The IPU Resolution on Women's and Children's Health
The IPU Resolution on Women’s and Children’s Health: An Initial Framework for Accountability Reporting INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION Executive summary This report highlights the results from the first review of parliamentary efforts in implementing the IPU resolution of April 2012: ‘Access to health as a basic right: The role of parliaments in addressing key challenges to securing the health of women and children.’ It is based on the evidence shared by a small group of randomly selected parliaments and organizations to provide an overview of the type of actions being taken by parliaments, and to establish a process for future reporting on the implementation of the IPU resolution. Although the survey sample is small, it is representative of a significant group of parliaments and provides an indication of opinions and general trends. Participating parliaments were mostly drawn from Africa where maternal and child death rates are highest, but also from other regions, including those from two developed countries. They were Bangladesh, Canada, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Sweden, Uganda, Zimbabwe, the East African Legislative Assembly and the Pan-African Parliament. The survey asked 40 questions about parliamentary activity on Maternal, Newborn & Child Health (MNCH) in key areas such as Political will, Awareness, Representation/Advocacy, Oversight, Legislation and Budget. The questions drilled down into topics such as determinants of health, gender equality, and accessibility and quality of health services. The efforts of participating parliaments were considered in relation to Photo: © UNICEF/RWAA2011-00386/Shehzad Noorani the commitments detailed in the IPU resolution. The survey also A female health worker performs antenatal draws on the contributions of non-parliamentary organizations, check up of a pregnant woman at a UNICEF including the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health, supported MCH clinic (Maternal and Child) in UNFPA, WHO and World Vision International.
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