A/HRC/23/59 from Haiti; Jonas, a child representative from Bolivia (Plurinational State of); the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, Najat Maalla M’jid; and Selina Amin of Plan International Bangladesh. A. Opening remarks by the High Commissioner 6. In her opening statement, the High Commissioner stated that the right to health was a universal human right recognized in international human rights instruments, including article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which stipulates that States must take measures to diminish infant and child mortality, as well as to combat disease and malnutrition. They must, in addition, take all appropriate measures to abolish practices that are harmful to children’s health. She stressed that the right of the child to health had to be interpreted broadly, paying attention to all other rights that might affect its realization. The High Commissioner stated that, in addition to the 6.9 million children around the world that die each year from preventable causes before they turn 5, every hour, 300 children die because of malnutrition, which also stunted the development of an estimated 170 million children worldwide. She emphasized that other areas requiring sustained and immediate attention included obesity, violence, injuries and accidents, substance use, and sexual and reproductive health. She stated that the sharp increase in mental health problems among adolescents was also alarming. 7. The High Commissioner stressed that a child rights-based approach to health emphasized the need to eliminate exclusion and reduce social disparities in health between different groups of children. Therefore, in order to achieve the full realization of the right of every child to health, States had an obligation to ensure that children’s health was not undermined by discrimination. Certain groups of children were disproportionately vulnerable, including children with disabilities and chronic illness; migrant children; children in street situations; children in institutions or without parental support; children who were victims of violence and sexual exploitation; and children living in remote or disadvantaged areas, or in situations of extreme poverty. The High Commissioner also stressed that children needed access to the tools and instruments necessary to remedy any violations they suffered to their rights, including their right to health. In this context, she welcomed the ratification by Gabon, Germany and Thailand of the third Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure, and hoped that more countries would join them soon to achieve its earliest possible entry into force. B. Issues addressed by panellists 8. The moderator pointed out that the annual day of discussion was being held after the High-level Dialogue on Health in the Post-2015 Development Agenda, which was held in Botswana from 4 to 6 March 2013. The High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post2015 Development Agenda had agreed on key principles to guide global health in the post2015 era, including the urgent need to accelerate progress achieved within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals. The annual day of discussion on the rights of the child offered an opportunity to influence the post-2015 agenda with regard to the right of the child to health. 9. With regard to achieving further progress in reducing child mortality, Ms. Bustreo stated that, despite the fact that 6.9 million children died every year from preventable causes, there had been a significant reduction in childhood deaths, from 12 million in 1990 to less than 7 million in 2011. This progress was testimony to the commitment made by States to saving the lives of young children. She however recalled that 10 per cent of all pregnancies in the world happened in girls under the age of 18, and 30 per cent of all 4