FCI's vision is of a world where no woman suffers preventable injury or death from pregnancy or childbirth-related causes and in which all people are able to enjoy their sexual and reproductive health and rights. FCI — one of the world’s leading voices for maternal and reproductive health — fights for political commitment, stronger policies, and more funding for programs that save women’s lives.
We emphasize the continuum of care and integration of funding and services, and insist that health and development policies and programs be built on a foundation of human rights. And because maternal health is tied so closely, and in such complex ways, with broader issues, FCI approaches our advocacy in a spirit of partnership, and is often on the cutting edge of policy discussion on such topics as safe abortion, post-abortion care, emergency contraception, and the integration of health programs. When the discussions are serious and the stakes are high, FCI is there at the table, bringing political savvy, technical expertise, and years of experience to the search for practical and principled solutions. Our high-level advocacy includes:
Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health
In our leading advocacy role in the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health, FCI has been integrally involved in developing and promoting the Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health,  launched at the United Nations in September 2010. The Global Strategy cuts across all the Millennium Development Goals, especially those related to health (MDGs 4, 5 and 6). It will serve as a global roadmap to identify and mobilize resources, policies, and critical interventions that will save the lives of more than 16 million women and children.
As a partner in developing the Global Strategy, FCI worked closely with the Secretary-General’s office, and with a broad range of governments and other partners, in a process that began in 2009 with the Global Consensus for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health. FCI played a crucial role in coordinating the participation of NGOs and other civil society groups, in soliciting their support and commitment, and in ensuring that maternal and reproductive health goals were given high priority in the text. Moving forward, FCI will conduct advocacy both globally and at the country level to ensure that governments and other stakeholders are held accountable for delivering on their commitments to women's and children's health.
At the United Nations
FCI is an active advocate for maternal and reproductive health and rights at major UN summits, at yearly meetings of the Commission on the Status of Women and the Commission on Population and  Development, and at the annual convening of the General Assembly. These meetings brings together a unique assemblage of heads of state, government ministers, and media from around the world, and represent a unique opportunity for advocates to achieve global visibility for our issues and to lock in financial and policy commitments. Over several years, FCI has played a key role, in close partnership with governments, UN agencies, and other NGOs from around the world, in organizing special high-level UN events to promote progress on women's health. These events have launched the Global Strategy, the Consensus for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, and other landmark documents, and have been crucial in driving financial and policy progress.
- Read FCI's blogs from the 44th conference of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD) here and here
- Learn about the 2010 General Assembly event, hosted by the UN Secretary-General and part of the crucial MDG Summit, launching the Global Strategy for Women's and Children's Health
- Read about the 2009 side event, Investing in our Common Future: Healthy Women, Healthy Children, hosted by the UK Prime Minister and the president of the World Bank, which launced the Consensus for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health
- Learn about the 2008 General Assembly event, Commitment to Progress for Mothers, Newborn and Children, hosted by the presidents of Chile, Finland, and Tanzania
G8 and G20 Summits
Each year, heads of government, finance ministers, and other leaders of the world's most powerful nations meet to coordinate economic policy and discuss pressing issues confronting the global community. Increasingly in recent years, because of advocacy by FCI and our partners, issues of global health and development have become prominent topics at the G8 and G20 summits. FCI works with colleague organizations and coalitions to develop advocacy strategies, to press host governments to focus summit agendas on global health, and to hold governments accountable for meeting past commitments on a range of health and development issues. Partnering with a broad range of advocates from G8 and G20 countries, FCI works to ensure that key maternal and reproductive health issues are at the forefront of the coalitions' combined "policy ask."
- Read about FCI and PMNCH advocacy at the June 2010 G8/G20 Summits, where host country Canada launched the "Muskoka Intiative for Maternal and Child Health, a 5-year, $7.3 billion effort
- Read FCI's blog on 2009 G8 Summit in Italy
- View FCI's blogs on the 2008 G8 Summit in Japan
Learn more about FCI's global advocacy.
Learn about FCI's work for stronger U.S. global health policies.
Read about FCI's history of achievement and impact. |
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