94 Afulukwe-Eruchalu and Durojaye/Maternal mortality in Africa Resolution 11/8 went beyond addressing states to urging other stakeholders, including national human rights institutions (NHRIs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), to prioritise the issue of preventable maternal mortality and morbidity in their work with the UN human rights system including the treaty monitoring bodies, special procedures, and the universal periodic review process.59 It also tasked the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) with preparing a thematic study on the issue within one year, with the input of states, relevant UN agencies, and stakeholders.60 The study would specifically identify the human rights dimensions of preventable maternal deaths and injuries in the existing international legal framework and offer suggestions for improving how the UN system had so far been addressing those human rights dimensions.61 The resolution concluded with the Human Rights Council obliging itself to review the thematic study during its fourteenth session, in June 2010, to hold an interactive dialogue on the study, and take further action as needed.62 Indeed, the African Commission’s resolution equally called on civil society, including NGOs, to advocate accountability and monitor the implementation of government programs to reduce maternal mortality.63 It further provided specific recommendations to states such as to fulfil their obligations to allocate 15 per cent of their national budgets to the health sector, adopt a human rights framework in maternal health programs and strategies, and provide updates on policy, institutional and other national efforts aimed at decreasing maternal deaths and injuries, during periodic review sessions. However, it did not contain any time-specific deliverables which would have encouraged urgent action and assured accountability. The Commission neither had nor did the resolution call for the establishment of a mechanism equivalent to the UNHCHR, to coordinate the regional human rights system’s and states’ efforts and provide tailored technical guidance to states to promote compliance. In contrast, the concrete mandates and time-specific provisions in the Human Rights Council’s resolution, as well as the express inclusion of the contribution of other stakeholders beyond states, lent urgency to the issue, gave legitimacy to various stakeholders, and galvanised action. For instance, by April 2010, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) developed a thematic study, with the input of states, NGOs, and external experts, along with its key findings, serving as a game changer for how the United Nations system had previously worked to address maternal mortality and morbidity. The study clarified the conceptual framework for understanding the connection between maternal mortality and human rights. It confirmed the linkages between gender inequality and 59 60 61 62 63 As above, para 5. As above, para 6. As above. As above, para 7. African Commission (n 1 above) para 8.