Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of the Netherlands accepted the first copy of the book 'A world without cervical cancer' in Leiden this afternoon. She received the book from Prof. Dr. Lex Peters, Professor of Gynaecology at the Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) and founder of the Female Cancer Foundation.

Writer Patricia Jacob and photographer Chantal Spieard followed Professor Lex Peters and recorded the work of the Female Cancer Foundation in Indonesia, Africa and Bangladesh. With the book they hope to generate support for her work to further reduce the number of cervical cancer deaths worldwide.

Under the guidance of master of ceremonies Eva Jinek and ambassador Jennifer Hoffman, local project workers of the Female Cancer Foundation told today about the need to tackle this disease in their country and about simple but effective treatments they offer women. A selection of the special photos from the book was on display today in a temporary exhibition in the LUMC. The entire photo exhibition will be on display at Photo Gallery Ben Wind in Rotterdam from 7 March onwards.

Mrs Neelie Kroes, vice-president of the European Commission, wrote a warm commendation for the Female Cancer Foundation on the bookmark that was presented together with the book.

The Female Cancer Foundation makes considerable differences with such simple means in exactly those countries where healthy mothers cannot be taken for granted and are still often dying from cervical cancer. I deeply admire the fighting spirit of all women confronted with this awful disease and I want to encourage them all to never give up! I warmly support this organisation and hope this book will enable the Female Cancer Foundation to keep on continuing and expanding her activities.

Do support the Female Cancer Foundation!

Ms Neelie Kroes Vice-President of the European Commission.