Reduction of Maternal Mortality

This joint statement represents a consensus between the World Health Organization, the United Nations Populations Fund, and the World Bank and "is an example of the common purpose and complementarity of programmes supported by the four agencies and designed to reduce and prevent maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity". Reaffirming that safe motherhood is a human right, the joint statement outlines policy and legislative actions that the three international agencies view as essential to the reduction of maternal mortality. It also includes social and community interventions that are to run parallel to actions taken in the health sector. [Descriptors: Reproductive Rights - Safe Motherhood, International]