FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 7, 2006

FOR INFORMATION AND INTERVIEWS, CONTACT: Whitney Welshimer, 212-979-8500 or wwelshimer@iwhc.org

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S HEALTH COALITION ANNOUNCES TOP TEN WINS FOR WOMEN IN 2006

Key Developments Offer Breakthroughs in Women's Health and Rights:
Major Opportunities Ahead in 2007

New York, NY: Millions of women around the world will lead healthier, more empowered lives because of progress made during 2006. Despite continued opposition by a coalition of conservative forces in the U.S. and internationally, more women will be able to receive accurate and comprehensive health information and care, access scientific and medical breakthroughs, and have the ability to protect themselves against disease and violence. Says Adrienne Germain, President of the International Women's Health Coalition, which promotes and protects the health and rights of girls and women worldwide: "These ten developments show how women's perseverance in pushing for change is bearing fruit. We will continue to work to ensure that commitments are honored, initiatives are funded, and women can realize their rights and access information, products, and services."

Heading the list of Top Ten Wins for Women's Health and Rights in 2006 is Colombia's Constitutional Court ruling to overturn the country's complete ban on abortion, which called the ban "disproportionate" and "irrational."

Second place goes to the African Union's far-reaching initiative to achieve universal access to sexual and reproductive health services for Africa's women. Currently only one-third of African women are able to access such services.

Other winning developments:

3.  Margaret Chan was appointed director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO) and vowed to make women's health a top priority.

4.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a vaccine to protect women and girls against the human papilloma virus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer.

5.  The United Nations member governments committed to take new actions to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, specifically strengthening initiatives aimed at girls and women.

6.  India passed a bill making violence against women a crime, punishable by jail and fines. Currently, every six hours a married woman in India is burned, beaten to death, or driven to commit suicide.

7.  South Dakota voters in November rejected a ban on abortion, which included only an exception to save the life of the woman.

8.  The FDA finally bowed to scientific evidence to permit emergency contraception to be sold in the United States over the counter to women 18 and older. 

9.  A landmark study offered compelling evidence on how to reduce maternal mortality rates by showing that female genital mutilation, widely practiced in Africa, raises the likelihood that a woman or her baby will die during childbirth by more than 50 percent.

10.  Four microbicides, which will enable women to protect themselves against HIV transmission, reached the final phases of clinical trials.

"Going into 2007, we have major challenges-and major opportunities. With a new U.S. Congress, we have the chance to reverse damaging sexual and reproductive health policy. Now that the world is paying closer attention, there is great potential to fully address women's experience with HIV/AIDS. And we have proof that women, and the men who stand with them, can accomplish great things," concludes Ms. Germain.

The top ten list was compiled by IWHC policy and program experts who work in Africa, Asia and Latin America and monitor emerging developments in sexual and reproductive health and rights. For the complete list and more information, please visit www.iwhc.org/resources/toptenindex.cfm.

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The International Women's Health Coalition (IWHC) works in partnership with leaders from around the world to advance women's health and rights.