Transforming the Church & the World: Advocating for Women & Girls of Sacred Worth

Women & Poverty • Women make up half of the world's

population and yet represent 70% of the world's poor.

• Children born into poverty: – 2X more likely to die before age 5 – 3X more likely to not receive an education

Cycle of Poverty for Women

Young girl born into poverty; one of many children.

Lack of access to food, water,

education, health care and

agency.

As a teenager, she may be

forced into an early marriage.

In an early marriage, she

may experience pregnancy

before she can sustain one.

Without access to family planning,

she will be unable to time and space her

births.

More children born into

poverty; poor maternal health

outcomes.

The Facts

Every day… • 800 women die from pregnancy/childbirth • 16,000 suffer birth-related injury/ infection • 8,300 neonatal infants die • 2,700 children are left motherless And 99% of these deaths and injuries occur in the developing world.

Source: World Health Organization

The Family Planning Gap Worldwide, more than 225 million women would like to delay or prevent pregnancy but have no access to or education about modern, safe contraceptive methods.

Poor maternal health outcomes and lack of access to

contraception are both a result of poverty and driver of poverty.

Benefits of Healthy Timing & Spacing of Pregnancies

• Avoidance of unintended pregnancies • Improved health for mother and child • Reduced risk of pregnancy-related

complications • Recovery and preparation period for

woman • Empower women and supportive

partners to plan their lives and families

The Ripple Effect

• A healthy woman earns and owns more. • A smaller family has more resources to send

children to school and feed them. • A well-educated girl delays marriage and

has fewer children. • A community with healthy women has a

larger, more vibrant workforce. • Slowed population growth = less strain on

land, resources

The Virtuous Cycle of FP

A married couple who is able to plan their family.

They have 3 children; 2 sons and 1 daughter.

Although not wealthy, they are able to send all of their children

to school.

In order to finish school, their

daughter delays marriage.

When she does get married, she

is able to practice HTSP.

The virtuous cycle continues.

How can we as Christians be advocates for family planning?

Biblical Basis for Advocacy • God condemns sins of injustice • Jesus is a manifestation of God’s desire to

reconcile our brokenness. • To be a follower of Christ is to serve the

world in a way that brings about wholeness for all people.

• Bringing wholeness to all people includes using our voices to proclaim Christ’s promise of freedom.

Advocacy for Women and Girls • Why does God care about maternal

health & family planning? – Women & girls are made in the image of

God (imago dei) – Women and girls are children of God with

sacred worth. – Lack of access to contraception keeps

women and girls from experiencing health and wholeness.

– As people of faith we’re called to take action

Healthy Families, Healthy Planet

Started in 2010, the Healthy Families, Healthy Planet project, an initiative of The United Methodist General Board of Church & Society, works to mobilize U.S. United Methodists on the importance of maternal health and international family planning.

HFHP Ambassador Program

• 150 faith leaders in the U.S. • Ambassador training program • Regular Ambassador calls & emails • Advocacy-focused resources • Community moments

Our successes

• HFHP Ambassador Program – More than 400 events on FP/MH in churches

& local communities – 150+ articles , op-eds, blog posts about our

work – Successful network of advocates

• HFHP Bishop Sign-On Letter – Signed by 20 UMC Bishops

United Methodist Resolution

Maternal Health: The Church’s Role (2012 General Conference)

• Calls upon all local congregations to:

– Support United Methodist projects around the world working on maternal health and family planning.

– Advocate with policy makers at all levels to improve maternal health through increased access to maternal health and family planning services.

– Support local health initiatives that expand access to information and services for women

Go forth!