The Baby Steps Association officially submitted an Initiative today to the Parliament of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, calling for the systemic establishment of a woman’s right to have a companion of her choice – from the first contractions to the end of childbirth – in all public maternity hospitals across the Federation.

Why is this important?

Childbirth is one of the most intimate and vulnerable moments in a woman's life, yet in the Federation of BiH, women are often left alone without support. In some hospitals, companions are completely prohibited; in others, they’re only allowed in for the final ten minutes; and in most cases, only the husband is permitted, ignoring women who don’t have a partner or who want another trusted person with them. This kind of practice opens the door to discrimination, corruption, and – most importantly – denies women a sense of safety and dignity at the time they need it most.

Meanwhile, modern medicine and the World Health Organization have long emphasized that the presence of a companion shortens the duration of labor, reduces the need for painful interventions, and leads to a healthier, more positive experience for both mother and child. In many countries – from Scandinavia to Brazil – national laws or protocols already guarantee that a woman has the right to choose who will accompany her during childbirth.

What does the Initiative specifically demand?

A decision by the Parliament of the Federation of BiH introducing the right to have a companion of the mother’s choice as a mandatory standard in all public maternity hospitals in the Federation of BiH;

Alternatively, that the Parliament of the Federation of BiH passes a Conclusion obligating the Government of the Federation of BiH to conduct an analysis and propose a decision or regulation, within the shortest possible time, which will ensure the right to a companion of the mother’s choice throughout the entire duration of childbirth, making this a mandatory standard in all public maternity hospitals in the Federation.

The proposal is completely budget-neutral – a simple privacy screen is enough to ensure physical privacy, not expensive private rooms. “This is a matter of will, not budget – of common sense, not luxury. A dignified birth is not a privilege but a basic human right,” emphasized Amila Tatarević, president of the “Baby Steps” Association, at today’s press conference.

By submitting this initiative, Baby Steps is opening the door for the Federation of BiH to take the first concrete step in the fight against obstetric violence and corruption in maternity hospitals, to begin implementing the European Commission’s recommendations by improving maternity conditions, and – just as importantly – to improve women's childbirth experiences, as more and more women cite birth trauma as a reason for not choosing to have another child.

The “Baby Steps” Association is calling on the speakers of both parliamentary houses, all parliamentary clubs, and all representatives to consider the Initiative as soon as possible and ensure that every woman in the Federation of BiH gives birth with the support of her own choosing – no exceptions, no excuses, no delays.

This campaign is part of the PRAGG project funded by the Government of Switzerland and implemented by a consortium consisting of HELVETAS and NIRAS, in partnership with local partners Centers for Civic Initiatives (CCI) and the Institute for Youth Development KULT.