Investing in Midwifery Pays

On this International Day of the Midwife, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund and ICM, the International Confederation of Midwives, commend the important work of midwives in promoting good health and making pregnancies and childbirths safe.

The right to health is a basic human right that every woman should enjoy. Yet, every day, almost 1000 women die in pregnancy and childbirth. Every year, 8 million women suffer serious pregnancy-related illnesses and disabilities, such as obstetric fistula, and 2 million babies don’t survive the first 24 hours of their lives. One of the main causes for these tragedies is lack of access to maternity services, including the care of midwives or others with midwifery skills at childbirth.

Today, on International Women’s Day, UNFPA renews its commitment to gender equality and human rights and dignity.
Many rural women have limited autonomy and low status, which puts them at increased risk of hunger, gender-based violence and other human rights violations. Advancing rural women’s political, social and economic status are vital ends in themselves as well as critical strategies to eradicate poverty, promote women’s rights and pave the way for sustainable development.
Improving access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights is essential for rural women’s empowerment and ability to earn an income and feed themselves and their family. When women can make free and informed choices in all spheres of life, including marriage and number and spacing of their children, they can reach their full potential and further contribute to the development of their communities and nations.

Message of Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin
Executive Director of UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund
International Youth Day
12 August 2011

Today on International Youth Day, and every day, youth should be able to participate in decision-making in their families, communities, and nations.
The voices of youth should be heard in meetings within governments and within the United Nations.
Yes, youth participation is a matter of human rights and it is also a matter of being effective at addressing the challenges that we face as humanity.

« L ’Isoloir », nouvel espace citoyen par excellence d’une Tunisie à la conquête de la démocratie, constitue l’objet autour duquel gravite cette nouvelle création théâtrale de Taoufik Jebali. Portée par une écriture à plusieurs mains avec Naoufel AZARA et Moez GDIRI et conçue en pleine effervescence citoyenne, « L ’Isoloir » questionne la participation pleine et entière de toutes les composantes de la société au processus électoral à travers les non-dits et les vieux reflexes.

Après une Première donnée à Tunis le 06 octobre à 19h30 et deux dates en régions (Kasserine et Médenine), la troupe s’installe dans son fief de Tunis (Espace El Teatro) pour un premier cycle programmé du 7 au 22 Octobre courant , avec, une incursion Samedi 15 Octobre à 19H30, à Nabeul, au complexe Culturel en spectacle d’ouverture de la saison culturelle 2011/2012-

« L ’Isoloir » «  jouit de l’appui  du programme de coopération entre  le Fonds des Nations Unies pour la Population (UNFPA) et de l’Association des Tunisiens des Grandes Ecoles (ATUGE),

Alors, partons ensemble pour décortiquer les relations diverses que pourrait avoir la citoyenne ou le citoyen face à ce nouvel espace citoyen en Tunisie  à conquérir en toute liberté… avec humour et énergie dévastatrice de toute norme bâtie en bois et sa langue !!!!

Message of Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin
Executive Director of UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund

Today on International Youth Day, and every day, youth should be able to participate in decision-making in their families, communities, and nations.
The voices of youth should be heard in meetings within governments and within the United Nations.
Yes, youth participation is a matter of human rights and it is also a matter of being effective at addressing the challenges that we face as humanity.

To download the report, click here