A/HRC/14/39 I. Introduction 1. The present report is submitted to the Human Rights Council pursuant to resolution 11/8, in which the Council requested the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to prepare a thematic study on preventable maternal mortality and morbidity and human rights, in consultation with States, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Bank and all other relevant stakeholders. For the purpose of informing the content of the report, a note verbale was sent to States, United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations on 1 October 2009 soliciting information and observations. Written contributions were received from 28 States,1 1 observer State,2 9 United Nations entities and intergovernmental agencies3 and 22 non-governmental organizations, coalitions and other groups.4 All submissions may be viewed on the OHCHR website.5 2. In chapter II of the report, OHCHR provides a short introduction to the definition and scale of maternal mortality and morbidity. In chapter III, the human rights dimensions of preventable maternal mortality and morbidity are identified, with reference to the relevant existing international and regional legal framework, including the jurisprudence, general comments and recommendations, and concluding observations of the human rights treaty monitoring bodies and judicial and quasi-judicial bodies. In chapter IV, OHCHR provides an overview of initiatives and activities within the United Nations system that 1 2 3 4 5 GE.10-12949 Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Madagascar, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic and Ukraine. The Holy See. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organization (WHO). Action Canada for Population and Development; American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Amnesty International; Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute; Center for Reproductive Rights; Cercle de recherche sur les droits et les devoirs de la personne humaine; Doha International Institute for Family Studies and Development; Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights; Federation for Women and Family Planning-Poland; Human Rights Watch; International Commission of Jurists; International Disability Alliance and its Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Forum; International Initiative on Maternal Mortality and Human Rights (consisting of 13 civil society organizations: Averting Maternal Death and Disability Program at Columbia University (United States of America), CARE (global), the Center for Justice and International Law (United States and Latin America), the Center for Reproductive Rights (United States), Equinet Regional Network on Equity in Health in Southern Africa (South Africa), Family Care International (United States), the Health Equity Group (Tanzania), the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), the International Budget Partnership (Mexico), the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation (Sweden), Likhaan (Philippines), Physicians for Human Rights (United States), and SAHAYOG (India); International Planned Parenthood Federation; IPAS; IPAS-Brazil; Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life Global Outreach; Red Nacional Feminista de Salud, Derechos Sexuales y Derechos Reproductivos; Netherlands network on sexual and reproductive health and AIDS (Share-net); Society for the Protection of Unborn Children; The Prolife Center at the University of St. Thomas School of Law-Minnesota; Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights. http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/women/documentation.htm. 3