7. The Complainants contend that, according to their analysis of budgetary allocations to health and defence in the Respondent State over the last three years, the State spends more on the military and defence than on the health of its population. The Complainants state that this is contrary to the provisions of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), which urges States to reduce military expenditure in order to free up more resources to address the challenges facing women in the region. 8. The Complainants contend that since only women get pregnant and run the risk of dying during childbirth, spending more ofl,the military and defence at the expense of women's development is an act'of distrimination and therefore a violation of women's rights. ' :' 9. The Complainants highlight that the Respond~nt"'Stat~'s average expenditure on health is about 6%, which is far from the 15% budget allocation agreed in the Abuja Declaration in 2001. The €omplainants further argue 'that a rightsbased approach to maternal'mortality requires a State to-devote the maximum of its available resources to sexual and reproductive health s~rvices. 10. The Complainants aver that the, allegations they raise concern massive violations of women's rights to health, life and dignity and that, as such, the Respondent State is expectedjtc be aware of. the situation. The Complainants assert that several reports of the Respondent State suggest that maternal mortality is a major challenge in the ,country. 11. The.Complainants also argue that the Respondent State, although aware of the deaths,'of,thgusands of women during pregnancy and childbirth in the country, has done little')ollteffectively remedy the situation. They add that the lack of action by the State~"according to some of the Commission's decisions, means that locaL remedies are not available or, even if they are, that they are not effective or $tlfficient to remedy the alleged violations. Articles alleged to be,"}~Iated !.!-:' 12. The Complainants Charter. !J allege violation of Articles 2, 3, 4, 5 and 16 of the African Prayers 13. The Complainants pray the African Commission Rights (the Commission) to: 1. 2 0 s'