Webinar - Combating Obstetric Violence in Africa: Human Rights, Dignity, and Accountability in Maternal Health Care [27 May 2025]

Webinar - Combating Obstetric Violence in Africa: Human Rights, Dignity, and Accountability in Maternal Health Care [27 May 2025]

The Socio-Economic Rights Project at the Dullah Omar Institute invites you to a critical and timely webinar on Obstetric Violence in Africa - a pervasive yet often overlooked form of gender-based violence that undermines maternal health and women's rights across the African continent.
  • What DOI Event news: SER
  • When 27 May, 2025 from 01:00 PM to 02:30 PM (Africa/Johannesburg / UTC200)
  • Where Zoom
  • Contact Name
  • Add event to calendar iCal

Obstetric violence refers to mistreatment, abuse, neglect, or coercion experienced by women during pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care. It manifests in many forms, including verbal or physical abuse, non-consensual procedures, denial of care, and systemic neglect. Women most at risk include those in rural areas, adolescents, migrants, the poor, and women living with HIV.

This panel discussion brings together experts in maternal health, gender justice, law, and policy. Drawing on research from Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, and Nigeria, the conversation will explore the scale of the problem, legal and policy gaps, relevant human rights standards, strategic litigation, and practical steps towards reform and respectful maternity care.

Whether you're a health professional, policymaker, researcher, academic, or activist, this conversation offers critical insights and a platform for meaningful action. Join us as we work together to uphold women’s rights by challenging harmful practices, shift mindsets, and safeguard the rights and dignity of women in childbirth.

Panellists:

  • Aisosa Jennifer Omoruyi, Research Fellow, Dullah Omar Institute, UWC
  • Nyokabi Njogu, Feminist Lawyer, Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV and AIDS (KELIN)
  • Achieng Orero, Violence Against Women Lawyer, Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (ISLA)

Moderator: Favour Akanbi, Faculty of Law, University of the Western Cape

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Following registration, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

We would like to acknowledge the Kenya Legal & Ethical Issues Network on HIV and AIDS (KELIN) for making this webinar possible.