April 11: International Day for Maternal Health and Rights

Disrespect and abuse during childbirth happens all over the world and at an alarming rate. For example, about half of respondents in a 2012 survey identified lack of privacy, lack of informed consent, and verbal abuse, as examples of disrespect or abuse during childbirth in their countries.

To promote respectful maternity care, Center for Health and Gender Equity (CHANGE) is calling on governments, international institutions, and the global community of civil society organizations to celebrate and recognize April 11 as the International Day for Maternal Health and Rights.

Read Gender Health’s new respectful maternity care fact sheet (pdf) and follow the conversation on Twitter using hashtag #IntlMHDay tomorrow from 11:00 am – 12:00 pm (EST).

To sign on to the Call to Action as an organization, please email Devan Shea at dshea@genderhealth.org. Individuals can add their names here: http://bit.ly/IntlMHDay.