Story by Heather Lang

FREE Facilitator Katy Silva plays dead in front of Corbett Center. FREE hosted a “die-in” from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday to bring awareness to global maternal mortality rates. (Photo by Heather Lang)

In effort to bring awareness to maternal mortality rates in developing countries, a New Mexico State University club staged a “die-in” Wednesday near Corbett Center.

Members of the Feminists Reinventing Equality Everywhere lay clad in black under the trees between Monagle Hall and Corbett Center to represent women who have died due to complications in childbirth, said Katy Silva, a group facilitator. Silva said high maternal mortality rates in developing countries correspond to a lack of family planning, including lack of access to birth control and comprehensive sex education.

FREE seeks action

During the “die-in,” the group passed out informational fliers, free condoms and stickers and encouraged passers-by to sign a petition. The petition, Silva said, is to hold developed countries that have promised family planning to developing countries accountable to do so.

“A lot of things were promised in regards to family planning, and we just want to make sure that happens,” she said.

Silva said access to birth control is important for all women and that she would have been unable to attend college without access to birth control.

Encouraging results

About 10 FREE members were seen symbolizing women who will die in childbirth worldwide this year. Facilitator Katy Silva said demonstrators joined throughout the event. (Photo by Heather Lang)

Silva said the demonstration received a lot of positive feedback, and by 11 a.m., the petition had already garnered about 50 signatures.

Silva said the group planned the demonstration out of concern over attitudes toward maternal mortality rates.

“Women are dying,” she said. “If it were H1N1, it would be an epidemic.”

Not just a problem in developing countries

Blanca Caro, a group facilitator, said FREE aims to educate the community about women’s issues, such as sexual violence, reproductive justice and sex education. Caro said the group advocates for “real” and comprehensive sex education, the lack of which is a problem in the United States and abroad.

NMSU visitor Jerry Winkley stops to sign the petition to increase family planning funding to developing countries. (Photo by Heather Lang)

“Luckily, throughout my high school education, it wasn’t abstinence only,” Caro said. “And I feel like I learned a lot, and I want younger generations to get the same education.”

Jerry Winkley, who said he was visiting a friend at NMSU, said he stopped to sign the petition because he thinks health is important and signing the petition could better his karma.

“You need to do what you can to help people around you,” Winkley said.

The “die-in” was held from 9 a.m. to noon.

According to an event flier, those who would like to sign the petition to increase international family planning can do so at www.feministcampus.org.