In part a backlash against the decision of Mexico City authorities to legalize early-term abortions, other states in Mexico have begun cracking down on the medical procedure — enforcing, for example, anti-abortion laws that require hospitals to first call in prosecutors when women who have attempted the procedure illegally come in for treatment. Though abortion is illegal throughout the country outside Mexico City, 17 states have passed constitutional amendments stating that a child’s life begins at the moment it is conceived, making it more difficult for anti-abortion laws to be overturned.
IFRC: Invest to reduce risks for urban poor
Investments to improve governance and infrastructure are needed to protect the world’s 2.5 billion urban dwellers of low- to middle-income countries, the International Federation of the Red Cross says in its World Disasters Report 2010. The number of people living in crowded, poorly managed settlements is growing annually in cities across the globe and recent disasters such as the Haiti earthquake demonstrate which urban populations are most vulnerable, according to the IFRC report.
$40 billion UN fund for women, children announced
In keeping with the UN‘s Millennium Development Goals, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced a $40 billion drive to improve the lives of women and children around the world — a campaign that could save 16 million lives by 2015. The funding for the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health come from governments, philanthropists and private donors and will seek to improve health care and prevent deaths among pregnant women and children under the age of 5.
UN recognizes Bangladesh MDGs progress
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will present Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with an award for the country’s success in curbing child-mortality rates by nearly two-thirds well ahead of the 2015 target associated with the Millennium Development Goals. Bangladesh officials say they have also made significant progress toward education, maternal mortality and gender disparity MDG targets.
Child vaccines offer most efficient aid value
World Health Organization chief Margaret Chan joined UNICEF chief Anthony Lake in calling for greater funding for child vaccinations, arguing that they represent the greatest value for the money for improving global health and achieving the UN‘s Millennium Development Goals. The two UN leaders urged greater funding for the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, which has provided immunizations to more than 250 million children worldwide, saving at least 5 million lives.
UN: MDG poverty target will be met
The world is on track to lower the number of people living in abject poverty to 15%, down from 42%, by 2015 despite the pressures of a global recession, the United Nations says in a report. Some observers warn the recent economic woes have slowed the pace of progress, and United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on world leaders to ensure the world’s poor do not pay the price for budget cuts and meet the goal.
UN seeks funds for maternal, child health MDGs
The United Nations will be seeking $169 billion in funding from world leaders this week to support a new program aimed at improving access to health care for women and children across the developing world. The Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health will target 49 countries with the lowest income over the next five years. The United Nations Foundation announced plans Monday to contribute $400 million to the effort.
Give females more tools to achieve maternal mortality MDGs
Increasing access for women and girls to information, services and supplies for family planning is one way help cut maternal mortality rates around the world. In many countries, discussions of reproduction and contraception remain taboo and females — especially young girls married before age 18 — often have little control over their own reproductive systems. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will convene a special side event at this week’s summit on the Millennium Development Goals to examine ways to get closer to the 2015 goal of a 75% reduction in maternal and child mortality rates.
Universal education is within reach
Efforts to provide universal access to primary education as a Millennium Development Goal have taken a hit as a result of the global economic crisis, but the target remains within reach, the Global Campaign for Education says in a report. Around the world, 69 million children are out of school, according to the report, with children in Somalia, Eritrea, Haiti and the Comoros Islands facing the most severe challenges to accessing education.