World YWCA welcomes resolution on maternal mortality, calls for inclusion of HIV-positive women’s rights
Geneva, June 18, 2009: The Human Rights Council adopted a ground-breaking resolution on maternal mortality and morbidity on June 17, 2009. As an organisation committed to promoting women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights, the World YWCA welcomes the resolution and congratulates member states for their readiness to address maternal health as a human rights issue.
The resolution on "Preventable maternal mortality and morbidity and human rights" recognises that a human rights perspective in international and national responses to maternal mortality and morbidity could contribute positively to the common goal of reducing the unacceptably high rate of maternal mortality. Global statistics show that over 500, 000 women die each year from complications during pregnancy or childbirth (UNICEF).
To better understand the factors that contribute to preventable maternal mortality, the resolution requests the Human Rights Council, in consultation with the World Health Organisation, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other relevant stakeholder, to prepare a thematic study on maternal mortality, morbidity and human rights.
“We congratulate the Human Rights Council for this resolution, which goes a long way towards protecting the right to life, and a life with dignity for many women in reproductive age groups,” says Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, World YWCA General Secretary, “We welcome the request for a thematic study and recommend that the study includes specific focus on young women and adolescents, as well as the rights of women living with HIV.”
The resolution calls on UN member states to promote and protect the human rights of women and girls to enjoy the benefit of scientific progress and the highest attainable standards of physical health. But, the particular ill-treatment pregnant HIV-positive women face is not addressed in the resolution. Many HIV-positive women still face stigma and discrimination when they seek pre-natal care or plan a pregnancy. D’addy, a 21-year-old member of the YWCA of Congo Brazzaville, experienced discrimination after an HIV test at a pre-natal clinic revealed that she was HIV-positive. When her labour begun, she returned to the clinic. The nurses recognised her from her earlier visit, remembered her HIV status and refused to help her. She gave birth alone. D’addy survived, but her baby died.
D’addy shared her story at the YWCA Regional Training Institute (RTI) held in June 2009 in Lagos, Nigeria where participants committed to promoting the reproductive rights of HIV-positive women. This commitment was also made at the RTI held in the Caribbean in May. The RTIs explore strategies to strengthen YWCA's response to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), HIV and AIDS and violence against women.
The World YWCA calls on United Nations member states as they implement the Human Rights Council Resolution on preventable maternal mortality and morbidity and human rights to address the stigma and discrimination HIV-positive women face.
