Countdown to 2015 addressing the 119th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union

Home > Countdown to 2015 adressing the 119th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) held its 119th Assembly from 13 to 15 October 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland. The Assembly gathered more than 500 Parliamentarians from over 130 countries - among them some 40 Speakers of Parliament.

On Wednesday, 15 October 2008, Dr. Francisco Songane addressed the IPU Assembly on behalf of the Partners of the Countdown to 2015 Initiative. This represented a great opportunity to pursue the Countdown to 2015 efforts to sensitize Parliamentarians on maternal and child health issues at the country level.

In his speech, Dr Songane stressed that Parliamentarians can make a difference by attracting more political attention and, hence, advocating for maternal and child health issues. He also called on Parliamentarians to work towards the improvement of their respective country legislations to ensure mothers and children more access to essential health care services, and called on the necessity for more investments in health systems and maternal, newborn and child health programmes.

The Countdown to 2015 also set a booth at the Conference's site to explain about the Initiative and distribute documents and materials to the Parliamentarians.

The 120th IPU Assembly will take place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 5 to 10 April 2009. The Countdown to 2015 Initiative will be present and will hold a special session where a selected number of countries will present the progress achieved.

Countdown to 2015 for Maternal, Newborn and Child Survival