A/HRC/19/73 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 24 February 2012 Original: English Human Rights Council Nineteenth session Agenda item 5 Human rights bodies and mechanisms Study of the Human Rights Council Advisory Committee on severe malnutrition and childhood diseases with children affected by noma as an example* ** The present study discusses the intersection between malnutrition, childhood diseases and human rights, taking children affected by noma as an example. It reiterates the importance of socio-economic conditions in which children are born, grow up and live in influencing their opportunity to be healthy. Malnutrition is the key risk factor of noma, a disease that devours the face of children and is fatal in up to 90 per cent of cases if basic, cost-effective treatment is not administered early on. The study recommends that the fight against poverty and malnutrition is reinforced and pursued in accordance with human rights principles; that noma is addressed at global level and the efforts to prevent and treat it in Africa are strengthened; and that it is formally listed by the World Health Organization as a neglected disease in an attempt to raise awareness. The annex contains the human rights principles and guidelines to improve the protection of children at risk or affected by malnutrition, specifically at risk of or affected by noma. * ** GE.12-10796 The annex to the present report is circulated as received, in the language of submission only. Late submission.