Communication 564/15: Community Law Centre and three Others (on behalf on the Five Victims) v. The Federal Republic of Nigeria Summary of the Complaint: 1. On 31 December 2014, the Secretariat of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Secretariat) received a Communication submitted jointly by the Community Law Centre of the University of the Western Cape, Alliance Africa, the Women Advocacy Research and Documentation Centre and the Centre for Reproductive Rights (the Gomplainants) on behalf of five (5) women in Nigeria (the victims) who suffer from lifelong injuries such as obstetric fistulas, haemorrhage, and those who have died as a result of complications related to pregnancy: or childbirth. 2. The complaint was filed against the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Respondent State), a State party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (the African Charter).' "" .' 3. The Complainants argue that thousands of Nigerian women have lost their lives because the Respondent State failed to provide adequate access to maternal health care services. The Complainants further argue that most of those deaths could have been prevented, as the reasons why women die during pregnancy or childbirth are well known. These include problems such as haemorrhage, unsafe abortion, eclampsia, infection, dystocia and other direct causes.? 4. The Complainants assert' th~t maternal mortality is a matter of social injustice and deserves urgent responses from the Respondent State. They claim that the low status of women, gender inequality and lack of respect for their human rights often worsen the maternal mortality situation in the country. 1