A/HRC/12/46 page 10 providing resources for and implementing measures that will prevent and punish acts of violence. Advocates also called for the creation of a Human Rights Council gender focal point, a small, regionally balanced and self-selected group of States that would have a particular focus on violence against women. 28. The second part of the panel focused on “Maternal mortality and the human rights of women”,14 which presented an important opportunity to consider maternal mortality not only as a health or development issue, but also as a human rights issue. Among the recommendations stemming from the debate was that the Council should consider the human rights implications of maternal mortality and consider establishing an independent mechanism, similar to a working group, which would be closely linked to the existing international human rights mechanisms, to enhance accountability. In March 2009, at the tenth session, New Zealand led a joint statement initiative of 85 States concerning the human rights implications of maternal mortality. At its eleventh session, the Council adopted without a vote resolution 11/8, which had 85 co-sponsors, on preventable maternal mortality in which the Council requested OHCHR to prepare a thematic study to identify the human rights dimensions of preventable maternal mortality and morbidity in the existing international legal framework and recommend options for addressing them throughout the United Nations system. 29. Also at the eleventh session, the second plenary panel discussion was held, focusing on “Equality before the law”. It considered, among other things, the establishment of a special mechanism of the Council. After the debate, a cross-regional joint statement15 was made echoing the call of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for the creation of a special mechanism to address the legalized inequality of women. (b) Integration of a gender perspective throughout the Council and its mechanisms 30. The initial panel, entitled “Integration of a gender perspective in the work of the Human Rights Council”, which preceded and laid the foundation for resolution 6/30,16 was held on 20 and 21 September 2007, during the sixth session. Its aim was to stress the concepts behind integrating a gender perspective and to offer concrete ideas for how the Council might do this 14 All presentations at this panel, and statements by members and observers, can be found at portal.ohchr.org/portal/page/portal/HRCExtranet/8thSession/OralStatements/050608/Tab3h (password required). 15 By Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Chile, Colombia, the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, France, Hungary, Mexico, Norway, Slovenia, Switzerland and Uruguay. 16 Presentations and statements made during the discussions, including the summary of recommendations, can be found at portal.ohchr.org/portal/page/portal/HRCExtranet/6thSession/ OralStatements/200907/Tab (password required).