IACHR calls on States to mitigate maternal mortality for Afro-descendant women, girls, and persons with a capacity for pregnancy

July 26, 2024

Washington, D.C. – On the International Day of Afro-Latin, Afro-Caribbean, and Diaspora Women, the IACHR calls on States to implement culturally appropriate policies which facilitate equitable healthcare and mitigate maternal mortality for Afro-descendant girls, women and persons with a capacity for pregnancy.

Throughout the Americas, Afro-descendant women, girls, and persons with a capacity for pregnancy face intersectional structural discrimination as well as interpersonal discrimination, stigmatization, and racism in healthcare facilities. These impede access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services, such as comprehensive information and education, regular health screenings, preventative healthcare, and timely prenatal care, thereby violating their right to sexual and reproductive health.

The IACHR notes with concern that other forms of gender- and race-based violence and discrimination, such as poverty, lack of access to education and social services, and physical, sexual, and obstetric violence also negatively impact the maternal mortality and overall sexual and reproductive health of Afro-descendant women, girls, and persons with a capacity for pregnancy.

The Belém do Pará Convention establishes States' responsibility to guarantee women's rights to be free from violence and to exercise all other regionally and internationally recognized human rights. Both the Commission and the Inter-American Court assert that obstetric violence is a form of gender-based violence in contravention of the Belém do Pará Convention and other Inter-American treaties, and that obstetric violence often violates the rights to humane treatment, equality, non-discrimination, health, and private life, and infringes on personal autonomy.

Moreover, the Pan-American Health Organization recognizes maternal mortality as a main indicator of sexual and reproductive health and observes that, in the States where disaggregated data is available, Afro-descendant women face notably higher maternal mortality rates than their non-Afro-descendant counterparts. There are few countries that report race-disaggregated data for maternal mortality rates in the hemisphere. The Center for Disease Control of the United States reported an overall maternal mortality rate of 32.9 per 100,000 in 2021, while the rate for Black women in the same year was 69.9. In Colombia, Suriname, and Brazil, the maternal mortality rates for Afro-descendant women is 93, 185 and 190.8, respectively, all significantly higher than their non-Afro-descendant counterparts.

The Commission reiterates that women, girls, and persons with a capacity for pregnancy need accessible, accurate, and comprehensive information and health services in order to maintain their sexual and reproductive health, and notes that pregnant persons need accessible, timely, and regular prenatal care to mitigate maternal mortality. Therefore, the Commission urges States to adopt differentiated policies to guarantee access to quality and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services and prenatal care for Afro-descendant women, girls, and persons with a capacity for pregnancy, and encourages States to collaborate with Afro-descendant communities to ensure that healthcare providers and practices are culturally informed and appropriate.

The IACHR is a principal and autonomous organ of the Organization of American States (OAS), whose mandate derives from the OAS Charter and the American Convention on Human Rights. The Inter-American Commission is mandated to promote the observance and defense of human rights in the region and acts as an advisory body to the OAS in this area. The IACHR is made up of seven independent members who are elected by the OAS General Assembly in their personal capacity, and do not represent their countries of origin or residence.

No. 171/24

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