Activities of Secretary-General in Washington, D.C., 6–7 June

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Washington, D.C., in the evening of Sunday, 6 June, to attend the “Women Deliver” 2010 Conference on maternal health.

On Monday morning, the Secretary-General opened the three-day Conference, which organizers described as the largest-ever gathering on maternal health, drawing more than 3,000 participants from 140 countries.  (See Press Release SG/SM/12939.)

He stressed the importance of global partnerships to improve the lives of women and girls, and said the United Nations was committed to helping Governments deliver for mothers and children.

The new United Nations Joint Action Plan aims to accelerate progress on women’s and children’s health to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals, the global anti-poverty targets world leaders have pledged to achieve by 2015.  “When we work together, we succeed,” the Secretary-General told the Conference.

On the sidelines of the Conference, at the Washington Convention Center, the Secretary-General also met with Vice-President Joyce Banda of Malawi, Melinda Gates of the Gates Foundation, and Annie Lennox, singer and UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador.

While in Washington, D.C., the Secretary-General also addressed the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, a group of more than 220 members dedicated to maintaining the fight against the diseases as a global priority.  (See Press Release SG/SM/12942.)

He also spoke to the United Nations Association for the United States National Convention and met with President Leith Anderson of the National Association for Evangelicals.  (See Press Release SG/SM/12941.)  He also had a meeting with United States Senator John Kerry.

On Monday afternoon, the Secretary-General flew out of Washington, D.C., for Johannesburg, South Africa.