Maternal Mortality

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 .

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Philippines
Delegate Name: Gabrielle Simmons

In 2023 alone, 260,000 women died due to Maternal Morality issues in the world. Lower class countries are 92% of the death rates in childbirth. The Philippines is a lower-middle class country that is one of the contributors of the 92%. Women can have issues from severe bleeding and infection after childbirth. However, in lower class countries, women will die from complications with delivery, Pre-eclampsia, and poor hospital conditions. In the Philippines, 0.084% of Women die from pregnancy related causes (84 women out of every 100,000).

The United Nations has a goal set to bring maternal mortality down to 70 deaths per 100,000 live births globally by the year 2030. An efficient way to do this is to establish women’s power to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Another well-ordered strategy to complete this goal is to ensure women’s safety and comfortability in hospitals. The UNICEF has helped Filipino women by solidifying care for pregnant women before and after giving birth. This agency has delivered supplies needed for childbirth to be completed safely and contributed to systems in the Philippines to reduce maternal deaths.

Sources:

https://genderdata.worldbank.org/en/economies/philippines#:~:text=84%20women%20die%20per%20100%2C000%20live%20births,Philippines%20is%20higher%20than%20its%20regional%20average.

https://www.unfpa.org/maternal-health#:~:text=UNFPA-supported%20programmes%20strengthen%20human,Updated%20on%2024%20November%202024

https://www.who.int/health-topics/maternal-health#tab=tab_1

https://philippines.unfpa.org/en/unfpa-philippines

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Bolivia
Delegate Name: Madelyn Tolsma

Despite a global trend in decreasing mortality rates pre-term birth and pregnancy complications remain an issue across the globe. According to the World Health Organization over 260,000 women die due to these complications in 2023. Every day the same year about 700 women lost their lives because of preventable issues related to childbirth: just over 98% of all maternal mortality’s. This makes sense considering the leading causes for maternal mortality as of the same year are severe bleeding, infections, high blood pressure, complications in delivery or an unsafe abortion. These issues disproportionately affect those in lower- and middle-income countries which account for around 90% of these issues globally. Professionals being present in the pregnancy and childbirth process can significantly reduce the number of lives lost because of it but providing everyone access to it remains a challenges

Also, according to the world health organization, Bolivia mortality rate is around 146 for every 100,000 live births as of 2023, a 10 percent decrease since 2019. Although it is lower than the 2023 average of 197 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, it’s still concerningly high and remains the 3rd highest in maternal mortality rates across the Caribbean and Latin America, after Haiti and Guyana. Hemorrhaging, hypertension and complications from unsafe abortion are among the leading direct causes of maternal death in Bolivia according to the National Post Census Maternal Mortality Study Maternal deaths in Bolivia are concentrated among poor, rural indigenous women, who are among the most vulnerable. Critics say Bolivia’s public health centers and hospitals in rural areas often lack beds, doctors and medicines. Many indigenous women mistrust local hospitals, and prefer to utilize midwives for assistance. Unfortunately, about 42% of maternal mortality are home births and are often a result of untrained assistance, the main push for progress has been the training of midwives so they can advance their skills in medical practice, through the recognition and implementation of indigenous medical practice Bolivia has seen a lowered maternal mortality rate and a growing number of people qualified to assist in childbirth, which is incredibly needed within the country.

Bolivia recognizes the need for funding towards research and programs that will ensure greater survival rates amongst women in childbirth as well as the need to push against the racist and sexist barriers preventing change.

Works Cited:
National Post Census Maternal Mortality Study, 2011 ENMM 2011 UNICO OFICIAL RESUMEN EJECUTIVO (1).pdf – Google Drive
World Health Organization Data Bolivia Fact Sheet, 2023, https//data.who.int/countries/068
World Health Organization Data Maternal Mortality Fact Sheet, 2023 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality
Medical Press, 2017, https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-08-bolivia-midwives-maternal-mortality.html

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Bolivia
Delegate Name: Madelyn Tolsma

Despite a global trend in decreasing mortality rates pre-term birth and pregnancy complications remain an issue across the globe. According to the World Health Organization over 260,000 women die due to these complications in 2023. Every day the same year about 700 women lost their lives because of preventable issues related to childbirth: just over 98% of all maternal mortality’s. This makes sense considering the leading causes for maternal mortality as of the same year are severe bleeding, infections, high blood pressure, complications in delivery or an unsafe abortion. These issues disproportionately affect those in lower- and middle-income countries which account for around 90% of these issues globally. Professionals being present in the pregnancy and childbirth process can significantly reduce the number of lives lost because of it but providing everyone access to it remains a challenges
Also, according to the world health organization, Bolivia mortality rate is around 146 for every 100,000 live births as of 2023, a 10 percent decrease since 2019. Although it is lower than the 2023 average of 197 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, it’s still concerningly high and remains the 3rd highest in maternal mortality rates across the Caribbean and Latin America, after Haiti and Guyana. Hemorrhaging, hypertension and complications from unsafe abortion are among the leading direct causes of maternal death in Bolivia according to the National Post Census Maternal Mortality Study Maternal deaths in Bolivia are concentrated among poor, rural indigenous women, who are among the most vulnerable. Critics say Bolivia’s public health centers and hospitals in rural areas often lack beds, doctors and medicines. Many indigenous women mistrust local hospitals, and prefer to utilize midwives for assistance. Unfortunately, about 42% of maternal mortality are home births and are often a result of untrained assistance, the main push for progress has been the training of midwives so they can advance their skills in medical practice, through the recognition and implementation of indigenous medical practice Bolivia has seen a lowered maternal mortality rate and a growing number of people qualified to assist in childbirth, which is incredibly needed within the country.
Bolivia recognizes the need for funding towards research and programs that will ensure greater survival rates amongst women in childbirth as well as the need to push against the racist and sexist barriers preventing change.
Works Cited:
National Post Census Maternal Mortality Study, 2011 ENMM 2011 UNICO OFICIAL RESUMEN EJECUTIVO (1).pdf – Google Drive
World Health Organization Data Bolivia Fact Sheet, 2023, https//data.who.int/countries/068
World Health Organization Data Maternal Mortality Fact Sheet, 2023 https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality
Medical Press, 2017, https://medicalxpress.com/news/2017-08-bolivia-midwives-maternal-mortality.html

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Thailand
Delegate Name: Wade Bond

World Health Organization
Maternal Mortality
Wade Bond
Kingdom of Thailand

Maternal​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ mortality continues to be a significant worldwide issue. The rate of women dying due to causes that could be easily prevented during pregnancy and childbirth remains high, particularly in countries that have poorly developed healthcare systems. Thailand supports the worldwide objective of decreasing the number of maternal deaths and is of the opinion that each woman should be provided with safe and trustworthy medical care. Thailand has made significant strides in the area of maternal health. The country has a maternal mortality ratio of around 37 deaths per 100,000 live births, which is among the lowest in the region. That is mainly because Thailand provides healthcare to all, has qualified midwives, and a lot of local health centers that take care of pregnant women. The majority of births are in hospitals or clinics, and the majority of women get prenatal and postnatal checkups.

Thailand acknowledges the fact that there are still some challenges. Some remote areas where there are not enough healthcare workers have been identified. In some cases, migrant and minority communities may have difficulties in accessing healthcare services. Thailand holds the view that cooperation among countries is a very effective way to tackle the problem of maternal mortality anywhere in the world. Thailand would be better off if she invested in improving the healthcare workers’ training, facilitated access to prenatal and postnatal care, adopted digital health solutions, and invited other countries to share the healthcare experiences with them. Moreover, Thailand supports the provision of reproductive health services that are safe and legal and conform to the laws of each country.

The Kingdom of Thailand is willing to join the World Health Organization and other countries to bring down the rate of maternal mortality. Thailand believes that a woman should be provided with safe and respectful care when she is pregnant and during her ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌labor.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Guyana
Delegate Name: Hafsa Zeeshan

Country: Guyana
Committee: ECOSOC: WHO
Topic: Maternal Mortality
Delegate: Hafsa Zeeshan
School: Portage Central High School
Maternal mortality is a factor closely related to a country’s economic prosperity, meaning that for Guyana, a historically disadvantaged country up until just recently, maternal mortality has been and unfortunately continues to be a serious problem. Guyana, according to the CIA, ranks 9th out of the 33 countries in the region for maternal mortality rates, 76 deaths per 100,000 live births. That being said, this is a significant improvement from its mortality rate in the past, 240 per 100,000 in the 2000s. The reality is that Guyana’s government has and continues to take significant steps in order to provide care. In Guyana, approximately 97.6% of births were attended by skilled health personnel in 2020, and that number has only risen in recent years. According to the PAHO, Guyana’s government has increased healthcare funding by nearly threefold from 2022, and an expansion of regional health networks has started with the construction of ten new regional hospitals, which will be fully equipped to improve access to quality maternal services, and these will be constructed in collaboration with teh PAHO.
Now, the main focus is to not only continue the efforts being made, but also to give resources where they can’t, which is, like in most places across the world, rural areas. In Guyana, this poses an especially difficult challenge, as historically most improvements and projects have been focused on its populated urban coast. In the indigenous and hinterland areas, these resources are still lacking, and projects must be made to reduce maternal mortality in these areas as well. To do this, the country must have the funding and resources to establish mobile clinics and outreach programs in areas where traveling is difficult, transportation systems to get pregnant women to hospitals in emergencies, and education programs that increase awareness for women so that they are better equipped to take care of and advocate for their own health.
Guyana is a rapidly developing country, and its success in reducing maternal mortality has been instrumental in changing the public health of the nation as a whole. These efforts must be continued and expanded to make healthcare accessible across all regions, to all people.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Algeria
Delegate Name: Kaitlyn Konyndyk

World Health Organization
Maternal Mortality
Algeria
Kaitlyn Konyndyk
Forest Hills Northern High School

Serious dangers to the health and wellbeing of mothers and their children have always been present. Though, countries all around have begun to work on reducing those risks. Much of that work has been done with the progression of women’s rights. An important part of reducing those dangers is in pre and post natal care. Difficulties in doing that lie in many areas, but some key areas are limited access to care, income disparities, and geographic location. According to the UN, a majority of pregnancy and birth complications that led to death are preventable.
Throughout its past, Algeria has struggled to combat maternal mortality. Algeria views maternal healthcare as a fundamental right and a core part of the healthcare system because of its strong stance on the right to maternal care and its commitment to decreasing maternal mortality. The government in Algeria has integrated reproductive health and family planning into primary health care. Algeria believes that reducing maternal mortality requires strong public health systems, trained personnel, and special attention to the needs of women in rural and disadvantaged communities—especially because those women usually have limited access to care. Algeria believes that every woman should be able to give birth safely, for free, and in a decent clinic or hospital with trained staff.
In the past, Algeria has generally supported resolutions that emphasize state responsibility to invest in public systems, cooperate with UN agencies, and respect nations’ cultural and legal frameworks on given issues. Algeria has made a lot of progress in decreasing maternal mortality rates and improving pregnancy healthcare, but its rates are still higher that what is typical in high-income states, so they still have areas to improve in, meaning they require specific aid instead of generalized basic care.
In order to address this issue, Algeria argues that existing commitments to improving material health must be implemented more fully through increased funding for maternal and newborn health and protection of sexual and reproductive health services. Algeria wants to focus on ensuring skilled care is available, safe postnatal follow-ups, safe and legal abortions as well as post abortion care where national law allows. Algeria proposes increasing WHO technical and financial assistance to train midwives and obstetric teams and prioritizing investments in rural and peri‑urban facilities to better rural access to quality care.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: China
Delegate Name: Jasmine Mand

World Health Organization
Maternal Morality
People’s Republic of China
Jasmine Mand
Forest Hills Eastern

Maternal mortality has remained a significant issue in many countries, with approximately 260,000 women dying during or following pregnancy in 2023. Dangerous conditions have also resulted in numerous newborn deaths in many developing nations, even though most of these fatalities are preventable. Many people, especially in Africa, cannot afford or have access to medications due to violent civil wars and poverty. To ensure proper treatment, accessibility to pre- and postnatal care is vital. Severe complications like bleeding, infections, and unsafe abortions have led to 75% of maternal deaths. Several countries also lack adequate diagnostic tools, such as telehealth and remote monitoring to track heartbeat, oxygen saturation, and infections like sepsis. The UN has established specific targets in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3.1), which aim to reduce the maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 lives by 2030. The UN Secretary General also launched Every Woman Every Child (EWEC) to mobilize political will and financing partnerships. China has made significant improvements in meeting the goals of the SDGs and the Millennium Development Goals. From 80 lives per 100,000 in 1990, China has dropped to 15 lives per 100,000 in 2022. China acknowledges this critical issue and will provide financial aid and technical assistance to other countries.

China acknowledges the critical issue of maternal mortality and is committed to global collaboration to address it. While the country has made progress in reducing maternal mortality, particularly in urban areas, there is a strong focus on improving maternal health in rural communities, where access to antenatal care and skilled birth attendants is more limited. The “One Child Policy” played a role in lowering fertility rates, which led to a decrease in mortality rates. China has also developed a comprehensive healthcare system, featuring around 26,000 maternal health facilities spread throughout the country. This guarantees that most people live within a close distance from a health center, allowing pregnant women to receive affordable and quality care. Currently, antenatal care and postpartum service coverage surpass 90%, and hospital delivery rates are high at over 99%. These factors have contributed to China’s success in achieving low maternal mortality rates. These initiatives led to national programs such as the Basic Public Health Service Program and the Healthy China 2030 initiative, which aim to expand prenatal checkups and accessible emergency obstetric care, particularly in rural settings. In April 2016, the government introduced the Five Strategies for Maternal and Newborn Safety (FSMNS), focusing on critical areas like pregnancy risk screening and maternal death reporting. They have established a unified risk assessment system to categorize pregnant women according to risk levels. This allows for each woman to receive tailored care and puts those at high risk above others in need of care. On an international level, China has engaged in efforts to improve maternal health globally. For instance, in 2018, they donated $2 million to support Sierra Leone in tackling maternal deaths and addressing cervical cancer. They also provided essential medicines and medical equipment such as oxytocin, portable ultrasound machines, and surgical kits for cesarean sections, alongside the construction of maternal health hospitals and the deployment of the 26,000 Chinese medical professionals.

China urges the United Nations to collaborate with other countries to help transfer the supplies of medical technology through air drops and advocates for the international community to provide sustained funding. China would direct its financial support through United Nations agencies or NGOs. China contributes to donate to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for its focus on reproductive health and safe childbirth, and UNICEF for its community maternal and child health programs. China would also help by donating medical equipment and uterotonics to help prevent hemorrhages from occurring.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Sierra Leone
Delegate Name: Cosmo Steffke

Rising maternal death rates are increasingly becoming more of a problem worldwide. The delegation of Sierra Leone notes that the consequences of these rising death rates fall mostly on low-income nations, with about 92 of every 100 maternal deaths occurring in these settings, and 70 out of those 100 being located in Sub-Saharan Africa (WHO “Maternal Mortality”). Sierra Leone suffers one of the highest rates globally, alongside having one of the lowest rates of skilled birth attendance, with only 87% of births involving a trained provider. While the national health system is still improving slowly, the delegation of Sierra Leone understands that a joint solution is imperative.

Several factors impact the country’s ability to offer safe and up-to-standard care to newborns. The doctor-to-population ratio remains extremely low at 1 doctor per 10,000 people (WHO, Sierra Leone Country Profile), and only about 31% of the medical facilities offer full Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (UNFPA). Even if Sierra Leonean citizens manage to find a hospital that offers the services they need, many must travel long distances on out-of-shape roads, furthering the risk of complications or mortality.

As global interest in maternal health grows, Sierra Leone stresses that unless funding, infrastructure, and medical training increase, maternal deaths will remain high. Even though the Human Rights Council adopted Resolution 54/16 declaring preventable maternal deaths a violation of human rights (“UN HRC Res. 54/16”), and even though WHO runs the Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality initiative, progress is still slow. The delegation of Sierra Leone would like to emphasize the need for a multifaceted solution tasked with working with these low-income countries, and is eager to start working.

Bibliography
“Immunization Coverage: Sierra Leone.” UNICEF Data, UNICEF, https://data.unicef.org/country/sle/.
“Maternal Mortality.” World Health Organization, WHO, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality.
“Sierra Leone.” World Bank Data, World Bank, https://data.worldbank.org/country/sierra-leone.
“Sierra Leone Country Programme.” UNICEF Sierra Leone, UNICEF, https://www.unicef.org/sierraleone/.
State of the World’s Midwifery 2021. UNFPA, 2021, https://www.unfpa.org/sowmy.
“Trends in Maternal Mortality 2000–2020.” World Health Organization, WHO, 2023.
“UN Human Rights Council Resolution 54/16.” United Nations Digital Library, 2023, https://digitallibrary.un.org/.
Immunization Agenda 2030: A Global Strategy to Leave No One Behind. World Health Organization, 2020.
WHO Pandemic Agreement Zero Draft. World Health Organization, 2024, https://www.who.int/.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Delegate Name: KenZie Low

World Health Organization
Maternal Mortality
Democratic Republic of the Congo
KenZie Low
City High School

Sustainable Development Goal 3.1 aims to reduce the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) to 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. However, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is ranked one of the top ten nations with the highest MMR, with 427 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2023. Roughly 92% of maternal deaths occurred in lower-income countries in 2023; many of these deaths were preventable. Many women die because of complications during pregnancy that can be treated if detected and cared for early, such as bleeding, infections, eclampsia, or complications from delivery. Thus, maternal mortality is closely related to a country’s development, domestic security, and the overall quality of its healthcare system. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a nation rampant with conflict and poverty, making access to maternal care difficult for many pregnant women in the country.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has made efforts to address its high MMR through an Integrated Strategic Plan for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescene Health and Nutrition. However, the nation faces violent conflict that makes accessing care hard for many women. Women face sexual violence because of these conflicts from both armed groups and MONUC peacekeepers. In some instances, women in DRC are victims of exploitative sexual relations so they can receive food, money, or security in impoverished situations. The DRC is also a largely rural country with very limited access to hospitals and staff. Transportation costs and scarcity of these systems create a higher MMR in the country. Midwives and nurses are also underpaid in the country, and many women cannot afford care in hospitals. Diseases such as HIV and malaria, and malnutrition also contribute to the high MMR when pregnant women contract them. DRC women exhibit low amounts of maternal health-seeking behavior (MSHB) in part due to the underdeveloped healthcare system and poverty, but also because of a lack of education. Women are not educated about reproductive health and may follow traditional beliefs rather than modern medicine in the DRC. There are some regions that have lower MMRs than others in the DRC, notably Kinshasa and Nord and Sud Kivu. These regions are more urbanized and have higher education than conflict-affected regions, particularly in the east, such as Kasai. As the DRC has been severely affected by its high MMR rate, the country made maternal healthcare free in 2023 in an effort to reduce maternal deaths. Yet, staff went on strike as they could not meet the demand of women seeking care, as there is only one midwife for every 20,000 people in the DRC.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo firmly believes that MMR is closely related to the development and security of a country. The DRC wishes for relief of conflict and low income in both its own nation and others to ensure that women can receive the basic healthcare they need. The DRC believes countries should develop their healthcare systems and staff. As the DRC aims to urbanize and create universal health coverage, it believes that other countries provide affordable care to women as well. Increasing health literacy and promoting MSBC is a priority, as many women in the DRC are not familiar with maternal care. Training staff and potential digital solutions, such as IMA World Health’s Safe Delivery App, ensures that workers providing maternal care are trained. Ensuring the health of pregnant women, whether it is through education, treating pregnancy complications, or addressing malnutrition, is integral to the DRC and its fight against its high MMR.

Works Cited
ColdRavnkilde, Signe Marie, and Thomas Mandrup. SEXUAL EXPLOITATION and ABUSE in the DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC of CONGO. Danish Institute for International Studies, 2017.
Guo, Fuyu, et al. “Maternal HealthSeeking Behavior and Associated Factors in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.” Health Education & Behavior, vol. 48, no. 5, 2021, pp. 700–709. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/48650276, https://doi.org/10.2307/48650276.
—. “Trends of Maternal Health Service Coverage in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Pooled Cross-Sectional Study of MICS 2010 to 2018.” BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, vol. 21, no. 1, 5 Nov. 2021, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04220-7.
—. “Maternal Mortality.” World Health Organization, 2025, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality .
Rosine Nshobole Bigirinama, et al. “Prioritization of Maternal and Newborn Health Policies and Their Implementation in the Eastern Conflict Affected Areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo: A Political Economy Analysis.” Health Research Policy and Systems, vol. 22, no. 1, 30 Apr. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-024-01138-2.
Van Woudenberg, Anneke. “MONUC: A Case for Peacekeeping Reform.” Human Rights Watch, 28 Feb. 2005, www.hrw.org/news/2005/02/28/monuc-case-peacekeeping-reform.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Saudi Arabia
Delegate Name: Clara Winstanley

In the last two decades, there has been an estimated 40% decrease in maternal mortality rates, a victorious milestone but one that still leaves 260,000 women dying each year in causes surrounding childbirth as of 2023. These preventable losses are unacceptable, and it is the responsibility of every country to contribute to decreasing rates. The World Health Organization has set a current global target for less than 70 deaths per 100,000 by the year 2030. This plan shifts depending on the standings of countries as of 2010, demanding an overall two thirds reduction for each country and outlining the importance that no country has a ratio exceeding twice the global target, at 140 per 100,000. Even with the marked improvement seen in the past decade, the world is currently on track to fall short of this goal, which is why it is ever the more important to continue and expand support and efforts.

Over the last forty years, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has seen a marked improvement in maternal mortality rates, and plans to continue this trend. The WHO reports the Maternal Mortality ratio at 7.36 per 100,000 live births as of 2023, a 33 death decrease from the year 1985. The Kingdom believes it is imperative to continue this trend by focusing on the affordability of healthcare and transparency of cost, allowing a safe and secure environment for mothers to feel comfortable entering, while further educating the public on the importance of assisted birth, therefore making mothers more likely to utilize such resources. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia specifically outlines a plan through the Saudi Childbirth Initiative (SCI), in a guidebook for the Mother Baby-Family Friendly Maternity Care Facility (MBFMF) Initiative. Here, the Kingdom emphasizes an approach in which focuses on preventative measures and care for the mother in order to shift away from the unnecessary expensive and heavy medical interventions, a process which will ensure more equitable and affordable care.

Globally, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia supports the 2030 target, and encourages the continued progress on the goal in every country through increased access to care and information, along with the promotion of more natural birthing practices to prevent troubling intervention. Oftentimes, mothers pass from birthing complications, which is why the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia believes that if a threat is detected to the mother’s life or health prior to the 120 day mark of a pregnancy, an abortion may be allowed if signed off by two specialists. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia stands against the practice of abortion in any case not linked to the immediate health of mother, and believes that providing education to the mother, along with an assurance of emergency care, adequate human resources, and an open environment under the mother’s control will craft a place where mothers will feel open to and safe giving birth, reducing the chances of unsafe abortion practices in the face of regulation.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia intends to continue to fight to lower the MMR, and urges the UN to expand efforts and funding in lower income countries to create programs to provide wider access to maternal care across the world.

Resources:
https://www.moh.gov.sa/en/Ministry/MediaCenter/Publications/Pages/Saudi-Childbirth-Initiative-Guidebook.pdf
https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/3000d5f4-bf9d-490c-83f9-d5afc4f5634d/content
https://abortion-policies.srhr.org/country/saudi-arabia/
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality
https://platform.who.int/docs/default-source/mca-documents/qoc/quality-of-care/strategies-toward-ending-preventable-maternal-mortality-(epmm).pdf?sfvrsn=a31dedb6_4
https://my.gov.sa/en/content/women-empowering#section-2

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Japan
Delegate Name: Harpreet Kaur

In many regions around the world, maternal mortality remains a critical public health challenge, particularly in areas where access to healthcare, trained medical personnel, and emergency obstetric services is limited. Women in low-resource areas often face barriers like insufficient prenatal care, shortages of skilled birth attendants, and long distances to medical facilities. According to recent global estimates, maternal mortality ratios can exceed 1,000 deaths per 100,000 live births in the most vulnerable countries. By contrast, Japan has achieved one of the lowest maternal mortality ratios globally, 3 deaths per 100,000 live births as of 2023, reflecting the effectiveness of comprehensive healthcare systems and universal coverage. However, Japan recognizes that global progress remains uneven and that preventable maternal deaths continue to undermine gender equality, human rights, and sustainable development.

Japan has made substantial progress in maternal health through investments in universal health coverage, community-based care, and strong health infrastructure. Japan’s maternal health system includes widespread access to prenatal checkups, emergency obstetric care, and a robust workforce of nurses and midwives, 7.52 per 1,000 people as of 2021. Japan’s Maternal and Child Health Handbook, widely used since 1948, has been adopted/adapted by more than 40 countries as a model for improving continuity of care. These measures have contributed to Japan’s steady decline in maternal mortality, from 19 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to just 3 in 2023. Despite these successes, Japan acknowledges ongoing challenges such as aging populations, regional disparities in healthcare access, and the need for continuous innovation in digital health and data systems.

The Nation of Japan is committed to advancing maternal health both domestically and internationally. Japan recognizes that reducing maternal mortality requires coordinated global action, strong healthcare systems, and sustained investment in women’s health and empowerment. Japan stands ready to collaborate with delegates, contribute technical expertise, and support evidence-based strategies that ensure every woman can experience a safe pregnancy and childbirth.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Russian Federation
Delegate Name: Matthew Gascon

Country: The Russian Federation
Delegate: Matthew Gascon
School: Forest Hills Central High School
Committee: World Health Organization
Topic: Maternal Mortality
Maternal mortality remains a persistent worldwide health challenge despite significant efforts by the World Health Organization to fight it. The WHO has supported member states through measures like standards for obstetric care and the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescents’ Health. Unfortunately, major disparities continue to this day. The MMR in low-income countries in 2023 was 346 per 100K live births compared to 10 per 100K live births in high-income countries. Shortages of qualified medical personnel, lack of access to critical medicines, socioeconomic inequality, and gaps in infrastructure all impede progress. The WHO needs to have coordinated international action to fight this issue.
The Russian Federation has made reducing maternal mortality a priority within its national healthcare system. Since 1990, the Russian Federation has reduced maternal mortality from 47.4 deaths per 100,000 births to 10.6 deaths per 100,000 births. The Russian Federation’s large size and diverse geography make delivering healthcare to everyone a challenge. Nevertheless, the country has implemented numerous strategies to improve the quality of maternal care and decrease mortality rates. The nation has an advanced 3-level perinatal care system to ensure the most vulnerable babies receive the quality of care they deserve. Specialized clinical guidelines for serious pregnancy conditions, like the guidelines developed for preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders introduced in 2013, have helped to decrease the mortality rate. On a regional level, many areas have developed road maps featuring plans to tackle maternal mortality, and they include measures like improved diagnostic technology and increased investment in the training of specialists to ensure better lives for Russian mothers and their children. In addition, the Russian Federation has always been supportive of current and past WHO efforts to fight maternal mortality, including a grant exceeding US$15,000,000 in 2020 to help the WHO in improving maternal and neonatal care around the world.
Moving forward, the Russian Federation wants to see the World Health Organization promote increased access to quality maternal and neonatal healthcare, particularly in developing countries with limited resources. The Russian Federation advocates for specialized perinatal care centers, increased training of healthcare professionals, and the global dissemination of evidence-based guidelines for managing pregnancy complications and other potential maternal care issues. The WHO should also address the social determinants of health. Family planning and education, especially in rural or less developed areas, will help ensure all mothers get the care they deserve. The Russian Federation also encourages the WHO to recommend improved monitoring and data collection for maternal mortality. Having more data, and especially more reliable data, will help guide proper interventions within each country. The Russian Federation is willing to provide its expertise and technology to help fight against maternal mortality.
At the same time, the WHO must respect national sovereignty. Programs must be adapted to each country’s unique social, cultural, economic, and geographic contexts. The WHO needs to be a collaborative partner willing to help out any member state while respecting national desires. By combining effective, evidence-based programs with respect for all nations’ priorities, the Russian Federation gladly seeks to support long-lasting reductions in maternal mortality worldwide.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Poland
Delegate Name: Evalea Brown

Evalea Brown
Poland
Committee: World Health Organization (WHO)
School: City High Middle School
Topic: Maternal Mortality

Maternal Mortality rates have decreased by 40 percent since 2000, but around 260,000 women died during or following pregnancy or childbirth in 2023. The majority of these deaths could have been prevented with access to adequate medical care. According to the World health organization “over 90% of all maternal deaths occurred in low- and lower-middle-income countries in 2023.” This shows the clear disparity between the access to medical assistance due to income. Poland believes that every woman should have access to medical assistance, regardless of income and demographic.
Poland maintains one of the lowest rates of maternal mortality at around 2 deaths for every 100,000 live births. Poland has achieved this through following the EPMM initiative set by the world health organization. Additionally Poland’s free healthcare covers regular check-ups, blood tests, USG scans, whatever is prescribed by your doctor, labor and post-labor care. Post-labor care including the necessary 2-3-day stay at the hospital, several check-ups of the newborn as well as home visits of a midwife to which women are entitled within 8 weeks after the labor. Poland recognizes the benefit in these programs and the benefits of implementing similar programs in other nations through the use of targeted aid. Poland completely supports the World Health Organization’s goals to increase education, strengthen the health care system, promote universal healthcare, and address inequalities. Ultimately Poland wants a world in which all women have access to medical assistance before, after and during birth in order to reduce the number of preventable maternal deaths.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Ireland
Delegate Name: Damian Drain

Maternal Mortality remains a large global issue. Ireland recognizes that this issue is most apparent in countries of low to lower-middle income, with 92% of all maternal deaths occurring in places like these. In particular, Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for about 70% of all maternal deaths in 2023(Western Pacific WHO.) Ireland is a high-income country with strong maternal care services and a low maternal mortality rate of just 3.7 deaths per 100,000 live births(Ireland WHO Statistics.) Because Ireland has already achieved this level of maternal and child healthcare, it strives to help other countries accomplish this as well.

In 2023, the UN Human Rights Council adopted resolution 54/16, stating that preventable maternal deaths are a violation of human rights(Resolution 54/16.) Ireland supported this resolution, reasserting its commitment to maintaining the quality of maternal healthcare. Ireland also supports WHO’s Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality initiative, which sets global goals and gives guidance to reduce maternal deaths and improve maternal healthcare worldwide(EPMM.) These efforts contribute directly to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.1, which aims to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births(SDG Target.)

While Ireland has one of the lowest maternal mortality rates, it remains committed to lowering the amount of preventable maternal deaths worldwide. Ireland advocates for increased access to skilled healthcare attendees and emergency childbirth care in countries with less resources. Ireland also strives to provide technical expertise and training to strengthen healthcare systems. Ireland promotes the adoption of WHO strategies such as the EPMM. Specifically, Ireland supports expanding the WHO-endorsed Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC) services, which include basic and comprehensive EmONC, to ensure obstetric emergencies get timely responses(Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care.) Ireland also prioritizes midwifery training, especially in underserved and rural areas, to build local capacity. These interventions help address primary causes of maternal death such as postpartum hemorrhage, sepsis, and hypertensive disorders which remain leading killers in many low-resource settings(Levels and Causes of Maternal Mortality and Morbidity.)

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: India
Delegate Name: Leo Hessell

Maternal mortality is one of the most important global health issues, especially in low and middle-income countries. For Egypt, improving maternal health is not only a medical priority but a key part of national development. Over the past three decades, Egypt has made significant progress. Egypt’s maternal mortality dropped from 106 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 17 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020 (World Bank), one of the greatest improvements in the Middle East and North Africa. Despite this improvement, Egypt recognizes the challenge remains, especially for women living in rural areas who often have less access to medical professionals and emergency care.
Global maternal mortality requires focused attention on several critical issues. First, there is a stark difference in access to care. High-income countries report just 10 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births compared to 346 per 100,000 in low-income countries (WHO). Most deaths are preventable with timely prenatal and postnatal care. In 2023, such countries accounted for 60% of global maternal deaths while only representing 25% of live births (WHO). Recent cuts to aid have threatened vital maternal health services.
Egypt believes that expanding training programs for midwives, nurses, and other healthcare workers in low and middle-income countries is a priority, particularly in underserved areas. Additionally, Egypt supports emergency care units, including supplying essential medications. Partnerships with international organizations like the World Bank and UN-DESA could help sustain programs through federal loans and by helping with funding shortfalls. Egypt encourages awareness and advocacy campaigns to educate rural populations in marginalized areas on prenatal care, family planning, and maternal nutrition.
In conclusion, Egypt has achieved significant domestic progress, while many countries continue to face dangerously high maternal mortality rates, particularly in low-income and conflict-affected regions. By strengthening health systems, investing in human capital, and collecting accurate data, the global community can accelerate progress towards the 2030 SDG targets. Egypt pledges its continued cooperation and support in these efforts and calls on countries to save a mother’s life one birth at a time.

Sources
“Goal 3 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs.” United Nations, United Nations, sdgs.un.org/goals/goal3. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.
www.unicef.org/egypt/health. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.
“Protected and Supported, #midwives Can Provide up to 90% of Essential Sexual and Reproductive Health Services.” United Nations Population Fund, Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.
www.unfpa.org/sowmy.
“Maternal Mortality.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization,
www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Egypt
Delegate Name: Amina Niang

Maternal mortality is one of the most important global health issues, especially in low and middle-income countries. For Egypt, improving maternal health is not only a medical priority but a key part of national development. Over the past three decades, Egypt has made significant progress. Egypt’s maternal mortality dropped from 106 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 17 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020 (World Bank), one of the greatest improvements in the Middle East and North Africa. Despite this improvement, Egypt recognizes the challenge remains, especially for women living in rural areas who often have less access to medical professionals and emergency care.
Global maternal mortality requires focused attention on several critical issues. First, there is a stark difference in access to care. High-income countries report just 10 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births compared to 346 per 100,000 in low-income countries (WHO). Most deaths are preventable with timely prenatal and postnatal care. In 2023, such countries accounted for 60% of global maternal deaths while only representing 25% of live births (WHO). Recent cuts to aid have threatened vital maternal health services.
Egypt believes that expanding training programs for midwives, nurses, and other healthcare workers in low and middle-income countries is a priority, particularly in underserved areas. Additionally, Egypt supports emergency care units, including supplying essential medications. Partnerships with international organizations like the World Bank and UN-DESA could help sustain programs through federal loans and by helping with funding shortfalls. Egypt encourages awareness and advocacy campaigns to educate rural populations in marginalized areas on prenatal care, family planning, and maternal nutrition.
In conclusion, Egypt has achieved significant domestic progress, while many countries continue to face dangerously high maternal mortality rates, particularly in low-income and conflict-affected regions. By strengthening health systems, investing in human capital, and collecting accurate data, the global community can accelerate progress towards the 2030 SDG targets. Egypt pledges its continued cooperation and support in these efforts and calls on countries to save a mother’s life one birth at a time.

Sources
“Goal 3 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs.” United Nations, United Nations, sdgs.un.org/goals/goal3. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.
www.unicef.org/egypt/health. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.
“Protected and Supported, #midwives Can Provide up to 90% of Essential Sexual and Reproductive Health Services.” United Nations Population Fund, Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.
www.unfpa.org/sowmy.
“Maternal Mortality.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization,
www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Iran
Delegate Name: Jada Wynn

Maternal mortality is an unfortunate circumstance that many women have to face. Across the globe many women have died during childbirth. According to the World Health Organization(WHO), about 260,000 maternal deaths were accounted for back in 2023. One of the many causes for these many maternal deaths is the lack of funds for proper medical care in countries to begin with, with approximately 92% of all maternal deaths occurring in low- and lower-middle-income countries in 2023. Lack of actual trained professionals being present during a mother going into labor is also a problem. According to the same World Health Organization article, in high-income countries 99% of all births benefit from having a trained mid-wife, doctor, or nurse. Unfortunately, low-income countries don’t get that same privilege, with only 73% in low income and 84% in lower-middle-income countries being assisted by such skilled health personnel.
The Islamic Republic of Iran recognizes the issue of maternal mortality and has made great lengths to fix this issue by creating the Iranian Maternal Mortality Surveillance System. With this national system, Iran is able to obtain each maternal death case to manage public health functions and monitor their impact. Since the installation of this system in 2000, it was one of the many factors that helped reduce the MMR in this country, going from the range of 160(113-258) in 1985, to 16(10-22) in 2023(according to a health data review on Iran from the World Health Organization). With this system, this will greatly help Iran review the causes of maternal deaths and help the medical system improve the ways of how the levels of maternity mortality can further decrease.
The delegation of Iran strongly suggests that other delegations look into implementing a similar surveillance system in their respective countries. Adding a system where it monitors data of maternal cases will help public health organizations look into the causes of these deaths and use the data to create solutions to prevent the maternal mortality rate from increasing ever again. The delegation of Iran is looking forward to having the opportunity to work with other delegations to help create solutions to this problem.

Works Cited
World Health Organization. “Maternal Mortality.” WHO, April 7th, 2025, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality
World Health Organization. “Islamic Republic of Iran highlights national plans to improve primary health care on World Patient Safety Day.” September 22nd, 2021, https://www.emro.who.int/iran/news/islamic-republic-of-iran-highlights-national-plans-to-improve-primary-health-care-on-world-patient-safety-day.html
National Library of Medicine. “Information management in Iranian Maternal Mortality Surveillance System.” July 25th, 2017, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5587013/
World Health Organization. “Iran(Islamic Republic of), 2023, https://data.who.int/countries/364

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Pakistan
Delegate Name: Stella Yakima

Pakistan is a parliamentary government but the army chief has the most control. The military predominantly runs the country and influences every aspect of its functions. The military rule limits the development of democracy as well as fundamental rights which poses a threat to civilians. There is a roughly equal number of men to women in Pakistan and the dominating religion is Sunni Islam with a Shia minority.
Maternal Mortality is an issue worldwide however in developing countries, it is shown to be more of an issue due to factors such as poverty, lack of education, and gender inequality. The death of a mother leads to a higher likelihood that her child will not reach their first birthday and if they do, it is likely that their future will be jeopardized by mental disorders and family problems. A high number of maternal deaths is also a sign of a failing healthcare system which affects everyone, not just women.
In Pakistan, the maternal mortality rate is 155 per 100,000 live births as of 2024 according to the World Health Organization, this is very high and as a nation with a lower-middle class economy, big problems arise when high numbers of people die. Women play important roles in the economy, they hold jobs in child and elder care as well as working domestically and taking care of the home. Every time a mother dies, her family is put through extreme more and more hardships. Oftentimes, funerals can push a family into financial ruin and traditionally, women do all the cooking, therefore , when she dies , her family will go hungry. Maternal mortality also strains healthcare as well as pushing women into silence which furthers gender inequality.
The Pakistani government has already implemented multiple midwifery programs to help women and children during childbirth such as the Lady Health Worker Program which provides basic medical help to women and children at the community level. Another very effective program is the Community Midwife Program which offers help to women in rural areas with cheap and skilled workers; they serve women from all economic classes, ages, and geographic locations.
In order to help women survive it is necessary that the UN as a whole comes together and contributes to the funding of education for women especially in rural areas. This will in turn provide proper midwives to before, during, and after childbirth which will slow the maternal mortality rate.

Works Cited
Administrator. “Every Day, 675 Newborns and 27 Mothers Die in Pakistan – WHO Calls for Urgent Action.” World Health Organization – Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, 2025, www.emro.who.int/pak/pakistan-news/every-day-675-newborns-and-27-mothers-die-in-pakistan-who-calls-for-urgent-action.html.
—. “Every Day, 675 Newborns and 27 Mothers Die in Pakistan – WHO Calls for Urgent Action.” World Health Organization – Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, 2025, www.emro.who.int/pak/pakistan-news/every-day-675-newborns-and-27-mothers-die-in-pakistan-who-calls-for-urgent-action.html.
Human Rights Watch. “World Report 2025: Rights Trends in Pakistan.” Human Rights Watch, 12 Dec. 2024, www.hrw.org/world-report/2025/country-chapters/pakistan.
Siddiqui, Deena, and Tazeen Saeed Ali. “The Importance of Community Midwives in Pakistan: Looking at Existing Evidence and Their Need during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Midwifery, vol. 106, Mar. 2022, p. 103242, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2021.103242.
—. “The Importance of Community Midwives in Pakistan: Looking at Existing Evidence and Their Need during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Midwifery, vol. 106, Mar. 2022, p. 103242, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2021.103242.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Greece
Delegate Name: Talia McCollum

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Greece
Committee: World Health Organization
Delegate Name: Talia McCollum
School: Mattawan High School

Threats to maternal health have resulted in preventable deaths for as long as women have given birth. Maternal mortality rates have risen globally over the years, but thousands of women and newborns die each year due to preventable complications. The United Nations have addressed this issue with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.1: reducing global maternal mortality ratio to fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. Since this has been implemented, many European nations have successfully surpassed that target goal. But, many low income regions like Saharan Africa have barely made any progress.
Maternal mortality correlates directly with the availability of skilled doctors and access to obstetric care in case of emergencies. Researchers from WHO and UNFPA have found that most deaths result from preventable causes like infection, hypertension, and hemorrhages. These deaths are not caused by medical complexity, but by the time of intervention.
Greece recognizes maternal mortality as a global fundamental human rights and equity issue. Greece’s maternal mortality rate remains low, however the country of Greece understands its responsibility to serve nations that face more challenges and strengthen its own healthcare for small vulnerable populations.
Greece continues to keep a strong commitment to the improvement of maternal health globally. Greece, provides access to prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care through its National Health System within the country. In Greek maternal care, midwives play a crucial role in community healthcare. Maternal care is supported by training programs and integration into hospitals. To monitor risk factors, Greece employs digital maternal health records in every hospital and community care center.
Greece focuses on proper access for all women, including all undocumented migrants and refugees. Greece offers antenatal screenings, vaccinations, and skilled birth attendants to all those regardless of legal status. Greece tries to align their efforts with WHO recommendations by emphasizing inclusion, universal health coverage, and non-discrimination towards migrants. Although Greece has succeeded, there are many other nations that still face challenges. Nevertheless, Greece continues to support maternal health infrastructure and strengthen emergency services.
Internationally, Greece fully agrees and aligns with WHO’s Global strategy for Children’s, Adolescents’, and Women’s health and assists the maternal structure of WHO and UNFPA. Greece contributes to extensive research on motherhood, advocating for better approaches to maternal mortality complications, and taking part in EU health.
Greece believes that in order to reduce maternal mortality worldwide, it requires a comprehensive approach to pre and postnatal care, along with coordination and well-targeted investments. First, Greece supports the distribution of resources to low provider density and remote populations. By expanding midwife training centers and deploying multiple mobile health units to less remote regions can make a significant impact in maternal mortality. Second, Greece pleads for better equipped health surveillance systems in maternal care facilities. Life-saving tools such as Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR), data reports, and tracking systems can help healthcare providers identify early and preventable complications. Third, Greece wants to advocate for global pre and postnatal care. By including regular screenings, access to birth attendants during delivery, and pain management in case of complications, Greece aims to improve maternal health outcomes. Postpartum care is equally as important as prenatal care; Greece supports WHO guidelines on monitoring for certain complications like sepsis, hemorrhage, and depression. Countries need to adopt these care models that fully support mothers from early pregnancy to postpartum period.
Finally, Greece has sought out the need to build off of existing UN resolutions. SDG 3.1, WHO maternal health strategies, and UNFPA guidelines in case of emergencies, so that member states can adapt quickly. Greece encourages this collaboration among states, NGOs, and international organizations in order to share the best practices in creating a sustainable health system that can protect mothers and newborns.
Greece upholds its commitment to reducing maternal mortality and making sure childbirth is safe for all mothers, regardless of region or status. Through resource distribution, stronger health systems, and collective international action, preventable maternal deaths can be identified and eliminated. Greece is ready to work with all Member States of WHO in order to globally justify the rights and health of every mother and child.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Ethiopia
Delegate Name: Areesha Shah

Maternal health remains a global priority. Many developing nations, especially those with large rural populations, continue to face systemic barriers such as limited global funding, shortages of trained medical personnel, and uneven access to essential medical supplies. Ethiopia recognizes maternal health as a cornerstone of national development and strongly supports WHO’s leadership in improving global maternal outcomes.
Ethiopia views maternal mortality as a global challenge that requires coordinated international support, especially for nations with rapidly growing populations and large geographic areas. Ethiopia has made remarkable progress over the past decade through major expansions in health infrastructure, workforce training, and community-level outreach. The country supports WHO’s emphasis on strengthening health systems, empowering midwives, and advancing emergency maternal care.
Ethiopia has demonstrated strong commitment to maternal health by:
Expanding the Health Extension Program—one of Africa’s largest community-health networks.
Increasing the number of midwives, nurses, and maternal health centers nationwide.
Establishing maternal waiting homes to support mothers from rural communities.
Collaborating with WHO, UNICEF, and regional partners on maternal health campaigns.
Strengthening programs supporting antenatal care, safe childbirth, and postnatal services.
These national efforts have contributed to substantial improvements in maternal health indicators and reflect Ethiopia’s long-term commitment.
Ethiopia stands ready to collaborate with all member states to achieve the SDG target on maternal mortality reduction.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Republic of Korea
Delegate Name: Victoria Kim

Victoria Kim
Republic of Korea
Committee: World Health Organization (WHO)
School: City High Middle School
Topic A: Maternal Mortality
Throughout the past 70 years, the mortality rate of the Republic of Korea has been steadily decreasing by around 75-80%. A recent report by Statistics Korea states that the maternal mortality ratio was 7.8 deaths per 100,000 births in 2017, but exceeded the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) mean of 10.9 in 2020. Moreover, the Republic of Korea has one of the world’s highest cesarean section rates of approximately 45%, showing both defensive medical practices in a safe environment and maternal preferences for scheduled deliveries. A key aspect of this committee is to define the measures needed to be taken to improve and generalize pregnancy care for women and offer advanced medical facilities. With the UN Sustainable Development Goal being less than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, South Korea and fellow states should aim toward prevention of maternal mortality.
The Republic of Korea believes that the awareness issue of maternal mortality should be raised, further calling for significant government support in pregnancy care. Korea has growing concerns about high-risk pregnancies, with having the world’s oldest average age of first birth of 32 years. Founded under the Maternal and Child Health Law, Korea Population, Health and Welfare Association (KoPHWA) has focused on implementing population and reproductive health programs in South Korea since 1961. The National Institute of Health (NIH) claims that women are allowed to give birth in a maternity clinic if preferred, although this will be the more expensive option at around 500—800,000 KRW (420—670 USD). In South Korea, the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) provides universal care and covers 50-80% of all medical costs for all residents, allowing pregnant mothers to safely deliver their babies. South Korea’s expertise in healthcare puts it in a prime position to develop a constructive and feasible improvement for reducing maternal mortality.
This committee must tackle the issue of maternal mortality, further working together with the focus of maternal health and improving pregnancy healthcare systems. To this end, the Republic of Korea believes that resolutions should emphasize and encourage three main points: one, the improvement of pregnancy healthcare and its generalization so that it could be accessible to all. Secondly, the raising of awareness through government-led campaigns and public health programs. Thirdly, the prevention of unintended pregnancies and safe abortion services, in which the Constitutional Court ruled Korea’s abortion ban unconstitutional in 2019 and lead to decriminalization as of January 1, 2021.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Slovenia
Delegate Name: Ava Chapman

Ava Chapman
Country: Slovenia
Committee: WHO
School: East Grand Rapids High School
Topic A: Maternal Mortality
Maternal mortality remains a global health problem deserving of the utmost attention. Harvard researchers speculate that roughly 300,000 women die annually from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. Although Slovenia’s maternal mortality rates are exceptionally low, having decreased 80% in 2023, the republic recognizes that countries worldwide continue to grapple with severe inequalities in the healthcare system, particularly prenatal care and postpartum support. Slovenia holds firm in believing that reducing maternal deaths is not only crucial but also feasible through international cooperation to establish equitable healthcare by means of evidence-based approaches.
Slovenia strongly supports the goal of reducing the maternal mortality rate to 70 per 100,000, which was expressed in Sustainable Development Goal 3.1 through emphasizing public healthcare with equitable access. Ensuring and strengthening access to healthcare across the globe, as well as directing resources to countries with the highest maternal mortality rates, should guide international efforts. The WHO guidelines, UNFPA programs, Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care standards, and Maternal Death Surveillance and Response systems will allow countries to build stronger frameworks with a mission of improving maternal health. SDG 3.1, WHO maternal health strategies, and UN resolutions on women’s health clearly outline goals and human-rights-based principles to aid countries in developing action plans to combat mortality rates. Slovenia has ensured free prenatal care and postnatal care, supported education programs to teach midwives, expanded emergency services, and taken part in WHO and EU maternal health initiatives. Internationally, Slovenia contributes to UNFPA programs that help expand reproductive health access in partner countries.
Looking ahead, Slovenia believes it is crucial to address social barriers such as limited transportation, lack of education, and gender inequality that hinder women from receiving timely care. Countries should also adopt WHO and UNFPA standards, improve digital health tracking, and enhance coordination among governments, health agencies, and professional organizations. Fully funded national plans will be a necessity to accomplish improvements concerning maternal mortality. Major causes of maternal death, including hemorrhage, infection, hypertensive disorders, unsafe abortion, and inadequate postnatal care, need to be addressed. Improving antenatal screening and ensuring access to proper healthcare are effective steps that can be taken. Slovenia remains deeply committed to ending preventable maternal deaths through fair access, effective tools, strong policy frameworks, and targeted interventions. By working together and recognizing women’s health as a fundamental human right, the international community can make safe motherhood a reality worldwide.

https://globalaim.bwh.harvard.edu/facts-figures/#:~:text=HOW%20MANY%20MOTHERS%20AND%20INFANTS,related%20to%20pregnancy%20and%20childbirth.
https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/countries/svn/slovenia/maternal-mortality-rate#:~:text=Slovenia%20maternal%20mortality%20rate%20for,a%20200%25%20increase%20from%202019.
https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Issues/Women/WRGS/Health/ReportMaternalMortality.pdf
https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/mca-documents/qoc/quality-of-care/strategies-toward-ending-preventable-maternal-mortality-%28epmm%29.pdf?utm
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240108462?utm
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality?utm_source
https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/topics/sdg-target-3-1-maternal-mortality

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Brazil
Delegate Name: John Murphy

World Health Organization
Maternal Mortality
Brazil
John Murphy

Maternal mortality, or the death of women during childbirth, is a major healthcare issue affecting many nations across the globe. Even though the rate of maternal mortality has been dropping for decades, it is still a huge problem in many places, particularly in poorer and developing countries. Since the year 2000, maternal mortality rates have dropped by around 40%, and there were more than 350,000 fewer deaths during childbirth in the year 2023 than in 1985. The primary reason for this decrease is an increase in the availability of healthcare and maternal healthcare services worldwide. However, there is a major difference in maternal mortality rates among countries, as many poorer or developing countries still have greatly impoverished populations who lack reliable access to healthcare. If maternal mortality rates are to continue dropping, we need to improve healthcare access to populations in developing countries all over the world.
In Brazil, maternal mortality had been trending downwards for decades before the COVID-19 pandemic, when the rates climbed again. However, the primary problem in Brazil is the racial disparity in access to maternal healthcare. Black women in Brazil die during childbirth almost twice as much as white women. There are a lot of reasons for this, mainly the income inequality and the poor living conditions that many black women in Brazil are subject to. The Brazilian Ministry of Health enacted the National Policy for Integral Health of the Black Population in 2010, intending to lower these barriers and make healthcare more equitable for all. Additionally, in 2011, Brazil’s Ministry of Health created the Stork Network as a care network meant to help care for mothers and newborn children by increasing access to obstetricians and other healthcare specialists.
Despite the great global success in lowering maternal mortality rates, much more still needs to be done, especially in lower-income countries, where the maternal mortality rate (MMR) in 2017 was 450 deaths per 100,000 births, while the MMR in higher-income countries was 11. More countries around the world need to pass similar resolutions to the Brazilian Ministry of Health’s in order to expand healthcare access to their more marginalized populations. Furthermore, wealthier countries need to take a more active role in helping developing nations. Foreign aid could be an invaluable asset to many nations that would otherwise struggle to help their populations.
Brazil believes that the United Nations should expand access to maternal care by widening access to specialized medical experts and technology, especially access to obstetricians. Brazil would be glad to work with other countries, specifically nearby nations, to increase access to these resources in its more impoverished areas, as well as in other countries needing support.

Sources:
Roser, Max, and Hannah Ritchie. “Maternal Mortality.” Our World in Data, 12 Nov. 2013, ourworldindata.org/maternal-mortality.
Pacagnella, Rodolfo Carvalho, et al. “Maternal Mortality in Brazil: Proposals and Strategies for Its Reduction.” Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetricia : Revista Da Federacao Brasileira Das Sociedades de Ginecologia e Obstetricia, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Sept. 2018, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10316915/.
Silva, Amanda Dantas, et al. “Racial Disparities and Maternal Mortality in Brazil: Findings from a National Database.” Revista de Saude Publica, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 5 July 2024, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11196092/.
“Strengthening Equity and Anti-Racism in Women’s Care: A Quality Improvement Initiative Reducing Institutional Maternal Mortality in Brazil | International Journal for Equity In Health | Full Text.” BioMed Central, equityhealthj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12939-025-02452-z. Accessed 26 Nov. 2025.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Ukraine
Delegate Name: Amba Jain

World Health Organization
Maternity Morality
Ukarine
Amba Jain, Forest Hills Northern

Maternity morality was high throughout history, but recently, it has been dropping. The reason for this decline is due to public health, sanitation, and medicine. Some developed countries, however, have been seeing an increase in this trend. Around the world, about 700 women die due to giving birth or complications before or after giving birth. Most of these deaths can be avoided with proper healthcare. In many poorer countries, the risk is greater as hospitals and doctors are harder to reach. Organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) have been working to improve these rates by enhancing health care for pregnant women. The United Nations has made reducing maternal mortality a goal and has been making improvements, such as supporting training for more nurses and doctors, sending more health care to areas with crises, and building safer clinics. Adding on, the UN has helped countries that have damaged health systems, like Ukraine, create cleaner environments and support pregnant women’s access to healthcare.
Maternity Morality is a significant issue in Ukraine, especially because of the war that has damaged many hospitals and access to healthcare for many citizens. The government has been working to keep hospitals open, provide medical supplies, and train doctors and nurses. Globally, Ukraine collaborates with the United Nations and other countries to get emergency help, mobile clinics, and care for pregnant women during these times of crisis. Ukraine supports global agreements that emphasize the importance of healthcare for women, especially pregnant women. Government leaders have said that keeping mothers safe is crucial. Working with other countries and organizations has helped Ukraine try to make childbirth safer and improve health for all mothers.
Overall, Ukraine believes that everyone should work together to protect mothers and infants, particularly in war or crisis areas. Significant progress has been made with hospitals, doctors, and clinics, but more assistance is necessary for women in remote areas. Ukraine recommends providing more medical supplies, trained health workers like doctors and nurses, and education for pregnant women. If countries unite on this issue, every woman can experience a safe pregnancy and childbirth.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Central African Republic
Delegate Name: Avery Weber

Maternal Mortality – Central African Republic

Maternal mortality rates have come a long way with modern technology and isn’t a big issue in first-world and developed countries. Underdeveloped, poverty stricken countries are a different story. They still struggle with this issue because they lack the funds to stay up to date on medical necessities. The World Health Organization says the major complications the women suffer from (severe bleeding, infections, high blood pressure, complications from delivery, and unsafe abortions) are all preventable or treatable, the only problem is these women don’t have access to health care.
The Central African Republic has one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally of an average of 835 per 100,000. Most are due to unsafe abortions and pregnancies in girls or women who are too young to give birth or give birth at home. In a country where a majority of the population earn less than $2 a day, paying for health care is out of the question. Most women give birth at home to avoid the hospital bills, instead opting to use traditional birth attendants, who lack the necessary training to detect complications during childbirth. The Central African Republic wants to find a way to train and establish more community healthcare workers and midwives, so when those complications come they can be detected and treated effectively. They are also working to find a way to make health care affordable for young women and make hospital visits and treatments more affordable and accessible when complications arise. A potential resolution would involve getting and training teams of healthcare workers who can go to the more remote areas so if the women can’t find a way to get to the hospital they can still be provided health care. Receiving additional funding and/or donations will also be beneficial to aiding this crisis.
The Central African Republic urges the World Health Organization to encourage other countries to consider making monetary contributions or donating necessary supplies to countries in need. The CAR recognizes the severity of the situation and would support a resolution that involves giving aid to countries in need.

Works Cited
“Central African Republic: “To be born or to give birth is to take a risk.”” Doctor’s Without Borders, 26 January 2023, https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/central-african-republic-be-born-or-give-birth-take-risk. Accessed 22 November 2025.
“Maternal mortality.” World Health Organization (WHO), 7 April 2025, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality. Accessed 25 November 2025.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Iraq
Delegate Name: Tejas Karumudi

World Health Organization
Maternal Mortality
Republic of Iraq
Tejas Karumudi
Forest Hills Eastern High School

According to the World Health Organization, maternal mortality is the death of a pregnant mother due to complications arising from pregnancy and/or childbirth. Preventable conditions such as preeclampsia, hemorrhage, and communicable infections contribute significantly to increased maternal mortality, but poorer areas such as sub-Saharan Africa lack healthcare systems to eliminate these avoidable risk factors. Also, pregnant women are less educated in developing countries, leading to unsafe abortions and a lack of proper self-care. As a result, poorer regions of the world experience higher rates of maternal mortality, with 700 women dying from pregnancy and childbirth per day in 2023. High maternal mortality causes many problems that negatively impact countries across the world. According to the FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University, infants whose mothers had died were less likely to survive up to their first birthday. Also, increased rates of maternal mortality resulted in the loss of caregivers for children, removing children’s access to food, shelter, and education. Furthermore, mothers play a crucial role in managing the home, and contribute heavily to household income. For instance, in sub-Saharan Africa, women provide food for their families by engaging in subsistence farming. Due to high rates of maternal mortality, financial instability can occur in many households, and countries could suffer from a loss of the women workforce. Therefore, maternal mortality is a major issue that can destroy family structures and impact the well-being of countries economically and socially. In response to the issue of maternal mortality, the World Health Organization partnered with supporting members of the United Nations to ensure that inequalities in healthcare and caregiving are addressed and remedied, more women can access universal health care, and more people are educated about maternal diseases and complications after childbirth. Additionally, the World Health Organization created Strategies for Ending Preventable Maternal Mortality to highlight Sustainable Development Goals for improving maternal health education and assistance programs. Therefore, the WHO created measures and policies to spread awareness about the increasing rate of maternal mortality and to advise countries on the improvement of maternal health.

Iraq is a country that faces challenges with maternal mortality, like many other developing countries, but Iraq is making an effort to improve maternal health. Iraq’s maternal mortality rate in 2023 was 66 per 100,000 births, which was a drastic reduction from Iraq’s maternal mortality rate in 2000 (152 per 100,000 births). Despite periods of political conflict and hostility, the Ministry of Health made maternal mortality a primary concern in the nation and works to educate the citizens about the prevention of maternal deaths. Specifically, the Ministry of Health is trying to spread awareness about common maternal diseases in Iraq, such as preeclampsia and thromboembolism, by adopting its own National Health and Reproductive Health Strategies (policies intended to identify maternal conditions and improve maternal health). Furthermore, local Iraqi doctors partnered with the World Health Organization and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq to effectively treat maternal conditions and increase life expectancy for mothers in Iraq. Along with intranational initiatives, the Republic of Iraq also collaborated with the WHO to address maternal mortality. For instance, the government of Iraq ratified the International Labour Organization Maternity Protection Convention, which is designed to protect the health of pregnant mothers. Lastly, the Iraqi government created a Maternal Death Surveillance and Response system and implemented the Early Newborn Action Plan (ENAP) to improve the monitoring of maternal and neonatal health. Despite progressive efforts to address and combat maternal mortality, Iraqi citizens, especially in remote areas such as the Kurdistan region, face challenges such as a lack of hospitals and higher patient-to-physician ratios. Therefore, Iraq requires assistance from the WHO to remedy these challenges and educate citizens about maternal health. Therefore, the issue of maternal mortality deeply concerns Iraq, but Iraq needs support from the WHO and UN programs to effectively address and solve maternal issues.

The Republic of Iraq urges the WHO and supporting countries to view the reduction of maternal mortality as a necessity and encourages countries to implement plans and initiatives that help pregnant mothers access healthcare and other resources. Iraq would like to see the international community develop solutions that are cost-effective and easily accessible for all countries so that developing countries can receive the necessary support to combat their own problems of maternal mortality. Lastly, Iraq desires that all countries that are part of the WHO will share research and medical resources so that all countries can effectively prevent maternal diseases and offer treatments for pregnant women. In summary, Iraq wants all countries to cooperate together and participate in the fight against maternal mortality.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Malaysia
Delegate Name: Ruchi Gupta

Malaysia’s mortality rate has declined since the colonial era through the Midwives Ordinance in 1754, which provided services. Women in low-income countries face an MMR of 346 per 100,00 live births, which is over 34 times higher than in high-income countries. MMR depending on some racial and ethnic groups, poverty and health conditions, critical national healthcare system in some countries.Ministry of Health in Malaysia created training and programs of TBA’s leading to improved healthcare with the help of UN agencies, especially gaps like the complex pregnancy cases. Federation of Family Planning Associations in Malaysia operates clinics providing family services NGOSS. Malaysia considers it an important issue as it involves human rights and addresses inequality. A failed healthcare system, public health problems can impact a person’s family. The UN has set a SDG (Sustainable Development Goal and EPMM (Ending Mortality). 2021 HRC to protect reproductive rights and eliminate mortality. Malaysia’s SDG archive just requires certain different groups who experience higher MMR and more affordable skilled birth attendants. UNFA provides training and programs and improves the healthcare system through tech assistance. In Malaysia, data collection (MSDR system) to improve MMR through identifying cause of death and implementing remedial actions and with tech assistance.

World Organizations like UNFPA help scale up their near-miss audits in line with WHO guidelines, track women who survive life-threatening complications, and address quality issues. The Ministry of Health has broadened to combat maternal anemia, expand pertussis and hepatitis B screening, and expand antenatal visits, which aligns with WHO’s Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures campaign. According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2022, 98.1% of pregnant women had at least four antenatal visits.
Malaysia is a part of EPMM (Ending preventable maternal mortality which sets targets for antenatal care, skilled birth attendance and postnatal support. With the help of WHO, Malaysia has made progress in the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. Malaysia now wants to stop mother-to-child hepatitis B next. NGOs like the Federation of Family Planning Associations (FRAHAM) work with the MOH for safe deliveries and family planning services. The Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia Response and Relief Team (IMARET) conducts missions to remote communities, providing antenatal care and child immunization in areas with communication barriers. Mercy Malaysia provides effective treatment, early testing, nursing and health education, and social care.Malaysia has records of success in reducing maternal mortality, but faces few challenges, like trained village midwives and improved health services. It faces a few challenges, particularly high rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, which highly affect migrant workers and certain ethnic minorities. Maternal mortality in Malaysia has decreased markedly, decreasing from 210 deaths per 100 000 live births in 1963 to 26 deaths per 100,000 in 2022. Policies taken are CEMD ( Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Death ), tracking deaths, and identifying gaps in care. Malaysia’s color code and red alert systems are part of national strategies like Maternal Death Surveillance and Response (MDSR) system aiming improve work and prevent future maternal deaths.Participated in the safe motherhood initiative.Research by Malaysian states, TBAs were trained to collaborate with midwives and encourage women to attend clinics for safer deliveries.Malaysia had high antenatal care and skilled birth attendance coverage. Malaysia aligns with UN sustainable development goals ( SDG) aiming to eliminate preventable maternal deaths. While National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), monitors maternal and child health indicators and inform policy decisions.

Malaysia has MMR mortality reduction, Infrastructure and access to healthcare (trying to improve rural maternal care), high skilled specialists, preventive measures ( like maternal anemia , postpartum haemorrhage management , ectopic pregnancy interventions), Data and monitoring such as CEMD and education for maternal health awareness. Created a system to manage pregnancies at risk through tools like color coding approach to identify pregnant women at higher risk in Antenatal risk and red alert to help emergencies in the hospital .Some improvement through specific measures Malaysia could take reducing maternal deaths outside hospitals (as 27% of maternal deaths occur at home which could be improved my community outreach and emergency systems. Malaysia could increase care for migrants and non citizens as they face financial and language barriers, could advocate low-cost maternal care access for migrants globally. Malaysia could increase better guidance and monitoring for women in specific age groups, medical issues. Recommendation Malaysia could make on an international basis would be standardized maternal death audits and causes , encouraging countries to implement maternal death like CEMD . Increasing global skilled birth attendants programs, WHO-led initiatives like providing training manuals, virtual/offline courses and hands-on workshops to learn. Provide safe and low cost care to undocumented populations. Malaysia makes recommendations for emergency protocols such as color-coded risk arrangement and high-risk antenatal approaches. Also supporting SDG compliance, encouraging all countries to regularly report maternal mortality ratios and skilled birth attendance rates.Most important, integrating education on maternal education into schools and safe reproductive health.
Malaysia can share its experience in implementing the maternal and child health programs, strong referral system and risk separation tools like color-coding.A UN-supported global training initiative to increase the number of skilled birth attendants in low-resource countries.Malaysia can ask the UN/WHO to fund: Expansion of basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric care in low-income countries. Equipment for postpartum hemorrhage, eclampsia management, and safe C-sections.A WHO-supported digital maternal health platform to help rural women access antenatal/postnatal advice.A UN-run Maternal Death Surveillance and Response System (MDSR) for every country. Annual global reporting on preventable causes of maternal death.Malaysia can offer training expertise for midwives, nurses, and community health workers, supported by technical guidance from its successful maternal death audit system. It can also provide partnerships with FRHAM and NPFDB to strengthen global family-planning programs, along with research collaboration through leading Malaysian medical universities. Additionally, Malaysia can share its effective telehealth models and near-universal antenatal care system to help countries improve maternal health access. Malaysia asks the UN and all countries to make maternal health a priority, use proven care like skilled birth support and proper reviews, and ensure every woman gets safe, equal access to healthcare.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Germany
Delegate Name: Samantha Cross

World Health Organization
Maternal Mortality
Federal Republic of Germany
Samantha Cross
Forest Hills Eastern

Throughout the world, maternal mortality has remained a prevalent issue when dealing with birth and postpartum. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that 700 women die daily due to complications with pregnancy and childbirth. Failure of health systems, access to education, and socio-cultural norms are all examples of reasons women don’t receive the care they need. Although maternal mortality rates have dropped by 40% between 2000 and 2023, the UN reports that “the pace of improvement has slowed significantly since 2016, and an estimated 260,00 women died in 2023 due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth, or roughly one death every two minutes.” As of 2023, maternal mortality in Germany has been estimated that per 100,000 births, 4 women die. Maternal Mortality has been recognized by the UN as a human rights issue, and has established targets for reducing the issue. They also provide estimates and trends of maternal mortality to monitor progress, which is done through the Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-Agency Group (MMEIG).

Germany recognizes the importance of stopping maternal mortality. Germany has committed 12 million euros to the Maternal and Newborn Health Fund until 2027, which is the UNFPA’s program to improve maternal and newborn health and ensuring everyone has access to sexual, reproductive, maternal, and newborn health and rights. Germany has also taken steps to improve prenatal care, by offering support and counseling to pregnant women, as well as prevention of diseases or unfavorable circumstances which could risk the lives of mother and child. Care is regulated by law and offers psychosocial and medical assistance for all pregnancies. Pregnant women in Germany are also encouraged to carry a maternity passport, which carries relevant information of the pregnancy and any of the expectant mothers personal risks. To help with expenses, Germany gives a tax-free maternity allowance around the time of birth to help with expenses, replaces a portion of a parent’s income for up to 14 months so they can take paternal leave without severe financial hardship (Parental Allowance), and a monthly payment, regardless of income, to help with expenses that come with raising a child. Germany has also passed the Maternity Protection Act, which protects pregnant women and new mothers in the workplace, during pregnancy, and while in university. Some of Germany’s international funding is spent on strengthening midwifery education and regulation in other countries, as well as providing midwives for their own citizens during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

The Federal Republic of Germany strongly advises the UN to take bigger action in ending maternal mortality through investing and promoting programs across the world, like midwifery education and access to quality maternal health services. Germany also wants to strengthen healthcare systems, including the improvement of emergency obstetric care, essential medicines, and reproductive health services both domestically and internationally through the United Nations Population Fund. Our goal is to ensure every woman across the world has access to quality care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Nigeria
Delegate Name: Ainsley Roepcke

Before modern medicine, maternal mortality rates were extremely high. It is estimated that around 1-2% of women died from childbirth complications. Poor sanitation and lack of sterile equipment worsened outcomes. With advances such as anesthesia, outcomes began improving in industrialized countries. While some women benefited from new medical practices, an abundance of women still had little access to proper healthcare. To this day, many low-income nations continue to face high maternal mortality rates due to a lack of healthcare systems. In 1987, The Safe Motherhood Initiative marked the first global response to maternal mortality. Its approach was built around improving access to maternal health services, family planning and reproductive health, and women’s empowerment. Through the Safe Motherhood Initiative, the United Nations mobilized governments to acknowledge maternal mortality as a public health priority, and encouraged them to adopt Safe Motherhood programs with clear strategies and budgets. Despite their efforts, maternal mortality is still a major issue occurring worldwide. Nigeria has a high rate of maternal mortality, recording 814 deaths per 100,000 births in 2015. Nigeria is concerned with this issue and is committed to finding a solution, working with fellow delegates.

One recent estimate claims that Nigeria accounts for nearly 30% of global maternal deaths. The World Health Organization has helped Nigeria improve quality of maternal and newborn care through initiatives such as the Quality, Equity, and Dignity (QED) project which provides training for healthcare workers and improvement in hospital standards, patient safety, and maternity care. Additionally, WHO and Nigeria launched the Midwives Service Scheme, deploying skilled midwives to rural communities. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) works to increase access to family planning services by supplying reproductive health kits and by actively running campaigns against gender-based violence, which is linked to poor maternal health outcomes. The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) helps improve nutrition and immunization, which are essential for reducing maternal deaths. Nigeria also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goal, which is aiming to reduce global maternal mortality to less than 70 per 100,000 births by 2030. Maternal mortality is not uniform across Nigeria, with northern Nigeria estimated to have a maternal mortality rate about five times higher than the south. Despite having strong policies and partnerships, Nigeria is a country that faces severe health system challenges and needs assistance to effectively reduce maternal mortality. Nigeria has shown consistent commitment to supporting United Nations resolutions that promote women’s rights, gender equality, and safe motherhood.

Nigeria has made moderate progress in reducing maternal deaths. The country has strengthened health policies, expanded midwife and hospital programs, and partnered with international organizations to improve maternal and newborn health. However, progress has been slower than needed to meet global targets. Nigeria’s maternal mortality fell from about 1,200 to 814 deaths per 100,000 births, showing progress but not at the pace required. Despite visible progress, Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate remains among the highest in the world. Nigeria spends less than 5% of its national budget on health, despite the 15% target set by the 2001Abuja Declaration that Nigeria helped create. Nigeria encourages the United Nations to expand funding and training for maternal health by helping low-income countries meet the 15% health budget target. By ensuring every woman has a safe delivery, nations can collectively achieve the goal of ending preventable maternal deaths by 2030.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Australia
Delegate Name: Silas Fetrow

Maternal Mortality

Maternal mortality remains one of the most urgent global health and human rights issues facing the international community today. Every year, hundreds of thousands of women die from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth—deaths that are overwhelmingly preventable. As a developed nation with a strong public health system, the Commonwealth of Australia recognizes both its responsibility and its capacity to lead cooperative international efforts aimed at reducing maternal mortality worldwide.

Domestically, Australia maintains a comparatively low maternal mortality ratio due to accessible prenatal care, trained medical personnel, and a strong emphasis on patient safety. However, the Australian government acknowledges that disparities persist, particularly among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, who face significantly higher maternal mortality rates than non-Indigenous Australians. This gap underscores the importance of culturally informed healthcare, improved rural medical access, and continued investment in midwifery and community-based maternal services. Australia’s national commitment to equitable healthcare forms a key part of its perspective in international negotiations.

Internationally, Australia supports global initiatives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 3.1, which aims to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. Through its foreign aid programs, Australia has funded maternal health projects in the Indo-Pacific region, focusing on emergency obstetric care, professional training for local health workers, and increased access to reproductive health services. Australia believes that empowering women and girls through education and healthcare access is essential to long-term reductions in maternal deaths.

Australia encourages the World Health Organization to strengthen multilateral strategies that emphasize prevention, data transparency, and local capacity-building. The delegation advocates for policies that expand reproductive healthcare, support skilled birth attendants, and ensure that every woman—regardless of geography or socioeconomic status—can give birth safely. Furthermore, Australia supports increased collaboration with NGOs, regional partners, and UN agencies to deliver targeted, culturally responsive aid to areas with the highest need.

In conclusion, Australia is committed to addressing maternal mortality as both a public health issue and a fundamental world health concern. By combining domestic experience with international cooperation, Australia seeks to advance globally sustainable improvements in maternal health and uphold the dignity and safety of women everywhere.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Turkey
Delegate Name: Murphy Hawk

Committee- World Health Organization

Country- Türkiye

Delegate- Murphy Hawk

Maternal Mortality

In 2023, there were over 700 maternal deaths that were due to preventable causes, and this is seen in most low-income areas around the world that lack the resources to properly care for women’s health. The World Health Organization, WHO, has listed the top 5 factors that lead to maternal deaths, and these are severe bleeding, infections, high blood pressure, complications in delivery or an unsafe abortion (World). Most all those factors could be prevented or treated if lower income areas had the resources they need. This is an exceptionally important issue because thousands of babies are born every 24 hours and women should not fear their healthcare system. The lack of resources is not the only reason why these women continue to suffer, many families face transportation limitations to get to doctors, have a lack of education on women’s health in general or the societal norm is for women to not be cared for (World). All these risks leave women vulnerable and scared for the future without a proper solution in sight. The need for trained doctors, nurses and midwives is high in low-income areas so that women can feel confident in their treatments.

In Türkiye, there have been significant advancements in helping women get the healthcare they need. The rate of maternal deaths is a steady decrease, and Türkiye is continuing to make improvements. Since 1974, the statistics have gone from 208 deaths per 100,000 healthy births down to 13 deaths per 100,000 healthy births in 2021. One of the most helpful improvements made was shown in a study that having midwives make in-home visits every 3 to 4 months for young women and adults helped to take proper measures and precautions for the expectant mothers and educate them on what to expect (Yüksel). There also was more rural treatment and health centers built to make accessibility easier for the people who struggled with transportation. The lack of education on unwanted/unplanned pregnancies, limited access to groups such as planned parenthood and having to break down the gender inequalities is holding back additional progress. (Yüksel). There are roughly around 800 maternal deaths that happen a day globally, which added up to 287,000 women losing their lives to preventable measures in 2020. All these things are still a work in progress for Türkiye, but the improvements will not go unnoticed, and the hope is to spread them to other countries as well.

The first solution that would help to make great improvements around the world is to implement what Türkiye has already done; focus on building health treatment centers where the people can get to them and provide midwives for check-ins and wellness checks. Along with this, making an educational organization that focuses on bringing facts and information to the people will provide expecting families with the resources they need to know about what they are experiencing. This organization would provide courses and classes as well as books and pamphlets filled with the health education they need. Education is one of the greatest powers a person can have and all information to have easy access to the information that could save their life can change the world.

Work cited

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Maternal mortality. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality 

Yüksel-Kaptanoğlu, İlknur. “Examining expert views on maternal mortality in Turkey: A qualitative study.” Examining expert views on maternal mortality in Turkey: A qualitative study, public health nursing, 3 June 2024, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/phn.13336. Accessed 24 Nov. 2025.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Bangladesh
Delegate Name: Olivia Beard

WHO
Maternal Mortality
Bangladesh
Olivia Beard, Forest Hills Northern High School
Maternal mortality remains a critical global health issue, reflecting deep disparities in access to healthcare, reproductive services, and prenatal and postnatal care. Maternal mortality rate represents the number of deaths caused by severe bleeding, infections, unsafe abortions, hypertensive disorders, and/or obstructed labor, due to complications during pregnancy, child birth, or within 42 days after delivery. On average, over 287,000 women die each year from maternal causes, which could have been preventable, and 95% of those women resided in low and middle income countries. Worldwide efforts such as the Millenium Development Goals (specifically MDG 5) and Sustainable Development Goal 3.1 have worked to reduce the Maternal Mortality Ratio. Furthermore, WHO, UNICEF, and UNFPA launched the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescents’ Health to provide equal access to medical services. WHO is dedicated to reducing MMR to achieve universal healthcare coverage and justice in care delivery. As a developing country with underserved communities and limited medical professionals/resources, the republic sees maternal health as very important for national development and worldwide progress for vaccines.
Bangladesh has made great strides in improving outcomes for pregnant women, yet they still continue to face large obstacles in healthcare access, equity, and postnatal care. The advancements in public health have consisted of the maternal mortality rate declining from 0.004% in 2000 to 0.0015% in 2022. The skilled birth attendance rate also rose from 9% in 2000 to nearly 59% in 2022, with support from government and NGO partnerships. Even though the medical program has been enhanced dramatically, medical personnel, safe clinical facilities, and emergency obstetric care are still inaccessible in rural areas. Bangladesh has scaled up partnerships with WHO, Gavi, and UNFPA on issues related to maternal health programs and vaccination programs have been increased. Bangladesh favors models that are community based, such as the Maternal Health Voucher Scheme and the Community Skilled Birth Attendant Program. Its focus is on equitable access, medical training, and high health financing. Officials have continually affirmed their commitment to the Every Woman Every Child Initiative and SDG 3.
Bangladesh aligns with WHO’s global health agenda and continuously supports international frameworks, with the goal of reducing the MMR rate. WHO provides indispensable support with programs like the Maternal and Newborn Health Initiative and Health, Nutrition and Population Sector Program that help countries like Bangladesh achieve these goals. The United Nations, WHO, and Bangladesh are all in support of SDGs, specifically 3.1 and 3.7. The UN also ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination, endorsed the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescents’ Health, and equally important, their support for the ENAP and the Safe Motherhood Initiative. Though they have succeeded at lowering the MMR, there are ongoing international inequalities in funding, skilled personnel, and resource distribution.
Bangladesh stresses the importance of the fact that maternal mortality requires equal, analytical, and locally driven solutions, which can only be achieved through global partnerships. The main goals are to expand access to medical professionals, strengthen prenatal and postnatal care, enhance equity and outreach, support safe reproductive health, and improve international coordination. Bangladesh’s stance on this issue is belief that maternal mortality reduction must be treated as an essential element of global health and development. It also encourages the WHO to increase funding for the programs that help reduce the MMR, specifically at a community level and to strengthen oversight of national progress. Bangladesh stands ready to work with member nations of the WHO to ensure that every woman, regardless of race, income, or geographical location, has access to safe, essential, and life saving care.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Canada
Delegate Name: Priya Mahabi

Country: Canada
Delegate: Priya Mahabir
School: Forest Hill Central High School
Committee: WHO – ECOSOC
Topic: Maternal Mortality

As the number of women’s deaths in childbirth in the world continues to slow down in decrease in bigger countries and increase in some smaller regions around the world, Canada has been prioritizing its health care through its universal and publicly funded Medicare system. Canada has met the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for the last thirteen years in a row. The mortality ratio has been twelve out of one hundred thousand, completing the goal of trying to get down to seventy out of one hundred thousand. So far, Canada has been trying to regulate, strengthen, and improve health care, investing in programs that support women and children, and reproductive services. Even though Canada doesn’t have the lowest amount of maternal mortality rates, it has less than the world goal of the SDG.

Canada wants to continue and improve the health system: expanding access to family and mental health services, improving funding, implementing programs both domestically and internationally, and promoting best practices for care and prevention. As of now, the main ways Canada makes mental health services more accessible are through significant federal investments, collaborative agreements with provinces and territories, and targeted initiatives, but as we progress, we want to implement measures to reduce systemic barriers and leverage technology. Making care accessible but also quality is a main problem that Canada tries to work on.

As a more populated country, enforcing a health care system that doesn’t cost as much or is a form of non-profit could not only help Canada, but also less populated countries that don’t have unlimited access to health care. Specifically, Canada needs to improve the data collection in maternal mortality to record if there’s a genetic problem that the nation can look for and avoid the death of a woman and their child. Help within The Public Health Agency of Canada’s Canadian Perinatal Surveillance System (CPSS) since they only collect data relying on vital statistics and hospital discharge data, which do not record not only the maternal mortality data, but also the relationship between the deaths and the detailed symptoms. To increase the data collection, Canada wants to improve their confidential enquiry system, improve the accuracy of existing data by standardizing definitions and linking datasets, and expand surveillance to include granular clinical and social context through local maternity unit reviews. By 2030, Canada wants the maternal mortality rate to be as low as possible.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: South Africa
Delegate Name: Nadia Clark

Country: South Africa
Delegate: Nadia Clark
School: Williamston High School
Committee: WHO
Topic: Maternal Mortality
There are a number of different things that could cause a mother’s death while she’s giving birth and unfortunately they aren’t all fixable. However actions can be taken to help prevent these complications from arising. South Africa has taken measures to help protect women during pregnancy by establishing the allowance of guaranteed abortion up to 12 weeks after getting pregnant, the allowance of abortion up to 20 weeks if the pregnancy could kill or harm the woman, consistent research into vaccines for HIV/AIDs, the Basic Antenatal Care Plus (BANC) plan which requires a number of 8 doctoral visits throughout the pregnancy to protect the health of the mother and the baby and ensure that the baby will be delivered safely, facility based births, and free maternity care across the majority of the country.
Some of the leading causes of a woman’s death during birth in South Africa are AIDS/HIV, non-pregnancy related infections, hypertension, obstetric haemorrhage, and miscarrige. Nearly all causes of maternal mortality in South Africa relate to a woman’s overall health before and during pregnancy. The maternal mortality rate has always been unfortunately high in South Africa, with a rate of 118 deaths per 100,000 births the ideal is zero. The WHO has also been working to decrease the number of maternal deaths by continuing and improving research, providing people with evidence based suggestions so that they make the best decisions for their babies and providing technical support to member states for implementing policies and programs that protect mothers as much as possible for when they give birth.
South Africa will continue to look for ways to improve maternal healthcare as well as maintain the policies that protect pregnant women. For unpredictable causes of death during birth, like the miscarriages and the obstetric haemorrhages, (which cannot be predicted before a woman actually gives birth to a baby) South Africa will push to improve healthcare so that all hospitals will always be equipped to handle these circumstances. South Africa plans to continue advancing hospital care and preparing hospitals so that a hospital will always be equipped to handle any situation, especially the ones that jeopardize a pregnant woman’s health. South Africa will continue to work with the WHO to plan an incontestable plan that keeps the mother and the child in mind, and ensures that the mother gives birth safely to a healthy baby. South Africa would like to work with countries that have policies they’d be willing to explain and any resources they’d be willing to share so that South Africa can decrease the numbers of maternal deaths per birth.

Sources:
https://www.health.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Fact-sheet-Saving-Mothers-2022.pdf
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1173514/
https://www.clintonhealthaccess.org/research/decreasing-maternal-mortality-in-south-africa/#:~:text=The%20Mphatlalatsane%20initiative%20is%20a%20Quality%20Improvement,quality%20facility%2Dbased%20births%20*%20Improving%20immunization%20uptake
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7941100/

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: Argentina
Delegate Name: Grace Hamel

Country: Argentina
Delegate: Grace Hamel
School: Williamston High School
Committee: WHO (ECOSOC)
Topic: Maternal Mortality

Although improvements have been made, maternal mortality continues to be an issue in modern-day healthcare and it remains a relevant subject especially in developed and developing countries. As of 2023, every day, over 700 women passed away as a result of preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. The majority of these deaths could have been prevented as they are often a consequence of inadequate care during pregnancy and childbirth and an inequality in access to quality healthcare between the rich and poor. This gap is only growing, and as it grows, the maternal mortality issue will remain prominent. As we continue to advance our healthcare services, it is urgent that we prioritize addressing this issue of maternal mortality and do everything in our ability to limit these preventable deaths.
Argentina has put great emphasis on the issue of maternal mortality as it has been an issue in its past and though great improvements have been made, it is still an important issue that they believe must be treated with urgency. In the year 2000, Argentina experienced approximately 80 deaths for every 100,000 live births. This places their maternal mortality ratio below that of countries considered to have high maternal mortality, but this ratio is elevated when it is compared to other national statistics. By the year 2023, Argentina decreased that ratio to an estimated 33 deaths for every 100,000 live births. This is a significant improvement, attributed mainly to their Federal Health Plan which conducted studies to readdress the maternal mortality issue by analyzing the relationship between social aspects and health services, adjusting the monitoring process, and making suggestions for improvement.
Argentina suggests addressing the issue of maternal mortality by first targeting the quality of public health services. This is seen in Argentina’s Nacer/Sumar Plan which seeks to improve the quality of public health services by providing support to the uninsured population. The plan was created to address gaps in coverage across the public sector. One of the main targets of this plan is to improve maternal health specifically. Argentina believes that this can be achieved through the provision of healthcare centers with the appropriate medical equipment to enhance care. Argentina hopes that these methods can be used to increase access and improve the quality of maternal, prenatal, and childbirth care. In order for this to be achieved, Argentina would seek support from an outside source such as the World Bank Group, the World Health Organization, or the United Nations Population Fund. Argentina would seek to ally with the United States, Brazil, and Chile on this issue.

Works Cited
“Argentina.” World Bank Group, 2023, https://genderdata.worldbank.org/en/economies/argentina. Accessed 19 November 2025.
Figar, Silvana, et al. “Reduction of Maternal Mortality: Intercultural Care for Pregnancy and Childbirth at the Hospital of Tartagal, Salta, Argentina.” medRxiv, 2025, https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.07.25326956v1.full. Accessed 19 November 2025.
“A healthcare revolution in Argentina.” World Bank, 11 December 2024, https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/immersive-story/2024/12/11/salud-de-calidad-en-argentina-plan-nacer. Accessed 19 November 2025.
“Maternal mortality.” World Health Organization (WHO), 7 April 2025, https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality. Accessed 19 November 2025.
Ramos, Silvina, et al. “A comprehensive assessment of maternal deaths in Argentina: translating multicentre collaborative research into action.” National Library of Medicine, 2007, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2636380/. Accessed 19 November 2025.
Silva, Humberto, et al. “Plan Nacer/Programa SUMAR: Measurement to ensure effective universal health coverage.” PHCPI, 2022, https://www.improvingphc.org/plan-nacerprograma-sumar-measurement-ensure-effective-universal-health-coverage-0. Accessed 19 November 2025.
“Trends in Maternal Mortality 2000-2023: Estimates by WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank Group and UNDESA/Population Division.” United Nations Population Fund, https://www.unfpa.org/publications/trends-maternal-mortality-2000-2023. Accessed 19 November 2025.

Topic: 2025 – Maternal Mortality
Country: France
Delegate Name: Molly Delp

Country: France
Committee: ECOSOC: WHO
Topic: Maternal Morality
Delegate: Molly Delp
School: Williamston High School

In 2023 an alarming 260,000 women died during and following childbirth, with the majority of these deaths occurring in less economically developed countries. The most common reason for maternal mortality is due to complications that arise during and after childbirth such as infections, severe bleeding, unsafe abortion, and delivery complications. However, most of these complications are preventable or treatable. While there are several ways that women’s lives can be saved, such as safe abortion practices, and high quality care, many women don’t get the care they need due to a variety of reasons such as health system failures, social determinants, and inequalities or harmful gender norms.
France has taken several important steps to reduce the number of deaths women face while experiencing childbirth. Between 2000 and 2023, France has reduced their maternal mortality rate by 65%. This was attained through several measures such as investing training for healthcare workers to enhance their abilities to care for complicated cases. Another measure was improving prenatal care by optimizing prenatal surveillance and management to prevent complications, and a final measure was ensuring safe abortion strategies be available to all women by enacting legal reforms that extend access to all women. France is contributing to the French Muskoka Fund, attempting to reduce maternal mortality rates. This fund brings together four United Nations bodies including the World Health Organization, the UN Population Fund, the UN International Children’s Emergency Fund and UN Women in an attempt to improve the health of mothers and babies by donating funds and helping to strengthen partnerships between countries in this region. This fund focuses its actions on the nine sub-Saharan African countries that have the greatest maternal morality, as these countries are at the greatest risk.
France recognizes the fatality and importance of maternal morality and would propose to solve this issue by focusing on strengthening healthcare systems, ensuring quality care, and increasing access to essential healthcare services through international cooperation with organizations such as UNFPA. Education for healthcare providers is an important aspect of care so they can be aware of the possible risks, and be able to provide better care for their patients. Additionally, education on proper equality for all patients should be required for healthcare workers so that mothers do not avoid treatment due to harmful gender norms or inequalities. Along with education, France would strongly encourage able countries to provide financial contributions to organizations such as UNFPA so less developed countries are able to get the help and resources they need. France supports initiatives such as the French Muskoka Fund and encourages all countries to contribute to similar initiatives. France would expect to find allies in all countries where the French Muskoka Fund. France also hopes to collaborate with other high-income countries to help combat this global issue.

Works Cited:
“Maternal Mortality.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 7 Apr. 2025, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality.
Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères. “French Action for Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Rights.” France Diplomacy – Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Feb. 2021, www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/development-assistance/priority-sectors/health/french-action-for-sexual-reproductive-maternal-child-and-adolescent-health/.

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