Protecting human rights in childbirth
Registered Charity Number 1151152
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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.
The latest CQC State of Care report is a damning reflection on the state of the NHS and the inability of current structures to address significant failings and systemic inequalities across the health system.
Too often there is a lack of understanding of how the law applies to maternity care among the healthcare professionals that deliver maternity care, the managers and commissioners of services or even the regulators.
The report once again shows that our maternity care system is in crisis; and it disproportionately impacts the most marginalised women and birthing people.