One of the world’s most critical challenges despite significant progress over the last decade is maternal deaths. Although maternal deaths worldwide have decreased in recent decades approximately 800 women still die each day from largely preventable causes before, during, and after the time of birth. These deaths are not equally distributed. Ninety-nine percent of preventable maternal deaths occur in low and middle income countries. (World Health Organization. (2014). Maternal mortality fact sheet.)
The need to strengthen international cooperation and capacity building to countries on combatting preventable maternal mortality is central to preserving motherhood and childhood. I am encouraged today by adoption of the resolution on preventable maternal mortality and morbidity and human rights. The 33rd Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted the resolution without a vote as orally revised and amended.
Agreeing that additional dialog is needed the Council took the decision to hold a panel discussion on the linkages between Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 5 in relation to preventable maternal mortality and morbidity and sexual and reproductive health and rights at its 34th session of the HRC in March 2017.
The Council also called on States to:
- renew their political commitment to eliminate preventable maternal mortality and morbidity at the local, national, regional and international levels;
- requested States and other relevant actors to give renewed emphasis to maternal mortality and morbidity initiatives in their development partnerships and cooperation arrangements;
- requested the High Commissioner to bring to the attention of the High-level working group on women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health the technical guidance.
Concerns were raised by several States that the new resolution did not take fully into account cultural and religious diversity yet a majority of States adopted the resolution text as submitted notably agreeing the resolution addressed the importance of sexual and reproductive rights of women and girls.
Thanks for reading. Until the next blog – Stacy Dry Lara.