UN Human Rights Council - Urging the Governments to Support Resolution on Maternal Mortality and Human Rights on Priority Basis

On March 16th 2009, 84 Governments in a joint statement delivered to the UN Human Rights Council reaffirmed their commitment to addressing ‘maternal mortality as a human rights issue’ and called upon the UN Human Rights Council to take decisive action to contribute to the existing efforts to address maternal mortality. This joint statement included countries from all regions as signatories, and represents one of the largest joint intergovernmental statements delivered to the Council. Pakistan has not yet endorsed the resolution though it is a member of the Human Rights Council.

The 84 Governments called on the Council to take collective and concrete action on maternal mortality during its last session. The statement follows from the first debate that the Council held on this topic in June 2008:

• The statement includes a reaffirmation that maternal mortality is a human rights issue and that the magnitude of the problem calls for the renewal of political will to address it.


• The 84 Governments call on the Council to take collective and concrete action on maternal mortality during its session from June 2- 18, 2009 in Geneva.


• The idea is that this resolution would be the continuation of the process that started with the 2008 panel on maternal mortality and that would lay the ground for further work of the Council and its mechanisms on this issue.

The resolution establishes poverty as a contributing factor in many deaths and, accordingly, recognizes the need for partnerships on maternal health through development programmes, dialogues, international cooperation and technical assistance. At the same time, it also recognizes the need for all States to respect their human rights obligations.

1. Identifying the human rights dimensions of preventable maternal mortality and morbidity;
   
2. Reviewing and considering information on discrimination in the provision of and access to healthcare for women and discrimination against women in respect of their right to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children.
   
3. Talking about the human rights implications of maternal mortality and morbidity in the universal periodic review and in treaty body dialogues, including the exchange of programmes and policies that have successfully reversed the trend of maternal deaths and injuries.
   
4. Requesting States to include women in decision-making about maternal health, including decisions on the design of local health care mechanisms, and to recognize women’s right to skilled professional care before, during and after pregnancy and childbirth.

With this prologue, it is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan has an alarmingly high Maternal Mortality Rate (276 maternal deaths per 100, 000 births) and it is estimated that every 30 minutes one Pakistani woman loses her life due to reproductive health complications! Most of these deaths are preventable. The failure to prevent them is an impediment to the universal realization of human rights, and could constitute a violation of human rights, including women’s right to health, life, education, dignity, access to information and appropriate healthcare.

Government of Pakistan can contribute to existing efforts by supporting the Resolution in the next meeting of Human Rights Council to be held in Geneva from June 2-18, 2009. Most importantly, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations should be advised to endorse ‘Maternal Mortality Resolution’ to ensure Pakistan’s active commitment to this cause at the global level!