High-level UN Commission established to track results and resources for women’s and children’s health
16 DECEMBER 2010 - A high-level commission to improve global reporting, oversight and accountability for women's and children’s health has been announced. The commission, which is convened by the WHO, follows the launch of the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health, launched in September at the UN. Commission co-chairs include the President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete, and the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, who led the Muskoka Initiative under Canada's G8 leadership earlier this year. Approximately 30 commissioners from government, civil society, academia, the UN and other multilateral agencies have been appointed. Vice-chairs of the commission are Hamadoun Touré, Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union, and Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization.
The accountability framework proposed by the Commission will:
- track results and resource flows at global and country levels;
- identify a core set of indicators and measurement needs for women's and children's health;
- propose steps to improve health information and registration of vital events - births and deaths - in low-income countries;
- explore opportunities for innovation in information technology to improve access to reliable information on resources and outcomes.
The Commission will report in May 2011.
Chairs and Vice-Chairs: biographies and statements
- H.E. Mr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President, United Republic of Tanzania
- Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Canada
- Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General, World Health Organization
- Dr Hamadoun Touré, Secretary-General, International Telecommunication Union