International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Maternal health is a human right that should be available to all irrespective of location, it has been claimed.

Bert Koenders, minister for development cooperation of the Netherlands, told attendees at a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) meeting in Ethiopia that ending the needless suffering of women is "one of the greatest moral, human rights and development challenges of our time".

Speaking in Addis Ababa, he commented that in order to reduce health inequality, the views of women must be heard and their concerns addressed.

"In many countries, women have an unmet need for family planning," Mr Koenders stated, calling for pursuit of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Five on maternal health.

He said this particular goal is "the mother" of all others, as investment in it promotes the attainment of all other MDGs.

Last week, UNFPA executive director Thoraya Ahmed Obaid claimed that for too long, women's lives, dreams and rights have not been given the priority attention they deserve.