Protecting human rights in childbirth
Registered Charity Number 1151152
Longer reads, analysis and your stories
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.
While we welcome the DHSC’s recent announcement that thousands of new jobs will be unlocked for newly qualified nurses and midwives, we are concerned about how this will be implemented effectively and how support will be guaranteed in practice — support for existing staff is equally critical.
Ella’s story: a second-time mum with hospital anxiety and a home birth agreed, found out the service was suspended at 32 weeks pregnant – Birthrights ‘Access Denied: Restrictions on Home Birth in the UK’ Report Case Study
Five X More launched their powerful new report this week: the ‘Black Maternity Experiences Report 2025’.
An analysis based on NHS figures shows that the potential cost of maternity negligence claims in England since 2019 has reached £27.4 billion, more than the entire maternity care budget in the same period.
Maia’s story: a second-time mum who had to fight for a home birth, Birthrights ‘Access Denied: Restrictions on Home Birth in the UK’ Report Case Study
Keir Starmer has laid out more detail of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan. While we welcome long-term plans to bring care back into community, we need concrete action NOW to ensure access to safe, rights-respecting neighbourhood health services and maternity care.
Human rights violations in maternity care disproportionately impact migrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking women and birthing people. This is a systemic issue that demands a systemic, rights-based response.
In February 2024, we submitted evidence to the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls during an official visit to the UK in February. The Special Rapporteur shared her preliminary findings to the Government officials at the end of the visit in March 2024.