Investing in Women’s Reproductive Health Equals Investing in Economic and Social Progress for Everyone
Achieving gender equality requires addressing the reproductive health needs of women. However, despite improvements in gender equality in other domains, too little progress has been achieved on this critical front. The lack of investment in reproductive health is a missed opportunity for development. This panel will review the economic benefits of investing in reproductive health, including improved labour productivity, reduced out-of-pocket expenditures, enhanced human capital of future generations, and increased economic growth. Investing in reproductive health is smart economics for policy makers in developing countries, but obstacles still exist. We will explore proven and promising policy levers to accelerate progress.

Panel
Musimbi Kanyoro, President and CEO, Global Fund for Women 

Investing in Girls
It is universally recognised that girls’ access to education is key to their future contributions to society and their own sense of fulfilment. Enabling girls to participate fully in all aspects of family, political, and community life is critical to gender equality. The panel will explore continuing barriers and challenges to ensuring that every girl has access to an education and the experiences and rights that will enable her to flourish.

Panel
Maria Eitel, President and CEO, Nike Foundation


PLENARY LUNCH

Role of Professional Association Leaders in Advocating for Women’s Reproductive Health
Among the most respected advocates for reproductive health services are the professional associations whose members provide those services. Beyond setting the standards that lend credibility to providers and ensuring the health and safety of patients, they also develop ethical codes of conduct that guarantee adherence to the highest standards of care. They inform their members of challenges to quality of care and translate the narrative stories of the real-life challenges and needs of women, girls and couples into measurable actions for ministries of health, other government agencies, and media. The leaders of the reproductive health professional associations will share their experiences as advocates, educators, and service providers.
Moderator

Panel
Professor Sabaratnam Arulkumaran, President, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)




Closing the Gap on MDG 5
Progress on Millennium Development Goal 5 has been slow, but is accelerating. New quantitative estimates of need, receipt, and unmet need for maternal and neonatal health services for each region and sub-region of the developing world are promising, as are the innovative advocacy and service delivery approaches that the panel will discuss. These approaches are designed to improve access and close important service gaps.
Moderator

Panel
Petra ten Hoope-Bender, Director for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, Instituto de Cooperación Social (ICS) Integrare

 
PRESIDENTIAL SESSION 

Women’s Health 
The reproductive health paradigm established at Cairo called for a holistic women-centred approach to achieve comprehensive reproductive health care. Over the past years, we have come to understand that broader issues of women’s health also need to be seen as part of that comprehensive approach. The dramatic increase in rates of non-communicable diseases, from cancers to diabetes, affects reproductive health. Women’s mental health, infertility, and sexuality are all still neglected. The disproportionate number of women in poverty is a further health challenge. A life-cycle approach to women’s health is sorely needed. The panel will explore these challenges, and how the health needs of women can be better met.
Moderator


PLENARY

Women Lead – Opportunities and Challenges 
There is no doubt that substantial progress has been made in women’s leadership, not just in traditional areas such as health and education but as leaders in finance, government, and communications, and as cultural icons. Younger women can rise to leadership sooner. Yet, even the world’s most powerful women speak of challenges and of being ignored. This will be a lively and intimate look at how women leaders see their own leadership. It will also explore the latest in leadership theories, with the panellists’ perceptions of what makes for great leaders in the 21st century.


PLENARY

Global Progress on Family Planning—Putting Women at the Heart of the Global Health Agenda 
Join Melinda Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in an exciting plenary session focused on Family Planning 2020 (FP2020). The global community came together at the London Summit on Family Planning and delivered bold commitments to help girls and women in developing countries access lifesaving contraceptives. Learn how advocates and government officials are working together and making progress to advance FP2020.


TO THE POINT

NEED MODERATOR

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