UNICEF issues report on state of world's children

Today, November 20th is Universal Children's Day. Twenty years after the UN adopted a treaty guaranteeing children's rights, fewer youngsters are dying and more are going to school.

UNICEF has issued a report on the state of the world's children. It addresses maternal mortality, one of the severest problems for development work. Tom Fearon has this photo essay.

Each year, more than 500,000 women die from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.

Nearly 4 million newborns die within the first 28 days of life. A woman in a least developed country is more than 300 times likely to die from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth than one in a developed country.

Girls under the age of 15 are five times more likely to die in child-birth than women in their twenties. 95 percent of maternal deaths and some 90 percent of neonatal deaths occur in Africa and Asia.

Some social economic and cultural barriers perpetuate gender inequality and discrimination. Most maternal and neonatal deaths are preventable or treatable with access to essential maternity and basic health-care services.

What's needed is a supportive environment that respects women's rights.Educating women and girls is pivotal to creating such an environment.

Most of all, saving these women's and children's lives requires the concerted efforts of government leaders, health specialists, civil society, communities and families.