women, violence against women and equality in family relations, all of which refer to issues that
are integral to full compliance with article 12 of the Convention.
6.
While biological differences between women and men may lead to differences in health
status, there are societal factors that are determinative of the health status of women and men and
can vary among women themselves. For that reason, special attention should be given to the
health needs and rights of women belonging to vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, such as
migrant women, refugee and internally displaced women, the girl child and older women,
women in prostitution, indigenous women and women with physical or mental disabilities.
7.
The Committee notes that the full realization of women’s right to health can be achieved
only when States parties fulfil their obligation to respect, protect and promote women’s
fundamental human right to nutritional well-being throughout their lifespan by means of a food
supply that is safe, nutritious and adapted to local conditions. To this end, States parties should
take steps to facilitate physical and economic access to productive resources, especially for rural
women, and to otherwise ensure that the special nutritional needs of all women within their
jurisdiction are met.
Article 12
8.
Article 12 reads as follows:
“1. States parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against
women in the field of health care in order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and
women, access to health-care services, including those related to family planning.
“2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1 of this article, States parties shall
ensure to women appropriate services in connection with pregnancy, confinement and the
post-natal period, granting free services where necessary, as well as adequate nutrition
during pregnancy and lactation.”
States parties are encouraged to address the issue of women’s health throughout the woman’s
lifespan. For the purposes of the present general recommendation, therefore, “women” includes
girls and adolescents. The general recommendation will set out the Committee’s analysis of the
key elements of article 12.
Key elements
Article 12 (1)
9.
States parties are in the best position to report on the most critical health issues affecting
women in that country. Therefore, in order to enable the Committee to evaluate whether
measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of health care are appropriate,
States parties must report on their health legislation, plans and policies for women with reliable
data disaggregated by sex on the incidence and severity of diseases and conditions hazardous to
women’s health and nutrition and on the availability and cost-effectiveness of preventive and
curative measures. Reports to the Committee must demonstrate that health legislation, plans and
policies are based on scientific and ethical research and assessment of the health status and needs
of women in that country and take into account any ethnic, regional or community variations or
practices based on religion, tradition or culture.