A/RES/67/147 Supporting efforts to end obstetric fistula Convention on the Rights of the Child, 10 and urging States that have not done so to consider, as a matter of priority, signing, ratifying or acceding to those Conventions and the Optional Protocols thereto, 11 Welcoming the report of the Secretary-General, 12 and the conclusions and recommendations contained therein, Stressing the interlinkages between poverty, malnutrition, lack of or inadequate or inaccessible health-care services, early childbearing, child marriage, 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 socioeconomic 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 childbearing increases the risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery and entails 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, specifically timely access to high-quality emergency obstetric care, cause high levels of obstetric fistula and other maternal morbidities, as well as maternal mortality, Noting that a human rights-based approach to eliminating obstetric fistula is underpinned by the principles of, inter alia, accountability, participation, transparency, empowerment, sustainability, non-discrimination and international cooperation, Deeply concerned about discrimination against women and girls and the violation of their rights, which often result in less access for girls to education and nutrition, their reduced physical and mental health and the 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, Deeply concerned that, as the Campaign to End Fistula approaches its tenth anniversary, while some progress has been made, there remain significant challenges that require the intensification of efforts at all levels to end obstetric fistula, Recognizing 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 and disabilities 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 eradication and nutrition, Welcoming the various national, regional and international initiatives on all the Millennium Development Goals, including those undertaken bilaterally and through _______________ 10 Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. Ibid., vol. 2131, No. 20378; ibid., vols. 2171 and 2173, No. 27531; and resolution 66/138, annex. 12 A/67/258. 11 2/6

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