Obstetric Violence as Violence Against Women: A Focus on South America

Abstract

Obstetric violence is considered as a particular type of mistreatment which can hurt physically, mentally and psychologically a pregnant woman and it occurs in both public hospital and private health facilities. It is performed by health personnel that, through abuses and mistreatments during the pregnancy and the post-partum cares, violate some human rights of women such as the right to information and autonomous consensus, the right to life and health and to privacy. In this thesis, obstetric violence is analysed from the juridical point of view and it is showed why it should be considered as another category of violence against women even though there is still not an unanimous consensus at international level. It has been demostrated that many of the practices normally performed to accelerate a birth, are considered dangerous by the WHO. At least one in five women has suffered from obstetric violence and in some case, that leds to maternal death. From Venezuela 2007 (the first time the term is used in a national law) to the latest projects of law and judgements by international courts, this thesis explains why international bodies should finally recognise obstetric violence as a type of violence against women and give it an international recognisition.