Dr. Carmen Barroso, IAP Co-Chair, gave the keynote at the opening of the 13th International Congress of Gynaecology and Obstetrics held in Teheran on 19-22 January 2017.
In providing a historical perspective on the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health, she underscored the need for strengthened accountability at all levels moving forward, with emphasis on human rights, ending inequities and adolescents—the largest generation of teenagers in history, but for whom progress has stagnated — “a catastrophe for society”. The Deputy Prime Minister for Women and Family Affairs of Iran joined the stage, reviewing achievements and challenges to women’s health in the country, and the Minister of Health of Afghanistan focused on child marriage. Attended by eminent professors of Medicine and hundreds of professionals from the region, the Congress offered opportunity for a rich exchange of ideas.