Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Colombia
Delegate Name: Andre Terrana
Across the world, women giving birth face threats to their health and well-being. This leads to the death of many women during the process of childbirth. The worldwide maternal mortality rate for 2023 was 197 deaths per 100,000 births. The Republic of Colombia recognizes that this is an important issue that requires immediate attention. Colombia is a unitary presidential republic located in South America, with a population of 52 million people. As the United Nations strives to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, Colombia urges states to take collaborative action.
Colombia understands that maternal mortality is a public health priority as well as a human rights issue. Even though Colombia has made significant progress in the 20th century, regional inequalities still exist in our nation, specifically in rural and indigenous areas. Our government emphasizes the importance of addressing maternal health by expanding access to healthcare, and addressing socio-economic barriers. Colombia believes that international cooperation is required to address this issue.
The Republic of Colombia already has a few programs in place that help support expecting mothers. One of these programs is universal health care, which covers over 95% of the population, through both public and private insurance. Another way that Colombia is focusing on decreasing maternal mortality is by expanding adolescent pregnancy protection programs. These programs focus on teaching sexual education, promoting the use of contraceptives, and ensuring teens have a comprehensive understanding of sex education.
Colombia proposes that the following strategies to reduce maternal mortality should be pursued: the strengthening of health systems in rural areas, wider access to skilled birth attendants (nurses, midwives, etc), and universal accessibility of emergency perinatal care. This country believes that there should be increased investment in healthcare for rural areas and in scientists studying the birthing process. Colombia also stresses the importance of services that bridge indigenous birthing practices with modern standards, to help with maternal mortality rates in marginalized communities. Addressing adolescent pregnancy is still a strong priority, and Colombia calls for worldwide standards on sexual education programs. Colombia has a non-profit organization; Fundación JuanFe, that works to support adolescent mothers and make sure that they are both physically and mentally healthy. A program like this that could be implemented internationally would help the UN tackle this issue. Colombia also firmly advocates for improved digital health data systems.
Finally, Colombia understands that international cooperation requires sustained funding for global maternal health initiatives and increased regional collaboration across Latin America to share the best practices, and to ensure the maternal mortality rate is decreased. Overall, Colombia believes that supporting expecting mothers through subsidized health care, as well as focusing on adolescent mothers and mothers in indigenous communities, is crucial for the UN to address. Colombia looks forward to collaborating with other member states of a similar mindset to give expectant mothers and their infants the best possible care they can receive.
Works Cited
“Born into Inequality: Your Birthplace Should Not Shape Your Future.” World Bank Blogs, 2025, blogs.worldbank.org/en/developmenttalk/born-into-inequality–your-birthplace-should-not-shape-your-futu.
“Colombia Healthcare System.” International Citizens Insurance, 18 Sept. 2025, www.internationalinsurance.com/countries/colombia/healthcare/?srsltid=AfmBOoplVBcZQqCXsBd11ZpqzJL90b0NUTux288GzzZRpQhxL7fv_w1q.
“Fundación Juanfe | Inicio.” Fundación Juanfe, juanfe.org/.
United Nations. “The 17 Sustainable Development Goals.” United Nations, 2015, sdgs.un.org/goals.
World Health Organization. “Maternal Mortality.” World Health Organization, 2025, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality .
