Dear Minister, excellencies, distinguished guests,

No woman should risk life to give life, and no woman should die giving birth when it is preventable.

Sadly, this is not the reality.

Every other minute, a woman dies due to causes related to pregnancy or childbirth.

Every fourteen seconds, a newborn suffers the same fate.

These numbers are a human tragedy and demand action. And today, we respond – by announcing the global initiative “10 Million Safer Births” here in Abuja. This initiative was launched last week in Ethiopia and Tanzania will follow later this week.

Let me begin by thanking the Government of Nigeria for hosting us all at this important event.

When the UN member states adopted the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, they jointly committed to improving women’s health – including a significant reduction in maternal mortality and universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services.

Today, we send a clear signal of our commitment to achieving this and specifically SDG 3.1.   

At first, progress seemed promising. From the year 2000, the global maternal mortality rate began to fall.

But that progress has worryingly slowed. And with the world facing multiple global crises the gains we’ve made are now more threatened than ever.

Each year, an estimated 260,000 women die from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth – such as bleeding, infection, and high blood pressure. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 70% of these deaths. And the most painful is this: most of these deaths are preventable.

Women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights have long been a cause close to my heart, driven by a deep sense of what is right and fair.

During my many years of advocating, I have often been left with a feeling of bewilderment; why is it so difficult to make progress on an agenda that touches us so fundamentally and deeply?

There are many reasons – and yes, this is a complex challenge. But none of these reasons, individually or combined, can justify the lack of tangible results.

We have the knowledge and know-how, and we have tested tools and proven effective methods. We have the ambition, and we know that it is not only the smart thing to do but also the right and fair thing to do.

So, where are we going wrong?

Together with UNFPA, Maternity Foundation and The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we began to explore the idea of a concrete and results driven concept.

We began with the finish line and worked backwards.

And to leave no room for doubt, we named the initiative after its goal.

From this hopeful and aspirational mindset, “10 Million Safer Births” was born.

Achieving such a noble goal can only be a reality if the right people come together. When governments, private actors, civil society, and international partners join forces, we can achieve great things.

Today, we are joining forces to improve the quality of care provided by midwives and skilled healthcare workers through improved education, greater access, resources and technology. With the end goal being to improve women’s health and reduce the numbers of lives lost during pregnancy and birth.

10 Million Safer Birth is a partnership. UNFPA and Maternity Foundation bring the right people together, they provide tried-and-tested methods and digital tools that improve maternal and newborn health. Together with governments and local authorities, they have adapted these approaches to national contexts – for example; Maternity Foundation’s Safe Delivery App is currently present in nearly 15 countries.

The Government of Denmark has committed 32 million Danish kroner to UNFPA and Maternity Foundation’s “10 Million Safer Births” initiative and recently the Gates Foundation announced its intent to support the initiative with up to 1.5 million US Dollars. Thus, securing a robust partnership with a promise of solid results. 

So, we know what works, we are committed, and we are constantly working to improve based on insights and experiences on the ground. This is not unknown territory.   

The focus of this initiative is simple. By being present where it happens through local interventions, we aim to make maternal mortality a priority first locally, then nationally, and ultimately globally.

Ensuring women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights is not just about a woman’s life and wellbeing – it also about strengthening families, uplifting communities, and fostering more resilient societies.

I am honoured to announce my patronage of this very concrete initiative, which aims to ensure 10 million safer births by end 2030 across Sub-Saharan Africa. I look forward to following the progress of the initial phase and see how “10 Million Safer Births” can result in fewer communities weakened by the loss of women, mothers and newborns.

Once again, thank you to Nigeria, I commend your will to invest in women, newborns, families, and communities.

For the future of your people and country.

Thank you.

(Det talte ord gælder)