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Governments: Address Maternal Death as an Urgent Matter of Human Rights

For Immediate Release

PHR is calling on the governments convening at the UN General Assembly to make an immediate commitment to stopping the alarming rate globally of women dying in pregnancy and childbirth.

In advance of the High Level UN Meetings on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on September 25, PHR and partners in the International Initiative on Maternal Mortality and Human Rights have issued a "Call to Governments" to "Focus on 5", the fifth of the goals, and the one that has seen the least progress – maternal health. Our call asks governments and donors to assure healthy pregnancy and delivery for all women as a basic human right, and to address the human rights violations causing the unacceptable levels of death and disability.

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is a New York-based advocacy organization that uses science and medicine to prevent mass atrocities and severe human rights violations. Learn more here.

Media Contact

Kevin Short

Deputy Director, Media & Communications1.917.679.0110

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