Celebrating Women's Achievements Since 1911

ALBANY, NY (03/06/2010)(readMedia)-- In Kenya.... In Mexico...In Ireland... and in Utah...

March 8, is International Women's Day, the internationally recognized day when people reflect on the economic, political, and social achievements made my women and girls; highlighting the progress they have made and the challenges that remain.

Here in the Capitol Region, students at the University at Albany will celebrate the day by calling attention to the many women around the world who lack access to family planning and abortion services, and the impact this has on their lives. The student group, known as VOX, will also point out that women in the United States face increasing challenges to their reproductive rights and urge action to protect those rights. They will also distribute information about services available locally through Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood.

Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood has promoted women's health in the Capital District Region for over seventy-five years by linking services with advocacy. "Women's access to reproductive healthy services is critical to the continued progress ofwomen, families and communities within society," explains UHPP vice President for Public Affairs Blue Carreker. In addition to providing a wide range of reproductive health care services and information, UHPP works with community and student organizations to raise awareness about sexual health and responsibility, and to advocate for laws that protect access to these services.

According to the Guttmacher Institute, a non-profit organization which works to advance reproductive health as defined by the World Health Organization, this year International Women's Day coincides with the 15th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action a historic pledge to make the recognition and fulfillment of women's rights a global priority. The declaration makes clear that reproductive health is critical to the well-being of women and men, asserts all people's right to have access to family planning information and services, and underscores the importance of maternal and newborn health care.

On a national basis, Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) urges government officials to make women's health services a priority and recently, there has been important progress. For the first time the Country Report on Human Rights Practices, a country-by-country analysis of human rights issues around the world published by the U.S. State Department, will include sections on reproductive rights as a measure of progress on human rights. On International Women's Day, UHPP and the University VOX chapter will join with others around the country in celebrating this progress while recognizing how much work remains until all women can live healthy and productive lives.