A/HRC/33/23 30. OHCHR is supporting the establishment and strengthening of national mechanisms for reporting to and follow-up on recommendations from regional and international human rights mechanisms, including treaty bodies, special procedure mandate holders and the universal periodic review. B. 1. Country-level activities Dominican Republic 31. Following a UNICEF initiative in the Dominican Republic in 2014, OHCHR, WHO and the Pan American Health Organization were invited to discuss with the United Nations country team and civil society organizations how a human rights-based approach could contribute to national efforts to reduce preventable deaths of newborn, infant and under-5 children. The human rights discussions with the United Nations country team were used in the development of an inter-agency initiative to prevent and reduce child, infant, newborn and maternal mortality. The process and discussions demonstrate how initiatives within the Human Rights Council can complement efforts undertaken at the national level to effect positive change, in accordance with the human rights obligations undertaken by the State. 32. The right to health and comprehensive health care is enshrined in the Constitution of the Dominican Republic. Furthermore, in the country’s National Development Strategy 2030, a view is expressed of a society with equal rights and opportunities for all, where basic services and rights, including the right to health, are guaranteed to all without discrimination. It states that all plans, programmes, projects and public policies must be informed by a human rights-based approach. 33. The Dominican Republic has achieved significant progress in advancing children’s rights and has shown strong political willingness to improve infant and under-5 health. The Ministry of Health has incorporated into the national immunization schedule the rotavirus and pneumococcal vaccines, which will have a strong impact on reducing infant deaths from diarrhoea, pneumonia and meningitis. The country has strategies, plans and programmes in the health sector, in addition to specific projects aimed at reducing child, infant, newborn and maternal mortality. Despite many efforts, there has been no improvement in the neonatal mortality rates over the past decade, which are above the regional average for Latin America and the Caribbean. 34. During discussions, it became clear that there are complex social dynamics that impact on health service users and that there is an urgent need to strengthen the capacity of public hospitals with adequately trained health professionals, including by re-establishing the function of the midwife. It is also necessary to ensure the humane and dignified treatment of users of health services, change health workers’ attitudes and empower patients to claim their rights. The importance of strengthening reporting mechanisms and oversight by civil society was also highlighted. Furthermore, reference was made to the need to strictly follow standards for prevention and infection control in health facilities, which are essential in controlling sepsis — the primary cause of newborn deaths in the Dominican Republic. Ensuring accountability and reinforcing the investigation capacity of the Committee of Medical Audits in cases of newborn and infant deaths was strongly emphasized. 35. Campaigns on radio and television are being conducted, with the support of the Ministry of Health and UNICEF, to ensure an increase in the registration of children at birth in public hospitals. UNICEF fostered dialogue to incorporate birth registration of newborns in maternity hospitals as one of the new certification criteria of the Expanded Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. An alliance with the Ministry of Health allowed primary 8 GE.16-11320