Maternal Health

The Center for Reproductive Rights works to reduce maternal health disparities and improve outcomes by holding governments accountable for their human rights obligations and addressing discrimination and failures to respect women’s autonomy and physical integrity.

Summary

Regardless of race, ethnicity, nationality, immigration or financial status, everyone has the right to respectful and quality maternal health care, free from discrimination, coercion and violence. Yet worldwide, almost 300,000 women die each year during pregnancy and childbirth and countless others experience discrimination, ill-treatment and abuse in maternal health care settings. The poorest and most marginalized populations consistently face the greatest risks during pregnancy and childbirth due to discrimination, inadequate access to health services, and underinvestment in guaranteeing universal access to care. 

The Center works to improve access to respectful, quality, non-discriminatory maternal health care throughout the world through advocacy, litigation, and human rights research and fact-finding. Collaborating with partners and ally organizations in countries across the world, we raise awareness about human rights violations in maternal health care settings, galvanize political engagement, and hold governments accountable for preventable maternal deaths and morbidities.

Since 2021, as a result of the Center’s work, 441 million people have stronger legal protections for maternal health care.

–Our Impact

Key Facts

810

Women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.

99%

Of maternal deaths occur in developing countries.

1/3

Of women experienced abuse and ill-treatment in a WHO study of four developing countries.

Cases and Work

Explore highlights of our work on maternal health and rights.

Court of Appeal issues sweeping decision in case of pregnant woman physically and verbally abused by hospital staff.

Government complies with High Court’s order to increase repair services, marking major progress in improving maternal health.

Woman with HIV who was forcibly sterilized gets justice after years-long effort by the Center and Vivo Positivo.

Publications and More

U.S. Maternal Health and Rights Initiative card link

U.S. Maternal Health and Rights Initiative

This program works to improve access to safe and respectful maternal health care and to promote the human rights of pregnant, birthing, and postpartum people in the United States. Read more.

Calling on Colombia to Halt Use of Herbicide Causing Harm to Reproductive Health card link

Calling on Colombia to Halt Use of Herbicide Causing Harm to Reproductive Health

New research report by the Center and its local partner shows negative effects of herbicide used to eradicate cocaine production.

Perilous Pregnancies: Health Care for Undocumented Migrant Women in the EU card link

Perilous Pregnancies: Health Care for Undocumented Migrant Women in the EU

A report showcasing the failures of EU member states to remove legal and policy barriers that impede undocumented migrant women’s access to affordable maternal health care throughout pregnancy. Read more.

Impact of COVID-19 on Reproductive Health and Rights in Sindh card link

Impact of COVID-19 on Reproductive Health and Rights in Sindh

A fact-finding report on the impact of COVID-19 on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls in Pakistan.

Leading on Normative Development at the Human Right Council card link

Leading on Normative Development at the Human Right Council

Resolutions on maternal mortality and humanitarian situations. Read more.

Kenya: Detention and Abuse of Women Seeking Maternal Health Services Violates Human Rights card link

Kenya: Detention and Abuse of Women Seeking Maternal Health Services Violates Human Rights

A report on a groundbreaking judgment recognizing that the detention and abuse of women who are unable to pay for maternity services at Kenyan public hospitals violates Kenyan constitutional and international human rights standards. Read more.

Alyne da Silva Pimentel v. Brazil card link

Alyne da Silva Pimentel v. Brazil

This landmark ruling recognized that States have a human rights obligation to address maternal mortality. Read more.

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