, as a mother, as a victim of maternal health

complication, and more importantly as a woman leader in
a position of influence and power, it is my moral obligation
to do all that I can to contribute to improvements in
reproductive health… I will not rest until the job is done,
even one women dying of child birth is too much for me.”

photo: Ms. Ruth Govati

The Honorable
Gro Harlem
Brundtland
Former Prime Minister,
Norway

“It is a moral obligation

to care and to share –
across borders, across
generations. We have
the knowledge and the
combined resources
to eradicate most
challenges to mother
and child. By what
means of argument
can we defend not
doing so?”
The Honorable
Fernando
Henrique
Cardoso
Former President,
Brazil
“Women’s reproductive
rights are core human
rights. In all societies
and cultures women
are care givers and
peace makers. There
can be no democracy or
development without full
women’s participation.
To fight against all
forms of discrimination
against women is to build
safer, healthier, more
equitable and sustainable
communities.”

photo: Magdalena Gutierrez

 The Right
Honorable
Helen Clark
UNDP Administrator
and Chair of UN
Development Group

“Improving women’s sexual and reproductive health is an

essential part of advancing gender equality and the broader
human development agenda. Achieving universal access to
reproductive health services is also envisaged in the Millennium
Development Goals, and reaching that would help nations and
communities also reach other MDGs.”

photo: Habib Kouyate/UNDP

Ambassador
Jan Eliasson
Former President,
United Nations
General Assembly;
Former Minister
for Foreign Affairs,
Sweden

“Progress for women

is progress for all. The
success of international
family planning shows us
that when women have
choices they can change
their lives and those of
their communities. By
investing in reproductive
health services, we are
investing in people and
their potential.”

photo: © M Szwajkos/Getty Images

The Honorable
Tarja Halonen
President, Finland

“Gender equality – improving the position of women and girls –

is a prerequisite to achieving the Millennium Development Goals
and sustainable development. Education and improving mater-
nal health care are also practical means of reducing poverty.”
Annie Lennox
Singer-Songwriter,
Humanitarian and
Founder of the
SING Campaign

“There are so many places where woman have absolutely

no power over their sexual and reproductive health…
As a woman and a feminist I have to stand in solidarity
with those women and use my voice to say, ‘That’s not
right,’ because those women don’t have that voice.”

photo: Sandy Young @ scottishphotographer.com

Ms. Phumzile
Mlambo
Ngcuka
Former Deputy
President, South
Africa

“The cultural and

religious taboos
surrounding reproductive
rights limits the degree
to which we empower
young people through
information. We can do
more with greater access
to technology for young
people all over the world.”

photo: © Getty Images

The Honorable
Joy Phumaphi
Former Minister of
Health, Botswana;
Former Vice
President of Human
Development, The
World Bank

“Poor women endure

a disproportionate
burden of poor sexual
and reproductive
health, poor nutrition
and life threatening
childbirth. Their full
and equal participation
in development depends
directly on accessing
these essential services,
improved education
outcomes for girls, and
equal opportunities for
women in society.”

photo: © David DelaPaz/Corbis

The Honorable
María Otero
Under Secretary of
State for Democracy
and Global Affairs,
United States

“Reproductive health impacts every measure of progress in our

effort to create a better world, from the women who bear the
burden of environmental and community stress to the children
who represent the next generation.”

photo: Rohanna Mertens/ACCION International

The Honorable
Mary
Robinson
President, Realizing
Rights; Former
President, Ireland

“Assuring universal
access to reproductive
health services for all
women is a fundamental
human right. We have
to create a world where
women, children and
girls have access to the
education, services and
supplies they need to
grow healthy and strong.”
The Right
Honorable
Dame
Jenny Shipley
Former Prime Minister,
New Zealand; Vice
President of the
Club of Madrid

“The serious problems

facing the world today
will never be solved until
women are able to use
their full potential on
behalf of themselves,
their families, and
their global and local
communities.”
 The Honorable
Ellen Johnson
Sirleaf
President, Liberia

“Now is the time to step up our efforts... to address the issue of

women’s health, gender, and human rights, in order to achieve
a rapid and tangible impact in Africa... and prevent the personal
tragedies of children having to grow up without their mothers,
of families who live with the pain of needlessly losing a sister, or
a cousin, or a daughter.”

photo: © Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

 The Honorable
Vaira
Vike-Freiberga
Former
President, Latvia

“There can be no better investment into the future of the

human race than a firm commitment to advancing reproductive
health. Only then will we be able to fully achieve the Millennium
Development Goals and reduce poverty.”
Dr. Fred Sai
Former President,
International
Planned Parenthood
Federation; Former
Senior Population
Advisor, World Bank

“To me the success of African leadership in the decade should

be judged first and foremost by the progress made in the lives
of our women and girls.”