26 September 2015

High Level Event to Launch the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health

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The event began with remarks from Ms. Amina Mohammed, the Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Post-2015 Development Planning, highlighting the new Sustainable Development Goals agenda the success of the Every Woman Every Child movement since 2010 and the strong leadership of the Secretary-General in driving progress for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health. She further expressed a strong belief that we can end preventable deaths of women, children and adolescents contributing to progress across all seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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The Secretary-General in his remarks explained the three main objectives of the strategy, “First, survival, we want to end preventable deaths of women and children by 2030. Second, we aim to ensure every woman, child and adolescent thrives. Third, we commit to transforming the world in which women, children and adolescents live.” His full remarks from the event can be found here.

Eleven youth delegates from around the world handed the Global Strategy for Women’s Children’s and Adolescent’s Health to the Secretary-General, marking the official launch of the Strategy, but also highlighting the focus placed on adolescents in the new document and how they need to be at the center of the entire SDG agenda.

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Following the launch moment, the event continued with two panel discussions featuring the Presidents of Kenya and Malawi, the Prime Ministers of Ethiopia and Norway; the First Ladies of China and Malawi; Ministers from Indonesia, South Africa, and Canada, heads of UN agencies (UNAIDS, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO), CEO representatives from the private sector, and representatives of foundations and civil society organizations, including remarks from Ms. Melinda Gates.

The event concluded with a passionate speech from Ms. Ishita Chaudry, founder of the YP Foundation who said, “In 2030, I will be 45. I would like to imagine that my children, and the adolescents who have spoken to you today would look back at this moment and say that your choices changed the course of their future.” She continued by saying, “That you understood that the most strategic investment for equality, peace and sustainable development is investing in today’s adolescents. I leave you, world leaders with a challenge: When you go back to your own countries and look at your budgets and programmes, ask yourselves – will your grandchildren reap those benefits?”

One overwhelming message that came out of the entire event is that this day marked the beginning of commitments to this Strategy. More investment and commitment from all leaders and all sectors are needed to ensure the vision of ending all preventable, maternal, child and adolescent deaths and ensure their wellbeing by 2030.

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Event Resources:

You can watch the full recording of the event via UN Web TV.

Press Release announcing the launch of the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health.

Panelists Remarks from the High-Level Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health Launch Event.

Commitments Compendium in support of the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health

Photos from the High-Level Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health Launch Event.

Download the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health.

Digital version of the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health.

Video Animation