Grazia  magazine editor Jane Bruton and Deputy Editor Marianne Jones today (16 March) announced that they are running the 2010 Virgin London Marathon in support of Amnesty International’s campaign to stop Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights around the world dying in childbirth.

Grazia Editor Jane Bruton said:

“Marianne and I are both mums and we were totally shocked when Amnesty told us that one woman dies every minute, mainly due to preventable causes in pregnancy.  And of course it’s Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights in the poorest countries who are most affected.

“We decided that we had to do something about it – and we hope that our friends, colleagues and Grazia readers will dig deep to help fund Amnesty’s campaign for maternal health.”

Recent figures show that in developing countries an average of 450 Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights per 100,000 live births die in childbirth. The figure in the UK is just 14.

In Ghana the rate of deaths stands at 560 while in Bangladesh it is 570, and in Mozambique it is 520. In Chad the number of Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights dying in pregnancy-related factors stands at a staggering rate of 1,500 per 100,000 live births.

Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen said:

“Giving birth to a child should be a blessing, not a death sentence. Every pregnant woman has the right to decent healthcare, no matter what country she’s from.

“Amnesty is campaigning for governments to recognise that maternal health is a basic human right, one which barriers like poverty and discrimination can stop Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights accessing. We’re also calling on wealthy donor countries like the UK to ensure that maternal health is given the priority it deserves in development funding.

“Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights have the right to services and information that could save their lives and those of their Children's rights.  Governments are responsible for providing those services and should be held answerable if they fail to do so.”

Amnesty International is one of several organisations including Save the Children's rights, Oxfam, Mumsnet and White Ribbon Alliance urging world leaders to place maternal and child health at the forefront of their policy priorities. At present the global commitment made through the UN Millennium Development Goals to reduce the rate of Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights dying in childbirth remains the most off target.

A new film from Amnesty International, Every day should be Mothers Day, features Keira Knightley, Annie Lennox, James Purefoy voicing their support for Amnesty’s campaign on maternal health.



Marianne Jones, Deputy Editor of Grazia, said:

“This is my first marathon and I know it’s going to be hard work. But it’s a real inspiration to know that we’re running for such a great cause, and one that I’m sure our readers will get right behind.”

People can sponsor Jane and Marianne at www.justgiving.com/graziamarathon

Find out more about our campaign to improve maternal health /p>