Monday 16 May 2016

Mary at Women Delivers 2016


Crown Princess Mary with the Australian Ambassador to Denmark and the Australian Ambassador for Women and Girls ahead of the Women Deliver Summit in Copenhagen
(photo @DamianMiller Twitter)

Gender equality is not a women's agenda, it's humanity's agenda - that was the message from Crown Princess Mary of Denmark as she opened a major conference on female health rights taking place in Copenhagen this week. Mary was addressing the Women Deliver conference which runs for three days in the Danish capital. And her message was as hard hitting as those she has expressed in the weeks and months running up to the event.





Mary hasn't shied away from discussing difficult topics as she got ready for this huge conference, attended by hundreds of delegates from around the world. There is a big focus on some big issues including ending forced marriage and child marriage, tackling HIV/ AIDS and mortality rates in childbirth. Mary showed today she is ready to tackle them all again.




Mary had some royal support as she made her opening address with Princess Mabel of Orange showing her backing. Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway also attended the conference.


The Crown Princess of Denmark and the Crown Princess of Norway at the Women Deliver conference in Copenhagen today

Mette-Marit was there to launch the Maverick Collective, a group of influential women coming together to improve women's health and rights around the world. It's been up and running for three years but was officially launched today in Copenhagen.



Mary's speech also had a big focus on women's health issues with the Danish Crown Princess speaking particularly passionately about issues linked to childbirth and pregnancy, expressing her shock that 90% of deaths during delivery could be avoided with more skilled medical assistance. And she called on those at the conference to underline the message that 'not bad isn't good enough'.




The night before the conference, Mary had attended a reception for Australian delegates given by her home country's ambassador to Denmark.  



Mary will be heavily involved with the conference over the next two days and with its work beyond that. She told her audience that society benefits when women and girls are protected and made stronger - it's a message we will no doubt here again in the days, weeks and months to come.

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