Why Human Rights in Childbirth Matter

Book excerpt: Why Human Rights in Childbirth explores the rights of women in pregnancy and birth, and offers information and support for mothers, caregivers and campaigners working to improve birth practices and birth experiences. Rebecca Schiller is co-chair of the human rights in childbirth charity Birthrights and a media spokesperson on reproductive rights and birth-related issues. She is a doula, a director of Doula UK and was nominated for Doula of the Year 2014. She is a freelance writer on related topics and her first short book, All That Matters: Women's Rights in Childbirth is published by the Guardian. She has two children. Before entering the childbirth world she completed a master's degree in War Studies with a focus on human rights issues. She has worked in the charity and NGO sector, most recently at Human Rights Watch. She has two children.