Basics of Respectful Maternity care, when it was formed, why?. Why is it so important? What lacked in MDG?

1. https://www.whiteribbonalliance.org/wp-
content/uploads/2019/10/WRA_RMC_Charter_FINAL.pdf?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=44444444-4444-4444-
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Summarized by Hasanin Zafar Sheikh Sanim
MPH Student of James P Grant School of Public Health

2. Summary of the RMC Charter
A. Introduction
1. The Distinctive importance of pregnancy
2. Established Evidence of Disrespect and Abuse
3. Assertion of the Fundamental Rights of Women and Newborns
4. Why this charter is needed and how it can be used
B. Respectful Maternity Care Charter : The Universal Rights of Women and Newborn
1. Everyone has the right to
i. freedom from harm and ill-treatment.
ii. information, informed consent, and respect for their choices and preferences, including
companion of choice during maternity care and refusal of medical procedures.
iii. privacy and confidentiality.
iv. equality, freedom from discrimination and equitable care.
v. healthcare and to the highest attainable level of health.
vi. liberty, autonomy, self-determination and freedom from arbitrary detention
vii. adequate nutrition and clean water.
2. Everyone is their own person from the moment of birth and has the right to be treated with dignity
and respect..
3. Every child has the right
i. to be with their parents or guardians.
ii. to an identity and nationality from birth.

3. 1. The Distinctive Importance of Pregnancy
● Pregnancy and delivery are very important because it can forecast future
○ It is deeply embedded within the personal and social life of the women, therefore they needs to be supported
all throughout the pregnancy and childbirth
● Well being of mother and child are interconnected, therefore focusing only on preventing
one of their morbidity and mortality is not enough, care during this period needs to bring
basic human rights.
● The woman’s relationship with the provider and the the health system during pregnancy
childbirth and postpartum is VITALLY important since the women’s experiences with the
caregiver’s can empower and comfort them or can inflict lasting damage and emotional
trauma, reducing women’s confidence and self esteem.

4. 2. Established Evidence of Disrespect and Abuse
● 1940 - birth of RMC
1990 - UN issued “declaration on the elimination of violence against women” + another
movement was going on which was called “humanizations” of childbirth.
● There was a shift of focus from reducing maternal and infant mortality to a global focus to
developing human rights standards on MC Mort And Morb & very recently they have in
incorporated the D&A
● In the the last decade several researches namely TRAction project could dig out the
prevalence of mistreatment which led to publishing RMC charter. And in 2014 WHO
released a statement. The FIELD of respectful care has continued to grow since then.

5. 3. Assertion of the Fundamental Rights of Women and Newborns
● Human rights are inherent to everyone
● The charter articulates the rights of two entities, the woman and the
newborn (Both human beings, the newborn and the woman, have rights that must be respected
and guaranteed independently. Women should be given the information and support they need to
make decisions for themselves and their newborns freely, The newborn baby, as an individual human
being, has autonomous rights and every decision the mother, or another caregiver makes, needs to be
made with the best interest of the child in mind.)
● The charter is widely accepted by various organisations of the world

6. 4. Why this charter is needed and how it can be used
● This new charter delineates the rights of the mother and the child
during pregnancy and after delivery in a more robust way
● It now also incorporates the D&A aspect of the health care provider.
● This charter can be used to raise awareness build capacity of the
human rights advocates, to align maternal care with the
international standards, determines accountability, supports
healthcare providers to create healthy working environment

9. DETAILSofRMC
below→

21. Find out more at whiteribbonalliance.org/rmcresources