Former president at women's health conference

Former Irish president Mary Robinson will tomorrow join some of the most powerful women in the world at a London conference.

More than 1,500 world decision-makers and delegates from 75 countries will attend the Women Deliver global event focusing on the health of mothers and babies.

Speakers include Sarah Brown, wife of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and World Health Organisation director general Dr Margaret Chan.

The three-day conference will focus on strengthening health services to save the lives and improve the health of women, mothers and newborn babies around the world.

Robinson, a former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, is the co-chair of the event.

Other speakers include UN Under Secretary General Thoraya Obaid and International Labour Organisation director Assane Diop.

Issues on the agenda include access to reproductive health services, sex education and maternity services.

“Investment targeted to these areas will enable all women to deliver the next generation of babies but also economic progress, rising rates of literacy and productivity, better health and wellbeing for families, communities and nations,” said a spokesperson for the event.

In 2004, Robinson received Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award for her work promoting human rights.