A/RES/65/188
Taking note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on
supporting efforts to end obstetric fistula, 9 and welcoming the conclusions and
recommendations contained therein,
8F
Stressing the interlinkages between poverty, malnutrition, lack of or
inadequate or inaccessible health services, early childbearing, early marriage of the
girl child, violence against young women and girls and gender discrimination as
root causes of obstetric fistula, and that poverty remains the main social risk factor,
Recognizing that the difficult socio-economic conditions that exist in many
developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, have resulted in
the acceleration of the feminization of poverty,
Recognizing also that early pregnancy and early childbearing entail
complications during pregnancy and delivery and a much higher risk of maternal
mortality and morbidity, and deeply concerned that early childbearing and limited
access to the highest attainable standard of health, including sexual and reproductive
health, including in the area of emergency obstetric care, cause high levels of
obstetric fistula and other maternal morbidities, as well as maternal mortality,
Recognizing further the serious immediate and long-term implications for
health, including sexual and reproductive health, as well as increased vulnerability
to HIV/AIDS, and the negative impact on psychological, social and economic
development that violence against the girl child and adolescent girls represents for
individuals, families, communities and States,
Deeply concerned about discrimination against the girl child and the violation
of the rights of the girl child, which often result in less access by girls to education
and nutrition, reduced physical and mental health and enjoyment by girls of fewer of
the rights, opportunities and benefits of childhood and adolescence compared with
boys, and in their often being subjected to various forms of cultural, social, sexual
and economic exploitation and to violence and harmful practices,
Welcoming the contribution by Member States, the international community
and civil society to the global Campaign to End Fistula, bearing in mind that a
people-centred approach to social and economic development is fundamental for
protecting and empowering individuals and communities,
Welcoming also the outcome document of the High-level Plenary Meeting of
the General Assembly on the Millennium Development Goals, entitled “Keeping the
promise: united to achieve the Millennium Development Goals”, 10 in particular the
references to Goal 5,
9F
Welcoming further the Secretary-General’s Global Strategy for Women’s and
Children’s Health, undertaken by a broad coalition of partners, in support of
national plans and strategies aimed at significantly reducing the number of maternal,
newborn and under-five child deaths as a matter of immediate concern by scaling up
a priority package of high-impact interventions and integrating efforts in sectors
such as health, education, gender equality, water and sanitation, poverty reduction
and nutrition,
Welcoming the various national, regional and international initiatives on all the
Millennium Development Goals, including those undertaken bilaterally and through
_______________
9
A/65/268.
See resolution 65/1.
10
2