New York: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on the nations to ensure that the current financial crisis do not impede funding of women welfare programmes.

"The global financial crisis is forcing all of us to save and cut costs where we can. But our work for the women of the world must continue undiminished," Ban emphasised at the presentation of the 2008 International Award for the Health and Dignity of Women by Americans for UNFPA. T

he recipients of this year's award, which honours exemplary contributions to women's health and the promotion of women's rights, were four American women from the corporate sector and activists from Madagascar, Mexico and Nepal. "These honourees all understand a fundamental truth," said Ban. "When you empower a woman, you empower a family."

Empowering women frees valuable resource for development, as well as increases the chances of an education for their children, and their children in turn, Ban remarked. "In short, when you empower a woman, you change the world," the Secretary-General said, adding that this is exactly what UNFPA does by striving for maternal health and gender equality.

Ban pointed out that one woman dies each minute from complications related to pregnancy or labour. "We must halt this terrible tragedy." Recently the UN teamed up with world leaders to launch a new initiative to strengthen health systems in an effort to reduce the number of women who die in pregnancy and childbirth, one of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with a 2015 deadline.

The task force on maternal mortality will be co-chaired by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and World Bank President Robert Zoellick will focus on financing health care systems and pay for health care workers.

Source : PTI