Grassroots activist visits university to discuss international women's issues

04/24/09 - Jane Roberts, co-founder of the 34 Million Friends of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has raised more than $4 million to promote women's rights, and discussed her achievements yesterday afternoon in the University of Rhode Island library.The retired French teacher from California said she was "furious" when in 2002 the Bush Administration announced they were not providing the $34 million to support UNFPA. One night she decided that if 34 million people paid $1 each, UNFPA would be able to continue providing women's health care and promoting the rights of women. Roberts said her idea so far has been a success, and more money will be given from President Barack Obama to support UNFPA.

She also said even though the government is providing the money, this will not stop the foundation from continuing the 34 Million Friends of UNFPA campaign.

"When the world takes care of women, women take care of the world, and the UNFPA takes care of women," Roberts said.

She opened her discussion with a series of photos she had taken during her travels to promote women's rights through UNFPA. One picture showed a pregnant woman in labor on the back of a donkey cart in Mali. Unfortunately, the nearest UNFPA clinic was six miles away. Roberts told the woman her picture would be shown around the world to promote UNFPA.

Roberts discussed why women in certain countries experience unhealthy pregnancies, saying the lack of midwives and technologies pose problems, because of lack in proper medical care. Roberts then showed pictures of women who were given cesarean sections with the help of UNFPA funding.

She said women in certain cultures have children at a very young age and can experience longer labors than usual.

This can result in an abnormal condition known as obstetric fistula, a severe medical condition that occurs after an unhealthy or failed childbirth. The baby normally doesn't survive and the women need immediate medical assistance, typically surgery.

She said that worldwide there are approximately 200 million pregnancies a year and 500,000 women die a year giving birth. UNFPA is trying to lower the death rate, Roberts added.

"When women are able to separate their pregnancies, they're much healthier," she said in reference to frequent childbirth.

Twenty percent of these pregnancies result in abortions, half of which are performed by non-medical personnel. "Prevention is the key," Roberts said about unhealthy pregnancies. She also touched on the lack of education women receive around the world.

Roberts said 60 percent of the illiterate people in the world are women. "Girls and women's education is the key to a better future," she said. UNFPA promotes education because it increases awareness on how to prevent HIV and AIDS. Members from UNFPA are working with the world's adolescents and teaching them about deadly diseases.

Roberts said she has a vision of the world with complete gender equality and hopes to accomplish this to the best of her abilities. "I have given my life to this [and] I have sent a positive message to the world," Roberts said.