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Press Release

13 October 2008

Rwanda's women unite to save mothers' lives

Rwanda’s history-making women MPs united today to launch a campaign to reduce the number of mothers who die in childbirth.

The women became the first in the world last week to outnumber their male counterparts in parliament, with 56% of the seats.

Rwanda's history-making women MPs launch a campaign with the support of the UK government to reduce the number of mothers dying in childbirthRwanda's history-making women MPs launch a campaign with the support of the UK government to reduce the number of mothers dying in childbirth.

Today, in a bid to improve health support for women across the country, the female parliamentarians, together with the First Lady, Jeanette Kagame, UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) and other development partners united to support the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood Rwanda.

Supported by £30,000 grant from DFID, the White Ribbon Alliance will work to increase awareness about safe pregnancy and childbirth in Rwanda and unite the many existing initiatives aimed at improving motherhood in Rwanda.

The rate of women dying during childbirth in Rwanda is amongst the world’s highest. Around 2770 mothers die each year whilst giving birth – that is close to one death every three hours every day of the year.

Introducing the White Ribbon Alliance in Rwanda, Jeanette Kagame, the First Lady of Rwanda, said:

“Rwandan women are key players of our national development, starting with the wellbeing of Rwandan families.

“We are here today because mothers are dying. It it is ironic that in the process of giving life, mothers are losing theirs. But we have decided that we cannot sit back.

“I am certain that the Rwanda Ribbon Alliance will be able to improve the livelihoods of pregnant mothers and babies in Rwanda, through its activities and role played by its members.”

Sarah Brown, Patron of the White Ribbon Alliance, said:

“Mothers dying in childbirth is a tragedy which leaves millions of children orphaned around the world every year and denies the mother a basic human right - to be able to have a family. And it denies newborns and surviving children better life chances.

“For the loss of a mother makes it so much harder to feed, vaccinate and educate. We know the solutions; health workers and access to them in every community.

“The UK's support for initiatives such as the White Ribbon Alliance Rwanda is an important step on the way for mothers in Rwanda.”

International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said:

“I believe that the remarkable increase in female representation in parliament will give women across Rwanda a far greater voice in the decisions that affect their lives. It is shocking that so many mothers die whilst giving birth and that is why the UK Government is committed to improving health care across Africa.

“I hope that the White Ribbon Alliance will be able to build on the recent progress in Rwanda and ensure every mother in Rwanda will soon get the family planning, ante-natal care and medical support that she needs.”

Women’s rights have gradually improved since the genocide in 1994. A steady increase of female parliamentarians in Rwanda over the last ten years has seen laws passed allowing women the rights to inherit land, work without the permission of their husband and make rape and physical violence is illegal.

The UK has played a key role in supporting Rwanda and has provided £380m since 1998.

For more information and photos, please contact Helle Nordberg, DFID Press Office on tel. 02070230600 or email: h-nordberg@dfid.gov.uk or Brigid McConville, White Ribbon Alliance on tel. 02079227797 or email: whiteribbonalliance@rcog.org.uk

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