Written declaration No. 529 | Doc. 12992 | 22 October 2012

London Summit on Family Planning 11 July 2012: access to contraceptives for 120 million more women by 2020

Signatories: Ms Carina HÄGG, Sweden, SOC ; Ms Karin ANDERSEN, Norway, UEL ; Ms Gülsün BİLGEHAN, Turkey, SOC ; Ms Bernadette BOURZAI, France, SOC ; Mr Boriss CILEVIČS, Latvia, SOC ; Mr Arcadio DÍAZ TEJERA, Spain, SOC ; Ms Josette DURRIEU, France, SOC ; Mr Jean-Claude FRÉCON, France, SOC ; Mr Håkon HAUGLI, Norway, SOC ; Ms Anette HÜBINGER, Germany, EPP/CD ; Mr Haluk KOÇ, Turkey, SOC ; Ms Liliane MAURY PASQUIER, Switzerland, SOC ; Sir Alan MEALE, United Kingdom, SOC ; Ms Nursuna MEMECAN, Turkey, ALDE ; Mr Jean-Pierre MICHEL, France, SOC ; Ms Federica MOGHERINI REBESANI, Italy, SOC ; Ms Sandra OSBORNE, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Andrea RIGONI, Italy, ALDE ; Ms Amber RUDD, United Kingdom, EDG ; Mr Stefan SCHENNACH, Austria, SOC ; Mr Jim SHERIDAN, United Kingdom, SOC ; Mr Eric VORUZ, Switzerland, SOC

This written declaration commits only those who have signed it.

We the undersigned members of Parliament

Salute the UK Government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for its initiative to host the London Summit on Family Planning on 11 July 2012

Are concerned that around 222 million women around the world who don’t want to get pregnant cannot access contraceptives; every two minutes a woman dies of pregnancy-related complications;

Underline that contraceptives save lives: additional 120 million women accessing contraceptives by 2020 would result in 200,000 fewer women and girls dying in pregnancy and childbirth; over 50 million fewer abortions; more than 100 million fewer unintended pregnancies; nearly 3 million fewer babies dying in their first year of life

Stress that one US dollar spent on family planning saves governments 4 dollars on health, housing, water, other public services.

Urge the Council of Europe Donor Governments to play a key role in mobilizing new and securing the existing financing commitments to support the rights of an additional 120 million women and girls in the world to use contraceptive information, services and supplies, without coercion or discrimination, by 2020.