Historically, women have experienced discrimination in terms of their health despite making 80 percent of health care decisions for their families, using more medical services than men, and suffering greater disability from chronic disease.

Given the controversy surrounding the ACA, it's easy to get confused about what exactly President Obama's health reform law means and who it benefits. What we should not be confused about, however, is the real impact the law is already having, particularly for women and women of color.

Health care reform may be an opportunity to help women get exactly what they want from their health care: an emphasis on prevention, a holistic approach to diagnostics, doctors who talk to each other, accessible and integrated medical records ...

By investing in maternal health, we would not only benefit from increased moral standing and goodwill, but we also help create a safer, more stable world.

Based on decades of international work, we know that there will be no global peace or security until we secure every woman's right to a just and healthy life.