A/HRC/27/20 C. Planning, programming and strategic vision 42. The commitment to implementation of the technical guidance specifically, and to a rights-based approach to sexual and reproductive health, including maternal health, is also evident in the way in which some stakeholders have effectively included rights-based approaches in their planning and strategy processes. In line with the strategic plans of both UNFPA and OHCHR, a Framework of Cooperation was signed on 3 March 2014 by both organizations which provides a framework for further implementation of the technical guidance. In particular, as the technical guidance is aimed at action at the country level, this framework commits both organizations to advancing the integration of human rights standards and principles into national policies, programmes and budgets relating to sexual and reproductive health and rights, including in the areas of maternal health and family planning. It also has the objective of supporting development of the capacity of national human rights institutions and civil society organizations to monitor sexual and reproductive health and rights obligations, including those related to maternal health, and to follow up on the relevant recommendations of international human rights mechanisms. 43. PMNCH has reported that its involvement in the process leading to the adoption of the technical guidance has assisted it in strengthening partnerships, including with OHCHR, to implement rights-based approaches. Furthermore, involvement in the technical guidance process has contributed to the strengthening of PMNCH’s conceptual approach to integrating human rights into its work. Human rights is now a major feature of the work of PMNCH on promoting accountability for reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health, which focuses on enhancing linkages and alignment between accountability mechanisms for human rights and for health, and developing and disseminating tools for human rightsrelated advocacy. PMNCH has also reported that integrating human rights into its work has had an impact in several ways, including the way in which data are collected and indicators are identified, and the way in which concepts are defined. Other impacts include bringing new perspectives, evidence and solutions to challenges and identifying new areas where further research is required. 44. The technical guidance has also been used to inform national planning processes. For example, UNFPA in Bhutan (a One UN country) reported that the technical guidance had contributed directly to the formulation of the country’s United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF). Specifically, the technical guidance was useful for the Essential Social Services cluster, which has outcomes and outputs that relate to maternal health services. The integrated analytical framework, which encompassed concepts of equity, a human rights-based approach, gender, capacity development and results-based management, was used to ensure a more rigorous and systematic analysis across all crosscutting areas when formulating areas of intervention, outcomes or outputs. Moreover, a human rights-based approach guided the formulation of interventions for maternal health, especially to address the disparity in access to reproductive health services and commodities, including for adolescents. 45. UNFPA in Uganda used the technical guidance directly at a planning meeting for 11 districts that had been chosen for fast-tracking of maternal and newborn health in the UNDAF for 2014–2015. The first day of the meeting included an orientation session on the principles behind a human rights-based approach, as well as a dedicated session on the technical guidance. The added value of using the technical guidance was the acknowledgement by the participants that more than 88 per cent of maternal deaths are preventable and that actions need to be taken at all levels of the continuum of care, from the household and community level to the health facility level to the national and international level, and across all the other sectors beyond the health-care sector. The obligations of the Government were emphasized, even when health services provision is decentralized. The need to strengthen accountability mechanisms was also discussed, and some districts intend 12