A/RES/62/138
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 to
protecting and empowering individuals and communities,
Recognizes the interlinkages between poverty, malnutrition, lack of or
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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 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
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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 girls, poverty and low status of women and girls;
Also stresses that States have the obligation to promote and protect all
3.
human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls, that they must exercise
due diligence in order to prevent, investigate and punish the perpetrators of violence
against women and girls and to provide protection to the victims, and that failure to
do so violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment of their human rights and
fundamental freedoms;
Calls upon States to take all necessary measures to ensure the right of
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women and girls to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health,
including sexual and reproductive health, and develop sustainable health systems
and social services, with a view to ensuring access to such systems and services
without discrimination, while paying special attention to adequate food and
nutrition, family planning information, increasing knowledge and awareness and
securing appropriate prenatal and post-natal care for the prevention of obstetric
fistula;
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