Criminalising obstetric violence: An appropriate response to abuse within the maternity system?

The Centre for Ethics and Law in the Life Sciences

and

the Centre for Criminal Law and Criminal Justice

are pleased to invite to an online obstetric violence event,

Criminalising obstetric violence: An appropriate response to abuse within the maternity system?

30th September 2022, Durham University

Obstetric violence and abuse during childbirth is a form of gender-based violence that concerns both personal and structural violence against women and birthing people within the maternity care context. It includes discrimination; physical, verbal and emotional abuse and coercive control; forced or unauthorised procedures; routine provision of procedures not clinically indicated or that lack an evidence base; and system constraints resulting in under-resourced services

In 2019, Dubravka Šimonović, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences published a thematic report on obstetric violence, ‘A human rights-based approach to mistreatment and violence against women in reproductive health services with a focus on childbirth and obstetric violence’. Therein, the Special Rapporteur reminded States of their obligations to respect, protect and fulfil women’s human rights during the provision of reproductive health care and called on States to prosecute perpetrators of this form of gender-based violence. While the report is a celebrated development, many questions emerge in relation to broader reliance on the criminal law framework and this the webinar will explore some of the complexities of adopting a criminal law approach to obstetric violence.

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Date: 30th September 2022

Online registration: To register for online streaming please find more information here.

For any questions regarding the event, please contact Camilla Pickles at camilla.m.pickles@durham.ac.uk

Criminalising obstetric violence: Webinar speakers and abstracts

About Durham Law School, Durham University 

Durham Law School is a world leader in legal education and research. Its award-winning academic staff produce ground-breaking research with impact. Durham Law School is in the QS World Rankings top 50 law schools and its research was ranked 3rd best in the Research Excellence Framework in 2014. Durham University is one of the world’s leading universities, with excellence in teaching, and world-leading research.