Maternal Mortality as a Human Rights Issue in Malawi

This book explores the degree to which Malawi is in compliance with its treaty based obligations under human rights law with regard to reducing maternal mortality. It critically examines human rights obligations and State responsibility in this regard. The central argument advanced in this monograph is that State compliance with its international human rights obligations and commitments is a vital component for reducing maternal mortality. Thus, this book explored Malawi's human rights treaty obligations and other commitments meant to reduce maternal mortality. It seeks to understand whether Malawi has complied with its human rights obligations in line with UN guidelines for reducing maternal mortality. In this monograph, Levi analyses the right to health in order to understand Malawi's compliance with its obligations to prevent maternal death. Since Levi has also taken into consideration the economic development of Malawi as a developing nation, many of his proposals can also be meaningful in many countries in Africa and beyond. It can also be used by health practitioners working in developing countries; students in human rights and health care studies as well as policy makers.

Levi Mvula, is a human rights activist and holds an MA in Theory and Practice of Human Rights obtained in 2009 at the University of Essex. His research interest is on economic, social and cultural rights. For his MA thesis, he focused on the right to the highest attainable standard of health and maternal death in Malawi.