A/HRC/RES/22/32
implementation of policies and programmes to reduce preventable maternal morbidity and
mortality,2
Deeply concerned that more than six million nine hundred thousand children under
the age of 5 die each year, mostly from preventable and treatable causes, caused by lack of
access to health care and services, including access to skilled birth attendants and
immediate newborn care, as well as to health determinants, such as safe drinking water and
sanitation, safe and adequate nutrition, and that mortality remains highest among children
belonging to the poorest and most marginalized communities,
Noting that access to clean water and sanitation can reduce the risk of child mortality
by 50 per cent, as well as reduce diseases such as anaemia, and vitamin deficiency, which
undermine maternal health, and malaria, diarrhoea and malnutrition,
Recognizing that addressing inequities in child health and encouraging an equally
high standard of health care within countries is crucial to reducing child mortality,
achieving improvements in child well-being and in the realization of children’s rights,
Deeply concerned about the multiple discrimination and stigmatization children face
because of factors such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion,
national, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth, immigration status or other
status, which have a negative impact on their development, survival and right to health,
Underlining the need to mainstream a gender perspective and to recognize the child
as a rights-holder in all policies and programmes relating to children’s health,
Recognizing that realizing the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest
attainable standard of health is strengthened by a progressive path towards universal health
coverage, with specific priority for the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable children,
by providing functioning health systems that include universal access to comprehensive
quality health care, including public health measures and protection, and that addresses
determinants of health through an integrated, multi-sectoral approach,
Recognizing also that the realization of the right of the child to the enjoyment of the
highest attainable standard of health is strengthened by health financing systems which
evolve so as to avoid significant direct payments at the point of delivery, and include a
method for pre-payment of financial contributions for health care and services, as well as a
mechanism to pool risks among the population,
I.
Implementation of the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest
attainable standard of health
1.
Acknowledges that the Convention on the Rights of the Child is the most
universally ratified human rights treaty, and urges the States that have not yet done so to
become parties, as a matter of priority, to the Convention and the first two Optional
Protocols thereto, and to consider signing and ratifying the third Optional Protocol thereto,
on a communications procedure, and, concerned at the great number of reservations to the
Convention, urges States parties to withdraw reservations incompatible with the objective
and purpose of the Convention and the Optional Protocols thereto and to consider
reviewing regularly other reservations with a view to withdrawing them;
2.
Calls upon States to take all necessary measures to ensure that the right of the
child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health is
2
A/HRC/21/22 and Corr.1 and 2.
3