Global

This report examines the often neglected topic of maternal morbidity, or women’s illnesses and injuries related to pregnancy and childbirth.

Among the report's recommendations:

• Increase resources to sexual and reproductive health and rights
• Encourage equitable health care
• Make governments accountable

"....The magnitude of maternal mortality reflects more than the state of women's health--it highlights the systematic inequality and discrimination women face daily in many different settings...."

"ICPD cemented the foundation of human rights to achieve, among other things, health. This has permitted the construction of a framework for advocacy, accountability, and programming...[and] it permits an analysis of government action and inaction in terms of conduct and results."

This booklet outlines five reasons why ensuring women’s human rights is essential to eliminating preventable maternal death and injury.

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This briefing paper is part of the Center's Bringing Rights to Bear series.

During the UN high-level event on the Millennium Development Goals in September 2008, IIMMHR called upon global leaders to recognize maternal health as a human right.

Statement delivered by Paul Hunt, the former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, during a panel organized by the UN Human Rights Council on 5 June 2008.

Want to learn more about the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health? Click here to read a guide for civil society produced by the International Federation of Health and Human Rights Organisations.