Health Mothers, Healthy Babies: A free public forum on maternal health
Thursday, October 21, 12 noon to 2:30 pm
~Amnesty International is pleased to be working with a number of agencies and UBC departments (School of Population and Public Health and others) to present a free public forum on maternal health. The forum will feature UBC faculty member—Dr Farah Shroff; SheWay staff member Geo Hayes and a midwife; others involved include community researchers, practitioners, and activists with expertise and experience with improving maternal health in Canada and around the world.
The purpose of the panel is to focus public attention on maternal health, with particular attention on countries that are doing little to address high rates of maternal mortality. Panelists will address a variety of issues which may include discussing education for girls, sexual and reproductive rights for girls and women, access to healthcare (rural vs urban, discrimination faced by women from specific communities, etc), traditional vs “western” approaches to childbirth, state obligations, aid (including the Prime Minister’s recent announcement), global trends and outlook, leading to an exploration of what individuals, groups, and states can/should do. As panel members are confirmed this list of topics may narrow or expand as appropriate.
Following a welcome ceremony from a Musqueam Elder, the moderator will introduce the panel members and each will speak for about 15 minutes. The panel will then be open to questions and comments from the floor. Afterwards, panel members will have five minutes each for final comments. Participating organizations and departments will have information and action tables, and refreshments will be served.
The forum is being presented within Amnesty International’s campaign on improving maternal health, a key strategy in our campaign and action work to end global poverty. Amnesty International is calling for access to quality health care for all women and an end to the human rights violations that increase maternal mortality.
Where: Liu Institute for Global Issues, 6476 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver (UBC)
Contact: Don Wright
Regional Coordinator
Amnesty International Canada
dwright@amnesty.ca
Key websites:
Online action on MDG #5 (improving maternal health)
http://www.amnesty.ca/iwriteforjustice/take_action.php?actionid=440
AI Canada maternal health blog:
http://www.amnesty.ca/blog2.php?blog=end_maternal_mortality
Amnesty International maternal health campaign materials:
http://www.amnesty.org/en/campaigns/demand-dignity/issues/maternal-mortality/rights-journey/evidence/maternal-mortality