A/RES/S-21/2 Page 17 63. (i) In no case should abortion be promoted as a method of family planning. All Governments and relevant intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations are urged to strengthen their commitment to women's health, to deal with the health impact of unsafe abortion as a major public-health concern and to reduce the recourse to abortion through expanded and improved family planning services. Prevention of unwanted pregnancies must always be given the highest priority and every attempt should be made to eliminate the need for abortion. Women who have unwanted pregnancies should have ready access to reliable information and compassionate counselling. Any measures or changes related to abortion within the health system can be determined only at the national or local level according to the national legislative process. In circumstances where abortion is not against the law, such abortion should be safe. In all cases, women should have access to quality services for the management of complications arising from abortion. Post-abortion counselling, education and family planning services should be offered promptly, which will also help to avoid repeat abortions; (ii) Governments should take appropriate steps to help women to avoid abortion, which in no case should be promoted as a method of family planning, and in all cases provide for the humane treatment and counselling of women who have had recourse to abortion; (iii) In recognizing and implementing the above, and in circumstances where abortion is not against the law, health systems should train and equip health-service providers and should take other measures to ensure that such abortion is safe and accessible. Additional measures should be taken to safeguard women's health. 64. In order to monitor progress towards the achievement of the goals of the International Conference on Population and Development for maternal mortality, countries should use the proportion of births assisted by skilled attendants as a benchmark indicator. By 2005, where the maternal mortality rate is very high, at least 40 per cent of all births should be assisted by skilled attendants; by 2010 this figure should be at least 50 per cent and by 2015, at least 60 per cent. All countries should continue their efforts so that globally, by 2005, 80 per cent of all births should be assisted by skilled attendants, by 2010, 85 per cent, and by 2015, 90 per cent. 65. In order to have a basis for cost-benefit analysis for interventions aimed at reducing maternal mortality, the societal costs of maternal deaths should be calculated. This should be done in cooperation with Governments, United Nations agencies and development banks, and the research community. 66. The World Health Organization, in cooperation with other relevant United Nations bodies, is urged to fulfil its leadership role within the United Nations system in assisting countries, in particular developing countries, to put in place standards for the care and treatment for women and girls that incorporate gender-sensitive approaches and promote gender equality and equity in health-care delivery and to advise on functions that health facilities should perform to help guide the development of health systems to reduce the risks associated with pregnancy, taking into consideration the level of development and the economic and social conditions of countries. At the same time, United Nations agencies, including the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Children's Fund, and multilateral development banks, such as the World Bank, should intensify their role in promoting, supporting, advocating for and investing in action to improve maternal health. /...