A/HRC/27/20
requests, several initiatives are under way. OHCHR, with support from PMNCH, WHO and
UNFPA, is developing modular guidance on the application of a rights-based approach to
maternal and child health. It is recognized that a diversity of actors needs to be involved.
The modules are aimed at different stakeholder groups, and aim to provide key questions
for reflection on the role that different stakeholders play in putting a rights-based approach
into practice. After the technical guidance has been presented to different stakeholder
groups, a common question that arises is “what do I need to do?” — as a health
policymaker, a national human rights institution, a parliamentarian, a donor country,
a representative of the media, and so on. The first two modules are in the process of being
finalized; they focus on the role of health policymakers and of national human rights
institutions. Further modules are expected to be produced in 2014, focusing on other
stakeholder groups.
51.
UNFPA and OHCHR, together with the Danish Institute for Human Rights, have
produced a handbook on reproductive rights for national human rights institutions, which
provides extensive guidance on applying rights-based approaches and on human rights
standards in the area of sexual and reproductive health and rights, including those related to
maternal health. Additionally, UNFPA has developed a guidance note to support national
human rights institutions in conducting national inquiries and country assessments on
sexual and reproductive health and rights, which is based on the methodological framework
for situational analysis and assessment of States’ obligations that is provided in the
technical guidance.
52.
PMNCH is working to develop a reproductive, maternal, newborn, child health and
multisectoral processes policy assessment tool, which will build on the policy compendium
that it launched in 2014, informed by the technical guidance.
53.
In March 2014, WHO launched guidance and recommendations on ensuring human
rights in the provision of contraceptive information and services. The technical guidance on
maternal mortality contributed to that guidance on contraception, particularly in terms of
describing what is required in order to ensure participation and accountability. WHO and
UNFPA are following up on this work by developing an implementation guide on
contraceptive services that is targeted at service providers and policymakers.
54.
Civil society organizations are also planning to develop training tools based on the
technical guidance. For example, the Asia Pacific Alliance for Sexual and Reproductive
Health and Rights is developing an advocacy tool based on the technical guidance to make
the guidance more accessible for civil society currently working on sexual and reproductive
health and rights and maternal health in the South-East Asia region. In addition, it is
planning to conduct a training for civil society organizations to equip them with the
necessary information to advocate with governments in the region. One of the objectives of
the training will be to serve as a bridge between groups in the region working on sexual and
reproductive health and rights, and groups working on maternal health, which often work in
silos.
55.
An accessible version of the guidance for decision makers has been developed in
Mexico by the Committee for the Promotion of Safe Motherhood, Ipas, the Instituto de
Liderazgo Simone de Beauvoir, International Initiative on Maternal Mortality and Human
Rights, OHCHR, the MacArthur Foundation and the Norwegian Agency for Development
Cooperation. The objective of this tool is to guide policymakers working in different
sectors on how to integrate a human rights-based approach into the design, implementation
and evaluation of programmes and strategies, as well as in accountability mechanisms. This
simplified version of the technical guidance outlines the necessary steps for incorporating
human rights approaches into maternal health.
14
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