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The Need
Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) is a basic human right, yet its provision faces significant challenges globally, particularly in regions like Asia-Pacific where instances of Disrespect and Abuse (D&A) during childbirth are wide ranging. RMC is an integral part of Quality of Care and is being increasingly recognized internationally as a critical aspect of the maternal and newborn health agenda. It is recognized that high coverage alone is not enough to reduce maternal mortality, and that increased coverage should be accompanied by improved quality throughout the continuum of care.
According to the Lancet Global Health Commission, the cornerstone of effective health systems lies in their ability to prioritize the needs of those they serve, fostering trust and responsiveness. In line with this, the global What Women Want (WWW) campaign, spearheaded by the White Ribbon Alliance, surveyed 3 million women and girls worldwide and found that their number one Ask for their own reproductive and maternal healthcare was Respectful Maternity Care.
Respectful Maternity Care Charter: The Universal Rights of Women and Newborns
In 2011, White Ribbon Alliance, launched a global campaign to promote a clear standard for respectful maternity care (RMC), rooted in international human rights. Working with global organizations, White Ribbon Alliance produced the ground-breaking Respectful Maternity Care Charter, which was updated in 2018 to delineate the rights of newborns, and is actively used to raise awareness and create policy change worldwide.
The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 saw an erosion of women's health services and rights. It has made clear the need to align the efforts of the respectful care movement within the movement for reproductive health and rights, and transition from global advocacy to regional and country-level agendas.