While maternal mortality rates have been decreasing, they have not been decreasing for all types of women. Women in poverty, women with disabilities, young women, women in rural communities and women of colour, ethnic minority and Indigenous women are still at a high risk of maternal mortality and morbidity.

This episode of Shaping the Future of Safe Childbirth explores a range of maternal health issues– remoteness, data collection, obstetric violence and the impact of global technocratic policies–in US, Kenya, Mexico, India and Brazil. It talks to on-the-ground doctors, lawyers and advocates to reflect on how human rights offer tools to ensure that maternal health policies begin with where women live their everyday lives.

The first episode, Strategies for Change, can be found here and the second episode, Of Abortion, can be found here, the third episode, Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights at School can be found here and the final episode Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights at Work can be found here.