The European Commission today adopted its annual review of development cooperation and progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and urged Member States to adopt measures to ensure Aid commitments are kept.

This The Lancet's article (published online 12 April 2010) presents a systematic analysis of progress made regarding Millennium Development Goal 5 - a goal the most off-track of all the MDGs. As maternal mortality remains a major challenge to health systems worldwide, reliable information about the rates and trends in maternal mortality is essential for resource mobilisation, planning and assessment of progress towards MDG 5. The article features comparative data on levels and trends in maternal health collected from 181 countries and embracing the period 1980 - 2008.

The European Commission today signaled a new more coherent EU approach to health across the world as it adopted a Communication on Global Health. By applying the principles the EU uses to govern its own health policy to Global Health the Commission has today signaled a strong commitment to ensuring the Right to Health for all.

On March 25th, merry men and women, accompanied by angry bankers and confused Heads of State gathered on Place Luxembourg outside the European Parliament for a launch of the Brussels’ campaign on a financial transaction tax (FTT). Two Action for Global Health Brussels partners – The Stop AIDS Alliance (SAA) and the European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) – support and participate in the campaign.

On Tuesday 23 March, Oxfam International organised an EU Millennium Development Goals hearing in the European Parliament with a focus on health and education. Action for Global Health Brussels partners attended the hearing. The hearing was hosted by Michael Cashman, MEP rapporteur on the MDGs.

Brussels, 8 March 2010 - Press Release - Today, on the occasion of International Women's Day and of the 15th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, the European Commission services have outlined an EU Action Plan on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in Development for the period 2010 - 2015. This Action Plan aims to accelerate the achievement of the Millennium Developmewnt Goals (MDGs), in articular on gender equality and maternal health, as well as to contribute to attaining other international development goals related to gender equality. The Action Plan suggests actions in areas, such as the organisation of regular political meetings to assess progress on the issue, the setting up of gender databases and analysis and a stronger involvement of civil society.

L’absence de soins tue 500 000 femmes enceintes par an dans le monde

Vendredi le 12 mars, Action for Global Health, Oxfam France, Médecins du Monde et Avocats pour la Santé dans le Monde lancent la campagne « Non-assistance à mère en danger » lors d’une conférence de presse, en présence des représentants des quatre associations et de Dorothy Ngoma, directrice de l’organisation nationale des infirmiers et sages-femmes du Malawi.

Since 1911, 8th of March is an International Women's Day - a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. Every year - for the last 99 years - women issues are put in the limelight with hope to bring a change. Much has been achieved but continuous efforts are still needed. It's the day to think about women's health and gender equality. It's to think about women and girls, sexual and reproductive health and rights, mothers and pregnant women, both in developed and developing countries. It's to mind the Millennium Development Goal number 5 to improve maternal health, since it's the furthests and thoughest to be achieved by 2015.

A proposal for the 10 year strategy for the economic devlopment of the EU to 2020 has been adopted by the European Commission. It includes a reiteration to the MDGs and the need for greater finance to achieve them as well as providing policy space for the EU to develop an FTT / CTL. The strategy will be discussed by EU leaders at the Spring Council on 25 March and then completley adopted at the June European Council.