International Maternity Healthcare Rights

Women have a right to dignified and respectful health care. 

Care that is free from discrimination and coercion, throughout pregnancy and childbirth, as protected in international and regional human rights law and standards.

United Nations Global Strategy for the Health and Well-being of Women and Children also supports these rights and access to Midwives.

According to the most recent data, approximately 800 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. 

This is about one woman every two minutes. 

For every woman who dies, between 20 and 30 will experience injuries, infections or disabilities. 

Most of these deaths and injuries are entirely preventable. 

Making pregnancy and childbirth safer is a human rights imperative. 

The International Registry of Midwives works globally with governments and Maternity experts to expand and credential future Maternity care workers. 

These highly skilled workers strengthen communities and health systems, while ensuring international evidence based and human rights centered maternal child health standards are followed.

IRM supports a Woman's: 

✔️Right to life

✔️Right to health

✔️Right to privacy

✔️Right to equal treatment

✔️Right to informed consent and childbirth education

✔️Right to refuse medical intervention while in  labor/birth

✔️Right to choose her birth partner and team 

✔️Right to choose her birthing place and position

✔️Right to dignified, respectful care