CHRISTY TURLINGTON BURNS: WHY WE SIGNED THE GIRL DECLARATION

[sheshe2]

Christy Turlington Burns is the founder of Every Mother Counts, a non-profit organisation committed to ending preventable deaths caused by pregnancy and childbirth around the world and a signatory to the Girl Declaration. She also directed and produced the maternal health film No Woman, No Cry. Here she writes about why girls must be a priority in the post-2015 development goals.

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MATERNAL SAFETY

Nearly 13 million adolescent girls give birth each year in developing countries and approximately 330,000 in the US.

It's no coincidence that one of the leading causes of death among girls under 18 is pregnancy and childbirth. We know these deaths are almost entirely preventable if girls have ways of avoiding becoming pregnant in the first place. For that they need education, appropriate healthcare and the support of their peers, family and community.

In many parts of the world, including here in the US, girls are pushed into mature relationships long before their bodies and minds are ready. Many have no choice or power over whether or not they become sexually active or pregnant. For many girls, becoming a mother is not a choice: it's something that happens to them by default. Many don't survive.

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Read More: http://www.girleffect.org/news/2014/02/christy-turlington-burns-why-every-mother-counts-signed-the-girl-declaration/

Women's Int'l Film Fest-No Woman No Cry Trailer

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. Every mom counts. nt

[niyad]

2. k and r

[okaawhatever]

3. K & R nt

[sheshe2]

4. Kick!

[Iliyah]

5. K & R

[Cha]

6. Mahalo sheshe.. very important work for young girls, Christy T Burns is doing..

[laundry_queen]

7. K&R nt

[Heidi]

8. Kick!