Birthrights

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Birthrights exists because women and birthing people matter, we use human rights law to advocate for individual and systemic change in maternity care. 

Birthrights champions respectful care during pregnancy and childbirth by protecting human rights. We provide advice and information to women and birthing people, train doctors and midwives and campaign to change maternity policy and systems.  

COVID-19 has brought human rights in childbirth to the fore. During the pandemic, we’ve supported over 1000 people with direct advice, reached over 4000 professionals through training and events, and secured vital changes to national and local policies and decisions, to safeguard basic rights. 

What we do 

• Empower people to know their rights in pregnancy and childbirth through our free advice, legal information and resources 

• Support healthcare professionals to deliver rights-respecting care through our training 

• Change maternity policy and systems through research, campaigns and legal interventions 

Who we are 

Birthrights was founded in 2013 by human rights barrister, Elizabeth Prochaska, and Rebecca Schiller, a doula and writer on birth, parenting and women’s rights. Our work is overseen by our expert board, including senior health professionals, policy-makers and lawyers. 

 Our achievements 

• We’ve helped give free direct advice to 1,131 women, families and health professionals this year, achieving concrete outcomes

• Our training and events have reached over 1600 maternity care professionals

• High-profile campaigns on dignity in childbirth, maternal request caesarean and racial injustice in childbirth

• We’ve escalated cases to Trusts to change local policies that contravene basic rights, this has also influenced national guidance and policy

• Strategic legal action leading to 25 pieces of national media coverage and lobbying

If you would like to read our latest Impact Report for 2019-20 please click here

Support us  

Birthrights is a small charity with a big mission. We need your help to fulfil our promise to safeguard women’s rights and improve maternity care. From a monthly donation to running a marathon, there are so many ways you can make a difference.