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THE
UNIVERSAL RIGHTS
OF CHILDBEARING WOMEN
The Distinctive Importance of the Childbearing Period
Ineverycountryandcommunityworldwide,pregnancyandchildbirtharemomentouseventsinthelivesof
womenandfamiliesandrepresentatimeofintensevulnerability.Theconceptofsafemotherhoodisusually
restrictedtophysicalsafety,butchildbearingisalsoanimportantriteofpassage,withdeeppersonalandcultural
significanceforawomanandherfamily.Becausemotherhoodisspecifictowomen,issuesofgenderequityand
genderviolencearealsoatthecoreofmaternitycare.Thus,thenotionofsafemotherhoodmustbeexpanded
beyondthepreventionofmorbidityormortalitytoencompassrespectforwomensbasichumanrights,including
respectforwomensautonomy,dignity,feelings,choices,andpreferences,includingchoiceofcompanionship
whereverpossible.
Bydesign,thisdocumentfocusesspecificallyontheinterpersonalaspectsofcarereceivedbywomenseeking
maternityservices.Awomansrelationshipwithmaternitycareprovidersandthematernitycaresystemduring
pregnancyandchildbirthisvitallyimportant.Notonlyaretheseencountersthevehicleforessentialand
potentiallylifesavinghealthservices,womensexperienceswithcaregiversatthistimehavetheimpactto
empowerandcomfortortoinflictlastingdamageandemotionaltrauma,addingtoordetractingfromwomens
confidenceandselfesteem.Eitherway,womensmemoriesoftheirchildbearingexperiencesstaywiththemfora
lifetimeandareoftensharedwithotherwomen,contributingtoaclimateofconfidenceordoubtaround
childbearing.
Growing Evidence of Disrespect and Abuse
Imaginethepersonaltreatmentyouwouldexpectfromamaternitycareproviderentrustedtohelpyouora
womanyoulovegivebirth.Naturally,weenvisionarelationshipcharacterizedbycaring,empathy,support,trust,
confidence,andempowerment,aswellasgentle,respectful,andeffectivecommunicationtoenableinformed
decisionmaking.Unfortunately,toomanywomenexperiencecarethatdoesnotmatchthisimage.Agrowing
bodyofanecdotalandresearchevidencecollectedinmaternitycaresystemsfromthewealthiesttopoorest
nationsworldwidepaintsadifferentanddisturbingpicture.Infact,disrespectandabuseofwomenseeking
maternitycareisbecominganurgentproblemandcreatingagrowingcommunityofconcernthatspansthe
domainsofhealthcareresearch,quality,andeducation;humanrights;andcivilrightsadvocacy.
In2010,alandscapereportbyBowserandHill,ExploringEvidenceforDisrespectandAbuseinFacilitybased
Childbirth,summarizedtheavailableknowledgeandevidenceonthistopic.iWhilethereviewrevealedarelative
lackofformalresearchonthetopic,theauthorsindepthsearchofpublishedandtechnicalliteratureaswellas
interviewsanddiscussionswithcontentexpertsdescribedsevenmajorcategoriesofdisrespectandabusethat
childbearingwomenencounterduringmaternitycare.Thesecategoriesoverlapandoccuralongacontinuum
fromsubtledisrespectandhumiliationtoovertviolence;theyincludephysicalabuse,nonconsentedclinicalcare,
nonconfidentialcare,nondignifiedcare(includingverbalabuse),discriminationbasedonspecificpatient
attributes,abandonmentordenialofcare,anddetentioninfacilities.
Interpersonalcarethatisdisrespectfulandabusiveinnaturetowomenbefore,during,andafterbirthisappalling
becauseofthehighvaluesocietiesattachtomotherhoodandbecauseweknowtheintensevulnerabilityof
womenduringthistime.Allchildbearingwomenneedanddeserverespectfulcareandprotectionoftheir
autonomyandrighttoselfdetermination;thisincludesspecialcaretoprotectthemotherbabypairaswellas
marginalizedorhighlyvulnerablewomen(e.g.,adolescents,ethnicminorities,andwomenlivingwithphysicalor
1
mentaldisabilitiesorHIV).Furthermore,disrespectandabuseduringmaternitycareareaviolationofwomens
basichumanrights.
Bydrawingonrelevantextractsfromestablishedhumanrightsinstruments,theCharterdemonstratesthe
legitimateplaceofmaternalhealthrightswithinthebroadercontextofhumanrights.Sevenrightsareincluded,
drawnfromthecategoriesofdisrespectandabuseidentifiedbyBowserandHill(2010)intheirlandscapeanalysis
(seetable).Alltheserightsaregroundedininternationalormultinationalhumanrightsinstruments,includingthe
UniversalDeclarationofHumanRights;theUniversalDeclarationonBioethicsandHumanRights;the
InternationalCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights;theInternationalCovenantonCivilandPolitical
Rights;theConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationAgainstWomen;theDeclarationofthe
EliminationofViolenceAgainstWomen;theReportoftheOfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerfor
HumanRightsonpreventablematernalmortalityandmorbidityandhumanrights;andtheUnitedNationsFourth
WorldConferenceonWomen,Beijing.Nationalinstrumentsarealsoreferencediftheymakespecificmentionof
childbearingwomen.Eachrightissourcedtotherelevantinstruments.ii
In seeking and receiving maternity care before, during, and after childbirth:
ARTICLE I: Every woman has the right to be free from harm and ill treatment
International Standards
DeclarationoftheEliminationofViolenceAgainstWomen,1994,Article1
InternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights(ICCPR),1966,Article7
InternationalMotherBabyChildbirthInitiative:AHumanRightsApproachtoOptimalMaternityCare,2010,
Article9
InternationalPlannedParenthoodFederationCharteronSexualandReproductiveRights,1996,Article12
UniversalDeclarationonBioethicsandHumanRights,1997,Article4
Multinational and National Standards
EuropeanCharterofPatientsRights,2002,Article9
LeyOrgnicasobreelDerechodelasMujeresaunaVidaLibredeViolenciadeVenezuela,2007,Article15j
ARTICLE II: Every woman has the right to information, informed consent and refusal,
and respect for her choices and preferences, including the right to her choice of
companionship during maternity care, whenever possible
International Standards
InternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights(ICCPR),1966,Article7,19
InternationalPlannedParenthoodFederationCharteronSexualandReproductiveRights,1996,Article6
InternationalMotherBabyChildbirthInitiative:AHumanRightsApproachtoOptimalMaternityCare,2010,
Article3,4
ReportoftheOfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforHumanRightsonpreventablematernal
mortalityandmorbidityandhumanrights,2010
UniversalDeclarationonBioethicsandHumanRights,1997,Article6
Multinational and National Standards
BirthJusticeasReproductiveJustice,NAPW,2010
CharterofFundamentalRightsoftheEuropeanUnion,2000,Article3.2,7
ConventionfortheProtectionofHumanRightsandDignityoftheHumanBeingwithregardtothe
ApplicationofBiologyandMedicine:ConventiononHumanRightsandBiomedicine,1997,Article5
DeclarationonthePromotionofPatientsRightsinEurope,1994,Articles1.5,2,3,4.6,5
EuropeanCharterofPatientsRights,2002,Article3,4,5,12
LeydeAcompaamientoduranteelTrabajodeParto,NacimientoyPostpartodePuertoRico,2006,
Article3e,3f
LeydePartoHumanizadoLeyNacionalNo.25.929deArgentina,2004,Article2f,2g
TheRightsofChildbearingWomen,ChildbirthConnection1999,2006,Articles3,4,5,6,9,12,13,14,16,19
ARTICLE III: Every woman has the right to privacy and confidentiality
InternationalStandards
InternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights(ICCPR),1966,Article17
InternationalPlannedParenthoodFederationCharteronSexualandReproductiveRights,1996,Article4
UniversalDeclarationonBioethicsandHumanRights,1997,Article9
Multinational and National Standards
DeclarationonthePromotionofPatientsRightsinEurope,1994,Article1.4,4
EuropeanCharterofPatientsRights,2002,Article6
TheRightsofChildbearingWomen,1999,2006,Article7
ARTICLE IV: Every woman has the right to be treated with dignity and respect
International Standards
InternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights(ICCPR),1966,Article2
InternationalMotherBabyChildbirthInitiative:AHumanRightsApproachtoOptimalMaternityCare,
Article1
ReportoftheOfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforHumanRightsonpreventablematernal
mortalityandmorbidityandhumanrights,2010
UnitedNationsFourthWorldConferenceonWomen,Beijing1995
UniversalDeclarationonBioethicsandHumanRights,1997,Article8,10,11
Multinational and National Standards
BirthJusticeasReproductiveJustice,NAPW,2010
CharterofFundamentalRightsoftheEuropeanUnion,2000,Article1,3,7
ConventionfortheProtectionofHumanRightsandDignityoftheHumanBeingwithregardtothe
ApplicationofBiologyandMedicine:ConventiononHumanRightsandBiomedicine,1997,Article1
DeclarationonthePromotionofPatientsRightsinEurope,1994,Article1.1,1.4,1.5
EuropeanCharterofPatientsRights,2002,Article7
ARTICLE V: Every woman has the right to equality, freedom from discrimination, and
equitable care
International Standards
ConventionontheEliminationofAllFormsofDiscriminationagainstWomen(CEDAW),1979,Article1
InternationalCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights(ICESCR),1976,Article2
InternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights(ICCPR),1966,Article26
InternationalPlannedParenthoodFederationCharteronSexualandReproductiveRights,1996,Article3
ReportoftheOfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforHumanRightsonpreventablematernal
mortalityandmorbidityandhumanrights,2010
UnitedNationsFourthWorldConferenceonWomen,Beijing1995,Article28
UniversalDeclarationonBioethicsandHumanRights,1997,Article10,11
Multinational and National Standards
CharterofFundamentalRightsoftheEuropeanUnion,2000,Article21,23
DeclarationonthePromotionofPatientsRightsinEurope,1994,Article5.1
ARTICLE VI: Every woman has the right to healthcare and to the highest attainable
level of health
International Standards
DeclarationofAlmaAta,InternationalConferenceonPrimaryCare,1978,Preamble,Articles4,6
InternationalPlannedParenthoodFederationCharteronSexualandReproductiveRights.1996,Article9
ReportoftheOfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforHumanRightsonpreventablematernal
mortalityandmorbidityandhumanrights,2010
UnitedNationsFourthWorldConferenceonWomen,Beijing1995
UniversalDeclarationofHumanRights,1948,Article25
UniversalDeclarationonBioethicsandHumanRights,1997,Article14.2
Multinational and National Standards
CharterofFundamentalRightsoftheEuropeanUnion,2000,Article35
ConstitucinPolticadelEstadoPlurinacionaldeBolivia,2008,Article45.V
ConventionfortheProtectionofHumanRightsandDignityoftheHumanBeingwithregardtothe
ApplicationofBiologyandMedicine:ConventiononHumanRightsandBiomedicine,1997,Article3
DeclarationonthePromotionofPatientsRightsinEurope,1994,Article5
TheRightsofChildbearingWomen,1999,2006,Article1
ARTICLE VII: Every woman has the right to liberty, autonomy, self-determination, and
freedom from coercion
International Standards
DeclarationoftheEliminationofViolenceAgainstWomen,1994,Article1
InternationalCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights(ICESCR),1976,Article1
InternationalPlannedParenthoodFederationCharteronSexualandReproductiveRights,1996,Article2
InternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights(ICCPR),1966,Article9.1,18.2
UniversalDeclarationonBioethicsandHumanRights,Article5
Multinational and National Standards
CharterofFundamentalRightsoftheEuropeanUnion,2000,Article6
DeclarationonthePromotionofPatientsRightsinEurope,1994,Article1.2
i
Bowser,D.,andK.Hill.2010.ExploringEvidenceforDisrespectandAbuseinFacilitybasedChildbirth:ReportofaLandscape
Analysis.Bethesda,MD:USAIDTRActionProject,UniversityResearchCorporation,LLC,andHarvardSchoolofPublicHealth.
ii
TheCharterborrowsheavilyfromtheframeworkoftheInternationalPlannedParenthoodFederationCharteronSexualand
ReproductiveRights,1996.
Thischarterwasdevelopedcollaborativelybyamultistakeholdergroupwithexpertisebridgingresearch,
educational,clinical,humanrights,andadvocacyperspectives.Thefollowingpeoplecontributedtothisconsensus
documentasmembersofacommunityofconcernworkinginconcerttoaddresstheissueofdisrespectandabuse
duringmaternitycarewithintheirvariousconstituencies:
DebbieArmbruster,USAID PegMarshall,USAID
DianaBowser,HarvardSchoolofPublicHealth LizMason,WorldHealthOrganization
NealBrandes,USAID MonaMoore,Independentconsultant
CatherineCarr,MCHIP/JHPIEGO NesterMoyo,InternationalConfederationof
BlamiDao,JHPIEGO Midwives
RaeDavies,InternationalMotherBabyCare MarthaMurdock,FamilyCareInternational
Initiative WinnieMwebesa,SavetheChildren
BarbaraDeller,JHPIEGO DaveNicholas,TranslatingResearchintoAction
FarahDiazTello,NationalAdvocatesfor Project
PregnantWomen DoyinOluwole,AcademyforEducational
SimoneDiniz,Researcher Development
SooDowne,UniversityofCentralLancashire DebraPascaliBonaro,InternationalMother
LorraineFontaine,RegroupementNaissance BabyCareInitiative
Renaissance BerthaPooley,SavetheChildren
LynnFreedman,AvertingMaternalDeathand AnniePortela,WorldHealthOrganization
Disability,ColumbiaUniversity VeronicaReis,JHPIEGO
MauraGaughan,TranslatingResearchinto AramSchvey,CenterforReproductiveRights
ActionProject MaryEllenStanton,USAID
JoanneGleason,PopulationCouncil AnnStarrs,FamilyCareInternational
KathleenHill,TranslatingResearchintoAction ErinThornton,EveryMotherCounts
Project MelissaUpreti,CenterforReproductiveRights
DebraJones,FamilyCareInternational HeleneVadeboncoeur,Perinatalresearcherand
MargeKoblinsky,JohnSnowInternational author
DouglasLaube,USAID RachelWilson,PATH
KathleenMacFarland,FamilyCareInternational
OCTOBER 2011