October 4, 2011
The Human Rights Council adopted a resolution on Wednesday September 28, 2011 that reaffirms the international community’s commitment to mainstreaming human rights into efforts to prevent maternal mortality and morbidity.
Two landmark resolutions in 2009 and 2010, as well as two reports from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, laid the foundation for this new resolution. It calls for the development of practical guidance to assist States, the United Nations system and all stakeholders in applying the human rights based approach to programmes and policies designed to prevent maternal death and disability.
The adoption of this resolution by consensus and co-sponsored by 88 countries from all regions is a strong statement that political commitment must be translated into action if progress is to be made in eliminating maternal mortality and morbidity.