A/HRC/RES/39/10
economic and environment determinants of health in order to reduce the aforementioned
disparities,
Deeply concerned that in countries affected by humanitarian situations, the
estimated lifetime risk of maternal mortality is 1 in 54 compared to 1 in 180 globally, and
that the majority of preventable maternal deaths have occurred in settings of armed conflict,
natural disasters and displacement,
Convinced that greater political will and commitment, international cooperation and
technical assistance at all levels are urgently required to reduce the unacceptably high
global rate of preventable maternal mortality and morbidity, both globally and in
humanitarian settings, and that the integration of a human rights-based approach to the
provision of sexual and reproductive health-care services can contribute positively to the
common goal of reducing that rate,
Recognizing the need for further disaggregated data on maternal mortality and
morbidity rates and for access to sexual and reproductive health-care services in
humanitarian settings,
Acknowledging that the failure to prevent maternal mortality and morbidity is one of
the most significant barriers to the empowerment of women and girls in all aspects of life,
the full enjoyment of their human rights, their ability to reach their full potential and to
sustainable development in general, and recognizing the need to bridge the humanitariandevelopment divide,
1.
Urges all States to eliminate preventable maternal mortality and to respect,
protect and fulfil sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, in accordance with
the Beijing Platform for Action and the Programme of Action of the International
Conference on Population and Development and their review conference and outcome
documents, and the right to have full control over and decide freely and responsibly on all
matters relating to sexuality and sexual and reproductive health, free from discrimination,
coercion and violence, including through the removal of legal barriers and the development
and enforcement of policies, good practices and legal frameworks that respect bodily
autonomy and guarantee universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services,
evidence-based information and education within a human rights-based approach, including
for family planning, safe and effective methods of modern contraception, emergency
contraception, universal access to health care, including quality maternal health care, such
as skilled birth attendance and emergency obstetric care, safe abortion in accordance with
international human rights law and where not against national law, the prevention and
treatment of reproductive tract infections, sexually transmitted infections, HIV and
reproductive cancers, and the integration of sexual and reproductive health into national
health strategies and programmes for all women and girls, including adolescents;
2.
Urges States, in accordance with obligations under relevant provisions of
international human rights law, including the right to the enjoyment of the highest
attainable standard of physical and mental health, including sexual and reproductive health,
to ensure the availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of health-care services,
including mental health care and psychosocial services and sexual and reproductive healthcare services, free of coercion, discrimination and violence;
3.
Calls upon States to pay special attention to the particular situation of
adolescent girls in humanitarian settings who may have to assume adult responsibilities and
are exposed to higher risks of sexual and gender-based violence, child, early and forced
marriage and trafficking, and are likely to be denied education, skills training, safe
employment opportunities and access to sexual and reproductive health-care services and
information, and to face isolation, discrimination and stigma, mental health issues and risktaking behaviour;
4.
Encourages all stakeholders to consider promoting and using the InterAgency Standing Committee’s Guidelines for Integrating Gender-based Violence
Interventions in Humanitarian Action, the its Gender Handbook and the Inter-agency Field
Manual on Reproductive Health in Humanitarian Settings, and to ensure delivery of the
Minimum Initial Service Package for Reproductive Health at the onset of humanitarian
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