The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has become an official torch bearer for gender equality and women's empowerment.
At a ceremony the Royal Danish Embassy in London (Thursday 31 July), Dr. Gill Greer, Director-General of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), was presented with a torch symbolising one of the major aims of development: to give women and girls around the world the same opportunities as men.
The Torch Campaign is a Danish initiative to promote the importance of gender equality in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and is a symbol to encourage governments and organizations to commit to doing something extra for gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Gender equality is the third of the eight MDGs - the targets that must be met by 2015 to meet the needs of the world's poorest people.
Find out more about the Government of Denmark’s campaign http://www.mdg3action.um.dk/en/
IPPF is honored to receive the MDG3 Torch from the Government of Denmark, and is committed to intensifying its work to promote sexual and reproductive rights through its Sexual Rights: An IPPF Declaration to be launched in 2008.
IPPF has been a trusted partner of communities and governments across the world for more than 50 years, delivering life saving sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning, allowing women to improve their health and wealth and to play a fuller role in their communities and countries.
Dr. Greer, said, “Women and girls around the world face massive obstacles to realizing their rights; yet unless they are empowered and gender equality becomes a priority for governments, the Millennium Development Goals will simply not be achievable.
For development to be truly meaningful, we must find the political will and the financial resources to close the gap between women and men in terms of capacities, access to resources and opportunities, and vulnerability to violence and conflict.
Today, IPPF has pledged to continue to expand its critical work improving women’s health and working to ensure that everyone, regardless of wealth, sexuality or age, can live a life of dignity; and on behalf of IPPF, I sincerely thank the Government of Denmark for raising the priority of women’s equality within the development agenda through the MDG3 Torch Campaign.”
The Danish Government's campaign is part of the Call to Action, an international drive to accelerate progress on the Goals during 2008.
The Call to Action is an international effort to accelerate progress on the MDGs and help make 2008 a turning point in the fight against poverty.
Find out more about the MDGs