Landmark Summit Puts Women at Heart of Global Health Agenda

Landmark Summit Puts Women at Heart of Global Health Agenda PR Newswire LONDON, July 11, 2012 - Global leaders unite to provide 120 million women in the world's poorest countries with access to contraceptives by 2020 LONDON, July 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Voluntary family planning services will reach an additional 120 million women and girls in the world's poorest countries by 2020 thanks to a new set of commitments announced today by more than 150 leaders from donor and developing countries, international agencies, civil society, foundations and the private sector. The announcement was made at the London Summit on Family Planning, co- hosted by the UK Government's Department for International Development and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This unprecedented effort showcased innovative partnerships and leadership at the country level, empowering women to reach their full potential. The Summit underscored the importance of access to contraceptives as both a right and a transformational health and development priority. Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell, said: "This is a breakthrough for the world's poorest girls and women which will transform lives, now and for generations to come. The commitments made at the Summit today will support the rights of women to determine freely, and for themselves, whether, when and how many children they have.