This week can be a moment in history for the world's women, where leaders put words into action -- stop the planning and mapping, and start the doing. We all have a role to play in ensuring that.

These past few weeks especially, Kampala has been on my mind because amidst the grief over recent events there is an amazing opportunity. The city is host to the 15th African Union Summit.

Afghanistan is now ranked second worst in the world when it comes to maternal mortality. But there is hope on the horizon.

At this G8 Summit, it's time we started to put an end to maternal, newborn and infant mortality. Every day, nearly 1,000 women and 22,000 children under five will die in a world where most of these deaths are entirely preventable.

As we held the closing plenary at the Women Deliver conference just weeks ago, I thought we CAN deliver. It's time to move above the fray and get serious about improving maternal health worldwide.

A convergence of health services is an approach far more comprehensive than simply merging maternal and newborn health.

The UN plan is certainly well-timed. Unfortunately, it's missing the one element that will make it work. Medical causes of maternal death are inextricably linked to human rights.

This study should drive us to do more: to advocate for necessary policy changes and to push for funding increases for maternal health. We know progress is possible.

It's not often that you get to sit in the same room with a group of world leaders and hear their wisdom, ideas and experiences at the personal and political levels. I've just enjoyed that privilege. And the world leaders were all women.

No matter who you are, no matter where you live, it is incredibly moving to hold a healthy baby in your arms. But tens of millions of women never get to experience that moment of beauty.

In a cavernous convention center in the heart of the Nation's Capitol, thousands of people have gathered to celebrate the role of women in the well-be...

In less than two weeks, the world's leading voices on advancing the lives and livelihoods of women and girls around the world will come together for the 2010 Women Deliver Summit.