A/HRC/18/27 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 15/17, the Human Rights Council requested the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to prepare an analytical compilation of good or effective practices in adopting a human rights-based approach to eliminating preventable maternal mortality and morbidity, that included (a) an identification of how such initiatives embodied a human rights-based approach; (b) the elements of these initiatives that succeeded in achieving a reduction in maternal mortality and morbidity through a human rights-based approach; and (c) ways in which similar initiatives could give effect more fully to a human rights-based approach. For the purpose of the present report, a note verbale was addressed in January 2011 to States, United Nations agencies and the World Bank, national human rights institutions, all United Nations special procedures, the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and civil society organizations. Written contributions1 were received from 54 States,2 three United Nations agencies (the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO)), five national human rights institutions,3 the Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, and 14 civil society organizations.4 II. A human rights-based approach to maternal mortality and morbidity 2. In its resolution 11/8, the Human Rights Council called on States to integrate a human rights perspective into their initiatives to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. Other instruments requesting such an approach to address maternal mortality and morbidity over the past year include resolution 24/5 of the Commission on the Status of Women on eliminating preventable maternal mortality and morbidity and the empowerment of women; the report of the Secretary-General entitled “Keeping the promise: a forward-looking review to promote an agreed action agenda to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015” (A/64/665) and the Global Strategy for Women and Children’s Health. 3. The substantive human rights framework applicable to preventable maternal mortality and morbidity was laid out thoroughly by the treaty bodies, other international 1 All submissions are available on the OHCHR website at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/women/. 2 Algeria, Australia, Argentina, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran (Islamic Republic of), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Syrian Arab Republic, TimorLeste, Togo and Ukraine. 3 The Ombudsman of Azerbaijan, the National Human Rights Commission of Nicaragua, the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria, the Human Rights Commission of New Zealand and the South African Human Rights Commission. 4 Action Aid Sierra Leone and Marie Stopes Sierra Leone, BRAC Bangladesh, the Center for Economic and Social Rights, the Center for Reproductive Rights, Enfants du Monde, the Family Planning Association for Bangladesh, the International Alliance of Women, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, IPAS Brazil, IPAS USA, the Medical Collaboration Committee, the National Association for Women Organizations in Uganda and Pathfinder International. 3