In March 2007, key women parliamentarians from 20 developing and developed countries met in London to promote investment and methods that will accelerate progress on maternal and newborn health and survival. The two-day meeting was organized by the WHO Department of Making Pregnancy Safer (MPS) together with the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Commonwealth Secretariat, and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).

The meeting provided an opportunity for participants to share their experiences and debate maternal and newborn health issues. It raised awareness and created a common understanding of key policies and interventions to improve maternal and newborn health. It also encouraged parliamentarians and government health officials to continue to raise the issue of women’s health-care needs at the highest levels and to commit to allocating budget funds and development assistance to meet these needs.

Report by the World Health Organization