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Latest News
Holding it all together – human rights and disadvantage
Birthrights and Birth Companions have published a joint report – Holding it all together: Understanding how far the human rights of women facing disadvantage are respected during pregnancy, birth and postnatal care. The report marks a key milestone in a two-year joint research project funded by Trust for London, to help establish greater understanding of … Read more
Birthrights welcomes new Advice and Legal Officer…
Birthrights is delighted to welcome Alice Waddington to the Birthrights fold as our Advice and Legal Officer. Alice replaces Reilly Willis who left Birthrights in April after being offered a full time Lectureship in Law close to home. Alice will be looking after our advice service; responding to enquiries, ensuring all materials are up to … Read more
Birthrights concerned by coronial stillbirth proposals
Birthrights has today published its response to the consultation on coronial investigations into stillbirths which closes on the 18th June. We urge all those with an interest to submit a response before the deadline next Tuesday. Birthrights recognises the positive intent to help families, who have suffered the heartbreak of a stillbirth, to access an … Read more
Birthrights and partners submit evidence to the UN
Last week Birthrights joined with the White Ribbon Alliance, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and Make Birth Better, to submit evidence to the UN Special Rapporteur, about how pregnant women are treated in the UK. The UN Special Rapporteur, Ms. Dubravka Šimonović has identified the issue of mistreatment and violence against women during reproductive … Read more
Birthrights and Leigh Day announce three-year partnership to promote women’s human rights in childbirth
Birthrights, the UK’s human rights in childbirth charity, and Leigh Day, a law firm specialising in clinical negligence and human rights, have announced a new partnership over three years, building on previous joint work on specific projects. The new agreement includes a package of corporate financial support, fundraising activity, pro bono and in-kind support, and … Read more
Recruiting for Legal Officer – part-time / flexible (2.5 days per week)
£30,000 pro rata – £15,000 actual per annum Deadline: 5pm on Monday 29 April Birthrights is looking for a new Legal Officer to help us achieve our mission. If you are a legal expert with strong knowledge of human rights law and maternity care in the UK, practical experience of litigation and a passion for … Read more
Autism Awareness Day: guest blog by Hayley
Birthrights research in 2013 and 2018 found disabled women reported poorer experiences of childbirth than other respondents. They told us they: received inadequate information about their choices more often than other women; were unhappier with the availability of pain relief; felt they had less choice and control over their birth experiences; felt that their rights were poorly … Read more
Autism Awareness Day: guest blog by Emma
Birthrights research in 2013 and 2018 found disabled women reported poorer experiences of childbirth than other respondents. They told us they: received inadequate information about their choices more often than other women; were unhappier with the availability of pain relief; felt they had less choice and control over their birth experiences; felt that their rights were poorly … Read more
Birthrights cautiously welcomes first signs of change to OUH maternal request caesarean policy
Birthrights has written once again to Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) cautiously welcoming moves to review its policy of sending women who ask for a maternal request caesarean to other Trusts. Lawyers acting for Birthrights wrote to the Trust in July last year, asking detailed questions about how OUH responded to requests from … Read more
Neighbourhood Midwives
We were very saddened to hear last week about the imminent closure of Neighbourhood Midwives. Neighbourhood Midwives started out as a private, independent midwifery company, but were commissioned by Waltham Forest CCG to offer continuity of care, free of charge, to women as part of a two year pilot following “Better Births”. Neighbourhood Midwives have … Read more