Protecting human rights in childbirth
Registered Charity Number 1151152
If you have a media enquiry please contact [email protected] or call 0300 400 0103
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.
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.
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.
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.