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Half way around the world at the 2013 Women Deliver conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, government leaders, NGO representatives, corporate leaders and other health-focused groups have come together to use their collective voice to call for action to improve the health and well-being of girls and women. At the conference Lakshmi Puri, Acting Head of UN Women, summed it up best when she said, “It is time to move sexual and reproductive health, women’s rights and gender equality from the sidelines to the center of the frame, to the center of all discussions…”

Today, the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, is the perfect time to echo Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA) – a champion of a strong U.S.-UN relationship for over 25 years – in saying…

While not everyone could make it to Malaysia for the 2013 Women Deliver Conference, they could add their voice to the conversation through “Women Deliver +SocialGood,” an in-person and online event that brought together media experts, social entrepreneurs, and policy leaders to discuss how digital media and technology can address challenges facing women and girls around the world.

Mothers shape the lives of children, impact communities, and sustain nations through their nurturing and work, serving as a lifeline for future generations to come. When a mother dies, her absence is felt throughout the world. Her children have a difficult time surviving and her family suffers, leaving a community more vulnerable to health and economic disparities.

In Washington, budgets can often be synonymous with battles, and this spring has been no exception. International assistance can often be a source of battles, though it represents less than 1% of the total budget.

From time to time, we are reminded that it’s not always easy being an outspoken supporter of the UN in the U.S. But I have some new inspiration. It’s not a new poll or report, but a global force – hundreds of thousands of citizens – who walk in your shoes in their home countries.

The public chorus to eliminate extreme poverty by 2030 now includes US President Barack Obama, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim and Bono. The backdrop is extremely promising since the developing world has already cut the share of people living below US$1.25 a day by half since 1990. At a consistent rate of progress, the other half could well cross the line in another 20 years too…

What brings together individuals and organizations such as Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani student shot by the Taliban for her outspoken support of girls’ education, front-line polio workers, the global action campaign 10×10, and GE Africa? The answer: courage and a determination to work for a better world. The four will also come together in New York City to be honored at the 2013 Global Leadership Awards Dinner in New York City this November…

In a resource-constrained world, partnerships and innovation are essential to scaling up creative solutions in the global fight against deadly diseases. In the past decade, we have seen the value that strong global health partnerships can create.

The Global Mom Relay has brought together the famous and the unknown. It’s brought together men and women and girls. It’s brought together experts and advocates.