98 Afulukwe-Eruchalu and Durojaye/Maternal mortality in Africa 3.3 Resolution 18/2 and the OHCHR’s technical guidance on the application of a human rightsbased approach to the implementation of policies and programmes to reduce preventable maternal mortality and morbidity The Human Rights Council subsequently adopted a third resolution in 2011 which urged states and other stakeholders to pay heightened attention to the inter-linkages between maternal deaths and injuries and root causes such as gender inequality, lack of access to adequate health care services, and violence against women and girls.91 It further mandated the UNHCHR to prepare a third report which would be a concise technical guidance on the application of a human rights-based approach to the implementation of policies and programmes to reduce preventable maternal mortality and morbidity.92 Resolution 18/2 raised the bar that had been set by the previous two resolutions by going beyond requesting a study that would give a theoretical explanation of a human rights-based approach to addressing preventable maternal deaths and injuries, including the 7 principles discussed above, to requesting one that would also lay out what it would mean to apply this approach in practice.93 In 2012, the OHCHR released the technical guidance94 which served to operationalise the previous reports by providing concrete step-by-step information on what it would mean to apply a human rights-based approach in developing policies and programs to address preventable maternal deaths and injuries. 3.4 Resolution 33/18 and a unified focus on the Sustainable Development Goals Since the release of the OHCHR’s technical guidance, states have been encouraged to provide information on how they are applying the technical guidance. Civil society organisations and all other stakeholders also have periodic opportunities to submit information on how states are implementing the practical examples in the technical guidance in their programming and policies on maternal health. 91 A/HRC/RES/18/2, para 3, available at http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/1a2b4c/pdf/ (accessed 14 July 2017). 92 As above, para 5. 93 A/HRC/RES/18/2, para 3, available at http://www.legal-tools.org/doc/1a2b4c/pdf/ (accessed July 14 2017). 94 (A/HRC/21/22), available at http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/women/docs/ A.HRC.21.22_en.pdf (accessed 14 July 2017).