E/2012/27 E/CN.6/2012/16 physical, economic, psychological and social consequences that affect their wellbeing, Recognizing that the root causes of preventable maternal mortality and morbidity, which can constrain efforts to eliminate them and contribute to their unacceptably high global rates, encompass a wide range of interlinked underlying factors related to development, human rights and health, including, inter alia, poverty, illiteracy, lack of economic opportunities, challenges associated with rapid population growth, poor nutrition, barriers to education, discrimination against women and girls, harmful traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation/cutting and early and forced marriage, as well as gender-based violence, lack of participation in decision-making, poor health infrastructure, inadequate training for health personnel and inadequate investment in education, nutrition and basic health care, Recognizing also that most instances of maternal mortality and morbidity are preventable and that preventable maternal mortality and morbidity is a health, development and human rights challenge that also requires the effective promotion and protection of the human rights of women and girls, in particular their rights to life, to be equal in dignity, to education, to be free to seek, receive and impart information, to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress, to freedom from discrimination and to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, including sexual and reproductive health, Noting that a human rights-based approach to eliminating preventable maternal mortality and morbidity is underpinned by the principles of, inter alia, accountability, participation, transparency, empowerment, sustainability, non-discrimination and international cooperation, Expressing concern that more than 215 million women who want to avoid pregnancy or control the spacing of their pregnancies are not using an effective method of contraception, despite increases in use in recent years, and noting that meeting the unmet need for family planning with safe, effective and affordable methods of modern contraception would avert nearly 100,000 maternal deaths each year, Deeply concerned that early marriage leads to early pregnancy and early childbearing, which presents a much higher risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery leading to maternal mortality and morbidity, increases the risk of disability, stillbirth and maternal death, exposes young married girls to a greater risk of domestic violence, as well as HIV and sexually transmitted infections, reduces their opportunities to complete their education, gain comprehensive knowledge and participate in the community or develop employable skills, and violates or impairs the full enjoyment of all their human rights, and recognizing with concern that limited access to the highest attainable standard of health, including sexual and reproductive health, causes high levels of obstetric fistula and other maternal morbidities, as well as maternal mortality, Expressing deep concern that HIV infection significantly increases the risk of maternal mortality and morbidity, so that, in countries with high HIV prevalence, AIDS-related complications are one of the leading causes of maternal mortality, and that nearly half of the pregnant women living with HIV do not have access to critical services, including antiretroviral therapy and, in particular, sexual and 12-27405 15