As part of the 100th anniversary celebrations for International Women's Day on March 8th, UNFPA's new Executive Director, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, urged the international community to take a giant leap towards universal access to reproductive health, including family planning, by supporting the Coalition-led HANDtoHAND campaign, which aims to put contraceptive choices in the hands of 100 million women.

As noted by UNFPA, the success of the campaign would meet the needs of nearly one half of the 215 million women who lack effective family planning. It will also lead to 96 million fewer unintended pregnancies; 54 million fewer abortions; 110,000 fewer maternal deaths and 1.4 million fewer infant deaths in five years. The Campaign brings together stakeholders in public and private sectors in developing and developed nations.

“UNFPA is proud to be a partner of the Hand to Hand Campaign in which millions of women are reaching out”, said Dr. Osotimehin. “We will continue supporting this campaign to put power in the hands of women. Working with other partners, this Campaign can help the world achieve its goal of universal access to reproductive health, including family planning, by 2015.”

Read the UNFPA press release here. For more information on the HANDtoHAND campaign, visit the webpage.