A/HRC/RES/22/32
child, ensuring the meaningful participation of children, consistent with their evolving
capacities, in all matters and decisions affecting their lives, and take steps to ensure the
allocation of available resources to the maximum extent possible to achieve the full
realization of the right of the child to the highest attainable standard of health, including by
strengthening international cooperation in this field,
Reaffirming also the commitments made by States to make every effort to accelerate
the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including Millennium
Development Goals 4, 5 and 6 by 2015, and taking into account the ongoing consultations
on the United Nations development agenda beyond 2015,
Reaffirming further that the child, for the full and harmonious development of his or
her personality, should grow up in a family environment, while the best interests of the
child shall be the guiding principle of those responsible for his or her nurture and
protection, and that families’ and caregivers’ capacities to provide the child with care and a
safe environment should be promoted,
Taking note of the discussions held during the full-day annual meeting on the rights
of the child focused on the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, and
taking note of the report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on
the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health, 1
Welcoming the work of special procedures mandate holders of the Human Rights
Council relevant to the right of the child to health, as well as of the Special Representative
of the Secretary-General on Violence against Children and the Special Representative of
the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict,
Welcoming also the Global Strategy for Women’s and Children’s Health launched in
September 2010 by the Secretary-General, as well as the strong political and financial
commitments made by States with regard to its implementation and supporting initiatives,
including the Commission on Information and Accountability for Women’s and Children’s
Health,
Welcoming further the Rio Political Declaration on Social Determinants of Health,
adopted in May 2012 at the sixty-fifth World Health Assembly, in which the States
Members of the World Health Organization expressed their political will to reduce health
inequities through action particular to each society, on the social determinants of health,
Recognizing that environmental damage and occupational risks have potentially
negative effects on children and their enjoyment of their right to the highest attainable
standard of health and to an adequate standard of living,
Profoundly concerned that the situation of children in many parts of the world
remains critical and has been negatively affected by the world financial and economic
crisis,
Recognizing that, in early childhood, children are more vulnerable to disease,
trauma, all forms of physical and mental violence, neglect, injury, maltreatment and abuse,
Recalling Human Rights Council resolutions 11/8 of 17 June 2009, 18/2 of 28
September 2011 and 21/6 of 27 September 2012 on preventable maternal mortality and
morbidity, as well as the report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for
Human Rights on preventable maternal mortality and morbidity and human rights and the
related technical guidance on the application of a human rights-based approach to the
1
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A/HRC/22/31.