Maternal Health & Rights Initiative

The Maternal Health & Rights Initiative promotes the human rights of pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people in the United States. Harnessing the power of law, policy, and strategic advocacy, the Initiative seeks to improve access to safe and respectful maternal health care for all who need it, and to ensure that all people have an opportunity to attain the highest standard of maternal health possible for themselves.

The Initiative seeks government accountability for discrimination and inequalities in U.S. maternal health, and it provides advocates, lawmakers, and leaders with human rights-based advocacy tools that they can use to catalyze policy change at the local, state and federal level.

• Submission to OHCHR on systemic racism and the connections between police violence and reproductive rights violations against Black women

• The COVID-19 Pandemic is Exacerbating a Human Rights Crisis in Maternal Health

• Safeguarding Maternal Health and Rights in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic

• Human rights submission on violence against women in facility based childbirth settings

• Guiding Principles for Maternal Health Policy Change

• Maternal Health State Policy Agenda

• Factsheet: Maternal Health in Louisiana

• Factsheet: Maternal Health in Georgia

• Black Maternal Health Week is April 11-17

• Center Cheers Reintroduction of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act in U.S. Congress

• Center Spotlight: Jennifer Jacoby Talks U.S. Maternal Health

• Center Advocacy Efforts Will Help Improve Maternal Health in Georgia

• Center Leader Recognized for Work on Black Maternal Health

• Center for Reproductive Rights Joins Black Mamas Matter Alliance and Reproductive Justice Groups in Fight for Maternal Health Care at the Fifth Circuit

• New York State Senate Passes Legislation to Improve Maternal Health Outcomes

• Reproductive Injustice

• Black Mamas Matter Toolkit