Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, HRiC has been collecting reports of disproportionate human rights violations in maternity care. The first set of rights violations have been published in a report (available below) and sent to the United Nations.
, The world is dealing with unprecedented challenges arising from the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and health systems are now focused on social distancing and avoidance of non-urgent, non-COVID related medical care. Unfortunately, the strains on our health systems and the difficulties are not being borne equally by the population – pregnant women in particular still require competent and compassionate labour, birth and postpartum care.
In this time of health crisis policy actors, hospital systems, and birth care providers are changing the provision of pregnancy and birth care in ways not based on scientific evidence nor in best practices endorsed by the WHO. Not only are the changes described in this document not based on evidence, the changes are arguably unnecessary and even harmful. When necessary changes are being implemented they are often done in ways out of proportion to the risks posed by coronavirus. Where necessary changes are made, such as moving to remote tele-health visits, few health systems are implementing innovative methods to reach women who lack access to technology and information, especially marginalized women who were already needed more support before the pandemic started.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic requires a swift global response to contain the virus’ spread and protect the life and health of others, this does not mean that states can use any means to achieve this. UN human rights experts have called upon states to maintain a human rights-based approach to regulating the COVID-19 outbreak and have held that the pandemic should not be used as an excuse to target the rights of particular groups, minorities or individuals, nor should it be used as cover for repressive action under the guise of protecting health.
We should be wary of any use of the pandemic to institutionalise harmful practices in maternal healthcare. Rather than an effective response to COVID-19 they are a breach of women’s human rights and a cloaked manifestation of structural gender discrimination.
If you would like to contribute to future versions of the report, you can do so here.
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