{"id":62132,"date":"2024-06-03T14:33:40","date_gmt":"2024-06-03T18:33:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.psi.org\/?p=62132"},"modified":"2024-07-22T09:51:59","modified_gmt":"2024-07-22T13:51:59","slug":"melinda-french-gates-1b-commitment-will-transform-gender-equality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.psi.org\/fr\/2024\/06\/melinda-french-gates-1b-commitment-will-transform-gender-equality\/","title":{"rendered":"Melinda French Gates’ $1B Commitment Will Transform Gender Equality"},"content":{"rendered":"
How will Melinda French Gates\u2019 pledge catalyze progress for women and girls everywhere? PSIers worldwide weigh in.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

As Ayesha Leghari, PSI Pakistan\u2019s Country Representative reminds: investing <\/strong>in women and girls strengthens societies as a whole. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s not just the right thing to do, it’s smart economics too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the heels of Melinda French Gates\u2019 $1 billion philanthropic pledge<\/a> \u2013 all against the backdrop of Roe\u2019s fall in the U.S. and global threats to reproductive rights\u2014we see the opportunity to transform the fight for women\u2019s rights. French Gates\u2019 investment has the potential to sustain long-term change that can and will put the power back into women and girls\u2019 hands; advance health impact; and get us all closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What impact will this investment have? And what sets Melinda French Gates\u2019 commitment apart? PSIers weigh in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ayesha Leghari<\/a>, Country Representative, PSI Pakistan<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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This is particularly exciting for advocates in low- and middle-income countries like Pakistan where increased access to sexual and reproductive health and rights can transform countless lives. We need more champions like Melinda French Gates to ensure every woman, regardless of location, has control over her body and her future.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Odette Hekster<\/a>, Managing Director, PSI Europe<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cThis is an opportunity to translate our excitement into hope that Melinda will take a holistic approach to women’s health and reproductive rights without restrictions of what that can include, and not shy away from \u2018controversial\u2019 topics like abortion and menstrual health.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rena Greifinger<\/a>, Managing Director, Maverick Collective by PSI<\/a>, PSI D.C.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cWhile Melinda’s efforts in recent years have focused on the uphill battle for women\u2019s rights and equity in the U.S., we know that she never lost her connection to the fights for equality worldwide. She has demonstrated that choosing between \u2018local\u2019 and \u2018global\u2019 is a false binary that no longer fits in our hyper-connected world. We hope she will continue to use her power and influence to help global efforts to restore rights and protect women\u2019s access to healthcare.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jen Pope<\/a>, Vice President SRH, HIV and TB, PSI D.C. <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cMelinda’s unwavering commitment to reproductive rights and gender equality resonates deeply with me. I, too, share concerns about the rights of the next generation compared to my own upbringing. In today\u2019s post-Dobbs world, I admire Melinda\u2019s focus on addressing systemic issues and supporting grassroots initiatives that aim to shift power and uplift women and girls globally.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Andrea Fearneyhough<\/a>, Director, Safe Abortion, PSI D.C.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cMelinda  is turning the tables for women’s health. We applaud her decision to fund the <\/em>National Women\u2019s Law Center<\/em><\/a> et le <\/em>Center for Reproductive Rights<\/em><\/a>, two groups on the frontlines of the fight for abortion rights here in the U.S.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Andrea Novella<\/a>, Global Digital Health Advisor, Social Business\/Viya Health, PSI D.C.<\/a><\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cWhen women rise, we all rise. By investing in solutions designed for, by, and with women and girls, Melinda is laying the groundwork for sustainable, long-term change. It’s a refreshing departure from traditional strategies<\/strong> and showcases the type of innovation in funding we need to truly achieve health and gender equity.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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