We, members of civil society Participating in ‘Civil Society Experts Consultation on Maternal, Child and Infant Health and Sexual and Reproductive Health in Africa’ Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, April 17-18, 2010, organised by Solidarity for African Women’s Rights Coalition (SOAWR), IPPF-Africa Region, Ipas Africa Alliance, Save the Children International, Abantu for Development, and the UN Millennium Campaign in collaboration with the AU Commission to assess progress in reducing maternal, child and infant mortality and implementation of the Continental Framework on Sexual and Reproductive Health (Maputo Plan of Action 2007-10):

Commend African governments for committing themselves to address maternal, newborn and child health as outlined in the Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa, The African Youth Charter, Continental Framework on Sexual and Reproductive Health (Maputo Plan of Action 2007-10) and The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. We further commend the African Union for declaring maternal, newborn and child mortalities continental emergencies requiring commensurate urgent actions;

Congratulate countries that have launched the Campaign on Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA) and taken action to address the maternal, newborn and child health at national level as indicated in the best practices below. However, a lot more needs to be done.