Topic:
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/.
