Dreams for My Daughter: Birgitta Reinfeldt
Mothers and fathers the world over have dreams for their daughters; for love and happiness, for fulfilment and equality, for peace and prosperity….
But in all too many countries their daughters still have little option but to follow an age old pattern: forced into early marriage and risking death to give birth. In Afghanistan, 1 in 11 women die in childbirth, and in many countries it is more likely that girls will die giving birth than go to school. This reinforces the vicious circle of low education, poverty, child marriage – and back to early death in childbirth.
This week, on International Women’s Day, 8th March, the Dreams for My Daughter exhibition will be launched at WOW – Women of the World festival at the UK’s famous Southbank Centre. The exhibtion features photos by leading photographer Joanna Vestey, and presents the hopes and dreams of women around the world. Dreams for My Daughter will run from Thursday, 8th March through Sunday, 11th March. For more information visit: www.southbankcentre.co.uk/wow.
To read more Dreams click here. Or watch a slideshow, or video compilation of the Joanna Vestey exhibit.
Birgitta Reinfeldt: WRA Sweden Ambassador
I wish that all women in all countries could give birth, survive and not die during delivery! Just think if women could give birth to fewer children who live rather than having many babies, some of whom die.
I have become involved in WRA because maternal mortality in some parts of the world is far too high. Something can be done about this! We must make those in power understand that they do have resources, if they understand how they should take care of their own people. We in Sweden can share our experiences and knowledge about women’s health.
Women and children must be able to live, be healthy and contribute to the development of their communities.
