News Releases
March 8, 2010
Contact: Cinderella Lee
Communications Manager
Public Health Institute
(510) 285-5533
PHI honors women's advances on International Women's Day
OAKLAND, CA -- In honor of International Women's Day on March 8, the Public Health Institute (PHI) celebrates the enormous strides women have made, while reaffirming its commitment to reversing trends in human rights, sexual and reproductive health, poverty, education and inequality that cause 536,000 women and adolescent girls to die each year worldwide from complications of pregnancy, childbirth and its aftermath.
PHI has been a longstanding supporter of women's health and human rights in developing nations, particularly through its programs in Latin America and Africa, the Adolescent Girls' Advocacy & Leadership Initiative (AGALI) and the Youth Leadership in Sexual and Reproductive Health Program (GOJoven).
"Due to the enormous social, economic, and political challenges adolescent girls face, investing in young women is fundamental to advancing global health and development," said Denise Dunning, director of AGALI. "PHI strengthens the capacity of local advocates who are working to improve the health and welfare of girls and women globally."
Supported by the United Nations Foundation, AGALI aims to address the inequities, violence and limited socioeconomic opportunities that detract from adolescent girls' health and well-being and often lead to unwanted pregnancy, early childbearing, unsafe abortion, and HIV infection.
AGALI provides intensive capacity building, technical support and funding to emerging and established leaders in Liberia, Malawi, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Mexico. Through this program, national leaders improve their ability to advocate for adolescent girls' health and human rights and expand young women's access to economic and educational opportunities.
Funded by the Summit Foundation, the GOJoven program trains and supports teams of young leaders and their organizations to strengthen their commitment and capacity to improving sexual and reproductive health and rights. The leaders from Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Quintana Roo, Mexico, develop skills to spur lasting improvements in the choices, services, and programs available for adolescent and sexual and reproductive health.
"We are proud of the immense contribution of women all around the world to creating a more just, peaceful and equitable society," said Esther Tahrir, director of GOJoven. "PHI works together with women and girls in developing countries to improve their lives and the lives of their children and their families."
To learn more about PHI's programs, click here.
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