Protecting human rights in childbirth

Registered Charity Number 1151152

Latest News

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Birthrights responds to findings from the Amos National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation Review

The final report from the Amos National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation calls for systemic, urgent change to maternity services. Birthrights welcomes this call to action, which echoes last week’s Ockenden report in its urgency, and stands in solidarity with the women and birthing people and healthcare professionals whose experiences serve as the evidence of this broken system…

Birthrights taking legal action against suspension of homebirth services by Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 

Birthrights, Gloucestershire Maternity Action Group and an individual claimant have written to Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and put them on notice of our intention to apply for judicial review of their decision to suspend the home birth service for an unspecified length of time, which was made in breach of human rights and equality law.

2025 – Birthrights’ Year in Review

2025 has been a year of change, growth and challenge for Birthrights.
But our mission remains clear.
Our maternity system is still in crisis, and it is more urgent than ever to do the work that will enable all women and birthing people to make informed, autonomous decisions about their care, free from coercion, discrimination or punishment.

Birthrights speaks out on the NMC’s Principles for Supporting Women’s Choices in Maternity Care 

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’ evidence forms part of Health and Social Care Select Committee’s Black Maternal Health Report

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.