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Maternal Mortality, Human Rights and Accountability
High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that
maternal mortality is often a result of violations of key human rights
principles including accountability, equality, non-discrimination and
meaningful participation.
“When authorities do not meet their responsibilities to
protect, promote and fulfil women’s rights, the consequences of this neglect
are shamefully dire and, indeed, they may be fatal.
“Yet if those responsible for such violations are not held
accountable, there is practically no incentive to put in place remedial
measures,” Pillay told a roundtable discussion on ‘Maternal mortality, human
rights and accountability’ in Geneva, 30 August, organized by civil society
advocating for human rights.
According to the latest UN official figures, more than
500,000 women die every year from pregnancy-related causes. This means one death
every minute. Meanwhile approximately 10 million women annually suffer
pregnancy-related injuries and disabilities.
A recent study by the United Nations Human Rights office
(OHCHR) states unequivocally that maternal mortality and morbidity is a matter
of human rights, and that a human rights-based approach is essential to
addressing this serious global problem.
Pillay said that 108 countries had invited her to present
the study to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Review Summit in
“Furthermore, I am seizing every opportunity to emphasize
the intrinsic link between human rights and the Millennium Development Goals,
using maternal mortality and morbidity as a powerful illustration,” she said.
OHCHR emphasizes that pursuing development hand-in-hand with
human rights gives governments a better chance of reaching the MDGs.
“Clearly, maternal mortality and morbidity cannot be seen in
isolation. In addition to the tragic loss of life, maternal mortality triggers
and aggravates cycles of poverty that cause generations of suffering and
despair. When mothers die, children and, especially girls, are at greater risk
of dropping out of school, becoming malnourished, and simply not surviving.
“A key result of the human rights-based approach is that
ultimately women will be able to exercise their right to participate in
decision-making processes, including those affecting their sexual and
reproductive health, family planning, contraception, pregnancy, childbirth and
in addressing unsafe abortion,” said Pillay.