Huffington Post: To Be or Not to Be… A Mom
Pamela Barnes, president and CEO of EngenderHealth

“…Motherhood is a transformational experience, and the decision to become a mother should be a choice that every woman is empowered to make for herself. But not every woman has the opportunity. Today, 225 million women in developing countries want to decide for themselves when and if to have children, but lack access to contraception…” (5/8).

Huffington Post: How Lessons From Haiti and Miracles in Nepal Show Us What Is Possible
Christy Turlington Burns, founder of Every Mother Counts

“…We believe that every mother has the right to access the care she needs during pregnancy and childbirth to support her health and to prevent and manage potential complications. Failure to meet this need means that this Mother’s Day, and every day, 800 girls and women will continue to die when they could survive and thrive…” (5/10).

Huffington Post: A New Type of Mother’s Day Gift
Akash Goel, resident physician at New York Presbyterian/Columbia University

“…While the final list of goals and targets are under discussion for the post-2015 development agenda, known as the Sustainable Development Goals, now is a time to re-prioritize maternal and reproductive health among not only governments and development institutions but also the private sector. … This year, let’s give a different kind of gift to our mothers — one that elevates that status of maternal health in the SDGs…” (5/10).

Huffington Post: A Promise to the Missing Moms
Babatunde Osotimehin, executive director of UNFPA

“…We need to build resilient health systems that can deliver quality care. We know that investments in midwifery services are the most cost-effective. … When world leaders meet in September at the United Nations General Assembly in New York to enshrine the new post-2015 development agenda, we need to generate the political will to drastically drive down and end avoidable maternal deaths in our lifetime. We also need strong leadership at the local level to push the agenda forward…” (5/8).

Huffington Post: Celebrating All Brave Women This Mother’s Day
Susan Sarandon, actress, activist and mother

“…This Mother’s Day, I am taking the opportunity to celebrate all mothers, but especially those who are up against some of life’s biggest challenges. It might surprise you to learn that every year there are 1.5 million women living with HIV giving birth around the world. … I stand in solidarity with these women this Mother’s Day, with the hope that in a short time we live in a world where each and every baby is born free of HIV” (5/10).