NIV APPLICANTS EXPECTED FOR WOMEN DELIVER

UNCLAS STATE 011171 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CVIS KWMN SOCI SUBJECT: NIV APPLICANTS EXPECTED FOR WOMEN DELIVER CONFERENCE JUNE 2010 IN THE U.S. ¶1. Summary: Women Deliver, a U.S. based advocacy NGO, has planned a major conference for June 6 - 9, 2010 in Washington, DC. Women Deliver expects up to 3,000 participants from around the world to attend. State Department officials will participate. The U.S. government does not provide funding to Women Deliver. Beginning early in 2010, consular sections should expect to see applicants for NIVs to attend the conference. End Summary. ¶2. Women Deliver, a U.S. based advocacy NGO, is holding a conference in Washington, D.C. June 6-9 to bring worldwide attention to the urgency of achieving Millennium Development Goal 5 -- to reduce maternal mortality and achieve universal access to reproductive health. This conference will continue efforts to end the large number of preventable deaths that kill over 560,000 women every year in pregnancy and childbirth. It will focus on interim and short-term solutions to improve the health and well-being of women and girls. ¶3. Officials and staff of the Department will participate in the conference. Women Deliver expects high level participation from around the globe, including first ladies, Ambassadors, parliamentarians, and corporate leaders. Other participants will be NGO representatives, community organizers, and health workers. Women Deliver will provide up to 1000 scholarships for attendees from the Global South and youth, especially for attendees from approximately 68 countries where MDG 5 is languishing. See the following web sites for additional information: http://www.who.int/making_pregnancy_safer/abo ut/countries/en/i ndex.html and http://www.countdown2015mnch.org/. ¶4. For additional information, please consult the Women Deliver web site at http://www.womendeliver.org. You may also contact Kim D'Auria-Vazira, PRM/PIM, (202) 663-1657, D'Auria- VaziraK@state.gov. PRM/PIM works closely with a variety of NGOs working on family planning, reproductive health and women empowerment issues, including Women Deliver. ¶5. Minimize considered. CLINTON