WHEREAS, A woman dies from complications of pregnancy or childbirth every two minutes. In 2010, 287,000 women died from pregnancy and childbirth globally. Almost all of these deaths (99 percent) were in developing countries, and the vast majority were preventable; and

WHEREAS, More women in the United States are dying of pregnancy-related complications than any other developed country; and

WHEREAS, The United States has a higher infant mortality rate than any of the other 27 wealthy countries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A baby born in the United States is nearly three times as likely to die during the baby’s first year of life as one born in other wealthy countries; and

WHEREAS, Pregnancy, childbirth, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are the leading causes of death among girls and women of reproductive age, which ranges from 15 to 49 years of age. HIV substantially contributes to maternal mortality. While maternal mortality rates are declining globally, the rates are increasing in countries that have a high prevalence of HIV; and

WHEREAS, Every woman should have the right to access skilled health care during pregnancy and childbirth. Every woman should be entitled to be treated with dignity and respect during pregnancy and childbirth. But, women are frequently mistreated, and subjected to disrespect and abuse, by health care providers during this time. Examples of disrespect and abuse include physical violence, verbal abuse, denial of companionship during labor, and the failure of a health care provider to obtain informed consent for medical interventions; and

WHEREAS, Mistreatment during pregnancy and childbirth is a violation of women’s rights and prevents women from seeking medical care and treatment; and

WHEREAS, By promoting maternal health and rights, women, their children, and communities are empowered; and

WHEREAS, Efforts to improve maternal health and rights is a systematically complex issue that involves health care systems, medical professionals and service providers. According to a 2014 series concerning midwifery published in The Lancet (a British medical journal), the discrimination and abuse that women experience during pregnancy and childbirth is systemic and signals a “health system in crisis”; and

WHEREAS, Midwives play an essential role in maternal health, and states with high midwifery integration in the health care delivery systems generally have better maternal health care outcomes; and

WHEREAS, An international day for maternal health and rights can raise awareness about the need to provide women and babies with dignified care but achieving it in reality will need deep soul searching and discussion about the underlying cases of abuse, including health system pressures and the culture of maternity care; and

WHEREAS, The International Day for Maternal Health and Rights aims to encourage comprehensive, respectful, and rights-based maternal health care available to women during pregnancy and childbirth. The day was launched in 2014 by the Center for Health and Gender Equity, and is supported by a consortium of maternal health organizations, including the International Planned Parenthood Federation. The Center for Health and Gender Equity and its supporters are calling on the global community, international institutions, and governments throughout the world to promote and support maternal health and right, and recognize the International Day for Maternal Health and Rights; now, therefore, be it