Every year, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians prepare to become parents. But sometimes the medical services related to pregnancy and labor can be associated with human rights violations.

Oleksandra, a mother of two, gave birth in Vinnytsia. During labor, the medical staff raised their voices at the woman and performed procedures without coordinating them with the mother and her husband first. The violations of her rights started already during pregnancy. Oleksandra was required to register at a woman’s clinic only at the place of her official registration.

In 2015, NGO Natural Rights Ukraine asked Ukrainian women which of their rights were violated the most frequently during pregnancy and labor. As a result, the women pointed at the lack of informing, corruption, mental pressure, privacy violations, restrictions on partner-accompanied labor, discrimination, etc.

Unfortunately, not all future mothers and fathers know how to defend their rights and where to go if their rights are infringed. Did Oleksandra recognize the situations in which her rights were violated and was she able to defend herself?

Listen to our heroine’s story, and to expert advice on how to defend your right to safe and dignified childbirth. In addition, we invite you to the docuspace.org online cinema to watch the documentary Unseen about different experiences of childbirth.

Speakers: 

Yevhenia Kubakh, expert, co-founder of NGO Natural Rights Ukraine.

Roman Vorona, ObGyn at the City Maternity Hospital No. 5.

Oleksandra Kaminska, mother of two.

Maia Martiniak, documentary filmmaker and creative producer.

The conversation will be moderated by Ksenia Shymanska, director of the NGO Docudays Human Rights Department.