Debra Pascali-Bonaro, Ambassador for Human Rights in Childbirth

Debra is honored to have Chaired the International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization since 2006 and works together with everyone at IMBCI to raise awareness and educate communities about achieving optimal MotherBaby maternity care, including the IMBCI step #1: treat each woman with respect & dignity. Her work at IMBCI, a human rights, evidence-to-action initiative is the foundation for much of her other work.

In addition to promoting human rights in childbirth thru IMBCI, Debra will be a panelist at the Human Rights in Childbirth Conference taking place at the Hague University of Applied Sciences, the Hague, the Netherlands this spring May 31 – June 1, 2012. Everyone is welcome to be a part of this by registering for the webinar. No matter where you are you can join the webinar to be a part of this historic event.

Debra is also a member of the White Ribbon Alliance who is teaming up with the Respectful Maternity Care Advisory Group to present Interagency Gender Work Group Panel discussion – a half-day panel and discussion on May 10th to highlight both prevalence and interventions to address 1) service provider abuse and 2) intimate partner violence during and after pregnancy. The event intends to bring together policymakers, advocates, academics, implementers, and donors for presentations and discussion on intersection of maternal health and gender-based violence. The Respectful Maternity Care campaign aims to raise awareness of the disrespectful treatment that many women experience in seeking and receiving maternity care. For advocacy purposes, the campaign has developed a charter laying out the Universal Rights of Childbearing Women. All these rights are grounded in international human rights instruments.