A/RES/79/155 Intensification of efforts to end obstetric fistula United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda, entitled “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, 7 Reaffirming also the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 8 as well as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women 9 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 10 recalling the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights 11 and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 12 and urging States that have not done so to consider, as a matter of priority, signing, ratifying or acceding to those conventions and the optional protocols thereto, 13 Taking note of the report of the Secretary-General 14 and the conclusions and recommendations contained therein, Recognizing that intensified national ownership and leadership, political commitment and scaled-up national capacity are urgently needed to accelerate progress towards the elimination of fistula, including by implementing strategies to prevent new cases and treating all existing cases, with special attention paid to countries with the highest maternal mortality and morbidity levels, Stressing the interlinkages between poverty, malnutrition, lack of or inadequate or inaccessible healthcare services, early childbearing, child, early and forced marriage, violence against young women and girls, sociocultural barriers, marginalization, illiteracy and gender inequality as root causes of obstetric fistula, and that poverty remains the main social risk factor, Stressing also that obstetric fistula can be a cause of devastating lifelong morbidity if left untreated, with severe medical, social, psychological and economic consequences, that approximately 90 per cent of women who develop fistula deliver stillborn babies and that misperceptions about its cause often result in stigma and ostracism, Recognizing that the difficult socioeconomic conditions that exist in many developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, have resulted in the acceleration of the feminization of poverty, Noting with concern that child, early and forced marriage remains common in rural areas and among the poorest communities and has increased over the past decade, and acknowledging the correlation between child, early and forced marriage and economic insecurity, poverty, including the feminization of poverty, and lack of income opportunities and that the immediate alleviation and eradication of extreme poverty must remain a high priority for the international community, Recognizing that early childbearing increases the risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery and entails a much higher risk of maternal mortality and morbidity, and deeply concerned that early childbearing and limited access to the highest attainable standard of mental and physical health, including sexual and reproductive health, specifically timely access to high -quality emergency obstetric __________________ Resolution 70/1. Resolution 217 A (III). 9 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 1249, No. 20378. 10 Ibid., vol. 1577, No. 27531. 11 See resolution 2200 A (XXI), annex. 12 Ibid. 13 United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 2131, No. 20378; ibid., vols. 2171, 2173 and 2983, No. 27531; ibid., vol. 1642, No. 14668; and ibid., vol. 2922, No. 14531. 14 A/79/112. 7 8 2/9 24-24147