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Budget Analysis and Advocacy as a Tool for Maternal Health and Human Rights Accountability

Budget Analysis and Advocacy as a Tool for Maternal Health and Human Rights Accountability. Helena Hofbauer Geneva, Sep 2010. The budget: is the government’s single most important overarching policy instrument; shows the true priorities and values of government;

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Budget Analysis and Advocacy as a Tool for Maternal Health and Human Rights Accountability

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  1. Budget Analysis and Advocacy as a Tool for Maternal Health and Human Rights Accountability Helena Hofbauer Geneva, Sep 2010

  2. The budget: is the government’s single most important overarching policy instrument; shows the true priorities and values of government; affects the lives of all citizens, especially those who live in poverty and exclusion. A legal framework, government commitment, policy or program without a concomitant budget allocation cannot be implemented. Why focus on budgets? www.InternationalBudget.org www.InternationalBudget.org 2

  3. The budget is also unavoidably related to two concepts that are critical to human rights (though elusive): Maximum Available of Resources; Progressive Realization; Their meaning, weight, and the extent to which governments are consistently applying these concepts, can be examined and unpacked (at least partially) by looking at the budget. www.InternationalBudget.org www.InternationalBudget.org 3

  4. Regarding Maximum Available Resources, the Committee on ESCR has said that: • Governments must do the maximum they can to mobilize resources within the country. • Government expenditures must be efficient and effective. • Failure to curb corruption is a failure to comply with the obligation. • Funds earmarked in the budget for ESC rights must not be diverted to non-ESC rights areas. • Funds earmarked for ESC rights must be fully expended for that purpose. • If the government takes a step backwards (retrogression), it must show that it has used the maximum of available resources to avoid taking such a step. • A developing country government must do all it can to secure international assistance where national resources are inadequate to realize ESC rights. www.InternationalBudget.org

  5. Civil Society’s Engagement with Budgets • Demystifies the notion that ‘budgets are a government’s issue’ and brings citizens closer to the decisions that affect their lives; • Promotes an independent assessment of government’s priorities and pushes governments to revisit their vision of the budget from a tool of ‘growth and management’ to one that can advance human rights and the equitable distribution of resources. • Changes the balance of power among government and people; • Potentially reduces leakages and waste in expenditure; • Increases participation, accountability and ultimately, democracy. www.InternationalBudget.org

  6. Maternal health and budgets in Mexico During the last decade, the Mexican government implemented several targeted programs to offer maternal health services to poor communities (1998-2002): • Their budget was insignificant; • Per capita expenditure was lowest were the concentration of poverty was highest, failing to revert inequality; • Targeted programs did not contribute to improve infrastructure, nor increase the number of available physicians in poor states (skilled care indicator). Based on Fundar’s work with the Coalition for Maternal Health. See www.fundar.org.mx www.InternationalBudget.org

  7. Maternal health and budgets in Mexico • Activists put pressure on the government to increase and earmark decentralized funds for maternal health. Formulas were working against the goal— rich states with low MMR got more money than poor states with high MMR. (2003) • When the government created the Popular Insurance, a health protection scheme for unemployed and poor people, Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC), a key intervention for the reduction of maternal mortality, was not covered. Activists cost out the provision of EmOC and demonstrated financial viability. It was included in the catalogue of services of the health insurance scheme (2005). Based on Fundar’s work with the coalition against maternal mortality. www.InternationalBudget.org

  8. Nevertheless, systemic weaknesses remain unaddressed…And reflect that MAR are not being used… 3 billion pesos have been earmarked for infrastructure from 2004-2007, only 30% has been used. Mariana Pérez, Fundar, 2008. www.InternationalBudget.org

  9. Not only civil society uses budget analysis… • Legislatures all over the world use it to hold the executive accountable… • UN agencies have used it to promote analyze the government’s compliance with CEDAW, or CRC. • Courts have used it to rule against limitative arguments regarding the realization of the right to housing, health and food. Human Rights bodies can definitely use it to evaluate governments compliance with HR standards! www.InternationalBudget.org

  10. A powerful tool… …waiting to be used for the advancement of human rights. • Budget analysis is a reality check on what governments are doing to realize their human rights commitments. • It allows us to give meaning and monitor crucial elements of ESCR, such as the state’s obligation to use maximum available resources to realize human rights progressively. JUST USE IT! www.InternationalBudget.org

  11. For more information go to: www.internationalbudget.org THANK YOU! www.InternationalBudget.org

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