Protecting human rights in childbirth
Registered Charity Number 1151152
Longer reads, analysis and your stories
Tara’s story: An RAF lawyer fighting to make military maternity services fairer. Here Tara shares her story, how she came into contact with Birthrights and why she is fighting to change military policy around elective caesareans…
Birthrights welcomes the NMC’s expression of commitment to human-rights centred maternity care in its new Principles. However, to achieve this goal, principles which breach human rights law requirements must be amended, the role of doulas must be respected, and more attention must be paid to the support needed by midwives from their employers.
Birthrights is joined in conversation by Dr Kate Whitehouse to talk about maternity care and her experiences as a doctor within both the US and the UK maternity systems
The debate on Baby Loss was held yesterday (October 13) at the House of Commons, on Baby Loss Awareness Week. In our response as Birthrights, we want to be clear that a human rights-centred approach is still missing from the debate and discussions about the maternity care crisis.
“My name is Thando Zwane and I’m a birthkeeper and doula and founder of the birth group Birthing in Colour. I work all over London in my capacity as birthkeeper.” Birthrights ‘Access Denied: Restrictions on Home Birth in the UK’ Report Case Study
Birthrights is seeing the rise of a concerning trend of punitive, criminalising and legalistic approaches targeting doulas. This undermines trust and endangers safety, creating an environment where no one can feel safe.
The publication today of the Black Mental Health report confirms what we have long known – that systemic racism and disparities in maternity care are failing Black women and birthing people in England.
The latest MBRRACE Report (link) has been published, and once again it shows no improvement in maternal death rates or in the stark inequalities that persist in the maternity sector.
These referrals are putting safety in maternity care at risk. No one can feel safe under these conditions.
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Hazel Williams as new CEO of Birthrights.
Hazel is a passionate values-led leader who has led award-winning human rights and social justice charities. Currently she is the Director of Justice Together, leading a national programme to improve anti-racist practice in the migration sector and access to justice for people in the immigration system.
A spate of inappropriate referrals has recently come to our attention, involving both women and birthing people and healthcare professionals.
These referrals are putting safety in maternity care at risk. No one can feel safe under these conditions.