Make Mothers Matter submits reports on obstetric violence to UN special rapporteur

On May 17th 2019, MMM submitted two reports to Ms. Dubravka Šimonović (UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women) on the issue of “Mistreatment and violence against women during reproductive health care with a focus on childbirth”. A European comparative report and a country report on Argentina were drafted on the situation of obstetric violence in those countries. Ms. Simonovic has identified this issue as the subject of her next thematic report to be presented in September 2019 at the 74th session of the UN General Assembly.

The first report submitted is a legal analysis of obstetric violence and the violation of human rights in Europe based on the country reports submitted by civil society organisations who participated to the Fourth European Summit on Human rights in childbirth in Strasbourg on October 2016.

The second one is an analysis of the situation in Argentina including an explanation of the healthcare system. Both, show a systemic violation of women’s human rights during childbirth in facilities as well as the lack of response from national governments. Aside from civil society initiatives exposing and condemning the current situation, there is hardly any public discussion or measures taken from Public authorities to tackle this hidden violation of human rights.

Make Mothers Matter has voiced its concerns on the subject and hopes that the initiative of the UN Special Rapporteur will lead to systemic change around maternal health care. In the meantime, we are pleased to share with you our reports submissions and reports from our member or other organisations we collaborate with.

• MMM European Report
• Argentina country report (in Spanish)
• UK report
• Hungarian report.
• Portuguese report
• German report
• Netherlands report