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Each year around the world, International Women's Day is celebrated on March 8. The Health Policy Project recognizes the important role women play in fostering healthy families and healthy communities. Our programs collaborate with government agencies, national and international organizations, women’s associations, donors, and other stakeholders to advocate for policies that enhance access to health services and improve the well-being of women and girls.

In commemoration of International Women’s Day, the Health Policy Project recognizes the economic, political, and social achievements of women and girls throughout the world. We also renew our commitment to address gender inequalities, and pledge our support in the effort to empower females to work toward a brighter future and improved health for themselves, their families, and their communities.

For more information about International Women’s Day, visit the official website.

Inspiring Futures: Telling their Stories

Women are on the forefront in leading the global effort to advance the health of women and girls. Below are stories of female leaders that have dedicated their lives to advocating for improved maternal health, family planning, and reproductive health.

	African Women Leaders Add their Voices to Development Ruth Musila is a knowledge translation scientist at the African Institute for Policy Development and is ready to help make family planning and reproductive health a higher priority in Kenya. To do so, she says, “We need to move from making commitments to implementing policies.” Read her story.
	Advocating for Life-Saving Changes in Uganda Beatrice Rwakimari is a former Member of Parliament in Uganda. She says joined parliament because she wanted to help women in her community. Beatrice has since retired from parliament and founded ARISE, a non-governmental organization that advocates for the needs of women and girls in her community. Read her story.
	Fighting for the Right to Safe Motherhood in Tanzania Rose Mlay has been a dedicated advocate for maternal and child health ever since she decided to become a midwife in 1974. Since then, Rose began to teach maternal and child health courses at a national university and went on to establish the White Ribbon Alliance in Tanzania, where she works as the national coordinator. Read her story.

Selected Health Policy Project Resources

RAPIDWomen

RAPIDWomen is an interactive software tool that links family planning to other women-centered strategies such as girls’ education and promotion of gender equitable norms , thereby demonstrating how investing in these programs can increase quality of life for women, girls, and families, as well as overall development. Learn more.

What Works for Women and Girls

What Works for Women and Girls is a website that provides strategies, comprehensive data, and evidence on a full range of gender-sensitive HIV programming for women and girls. Visit the website.

Video – Break the Silence: Respectful Maternity Care

The Health Policy Project and the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood have recently unveiled a new charter and advocacy materials to promote respectful maternity. Click below to watch a video to learn more about the charter and why all women deserve the universal right to respectful maternity care.