A/RES/63/158
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,
nutrition and physical and mental health and in enjoyment by girls of fewer of the
rights, opportunities and benefits of childhood and adolescence compared with boys
and 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 ongoing partnerships between stakeholders at all levels to
address the multifaceted determinants of maternal mortality and the commitments
announced at the 2008 high-level event on the Millennium Development Goals to
accelerate progress on millennium development goal 5,
Recognizes the interlinkages between poverty, malnutrition, lack of or
1.
inadequate or inaccessible health services, early childbearing, early marriage of the
girl child and gender discrimination as root causes of obstetric fistula, that poverty
remains the main social risk factor, that the eradication of poverty is critical to
meeting the needs and protecting and promoting the rights of women and girls and
that continued urgent national and international action is required to eliminate it;
Stresses the need to address the social issues that contribute to the
2.
problem of obstetric fistula, such as early marriage of the girl child, early
pregnancy, lack of access to sexual and reproductive health, lack of or inadequate
education of women and girls, poverty and low status of women and girls;
_______________
9
2
A/63/222.