The author argues that maternal mortality can easily be avoided and that the right to health and life is as much a developmental issue as it is one of human rights. Focuses on the maternal mortality ratio and relevant laws protecting women’s right to life and health in Nigeria and Ethiopia. / A Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Law University of Pretoria, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Masters of Law (LLM in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa). Prepared under the supervision of Dr. Salah Hammad, Faculty of Law, Addis Ababa University, Addis / Thesis (LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa))--University of Pretoria, 2009. / http://www.chr.up.ac.za/ / Centre for Human Rights / LLM