Secretary of State Andrew Mitchell speaking with a mum and her newly born baby at Queen Elizabeth Central hospital, Malawi.

International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said:

"It is a shocking fact that pregnancy can be a death sentence for many girls and women in the developing world.

"That is why the British Government and the Gates Foundation are hosting a summit in London next month which we hope will cut in half the number of girls and women who want contraception to delay or space their pregnancies but are unable to access it."

Background

On 11 July 2012 the UK Government and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will host a groundbreaking summit to cut in half the current number of women and girls in the world’s poorest countries without access to contraception, but who wish to avoid pregnancy or space their children.

Every woman and girl deserves the opportunity to to determine her own future. Contraceptives give the world's poorest women the power to decide if and when to have another child.

Find out more at www.dfid.gov.uk/changinglives