Maternal mortality: CEDAW holds Brazil accountable

Latin America
Issue: Women's Human Rights
Document Type: Legal Submission
Date: 2011

In a seminal decision in Alyne da Silva Pimentel v. Brazil, CEDAW held that Brazil had violated the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women.

Brazil failed to provide requisite care to a woman who died as a result of obstetric complications. The case is the first maternal death case to be decided by an international human rights body.

The case, which was brought by the Center for Reproductive Rights and Citizens’ Advocacy for Human Rights (ADVOCACI), concerned the death of an afro Brazilian woman from pregnancy related complications following inadequate and poor quality medical treatment.

At the request of the applicants the ICJ submitted an Expert Legal Opinion to the Committee.

The ICJ brief concerned the equal rights of women to the enjoyment of the right to the highest attainable standard of health and to an effective remedy.

Brazil-Legal Opinion ICJ Case of Alyne da Silva Pimentel-legal submission-2011

For a copy of CEDAW views click here

 

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