After months of consultations, analysis and work, the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on the Rights, Obligations and Responsibilities of Patients in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina was officially submitted today, paving the way for the first time for the right to be accompanied throughout the entire duration of childbirth to be legally guaranteed.

The proposed amendment aims to ensure that all women in the Federation of BiH have the legal right to be present with a person of their own choice throughout the entire birth process, including cesarean section deliveries under spinal anesthesia. This is fully in line with the recommendations of international professional associations (WHO, ACOG, RCOG, NICE) as well as with the Guide for Intrapartum Care of the Federal Ministry of Health. The right to be accompanied cannot be denied except when there are clearly documented and professionally explained medical indications, in accordance with international guidelines and good clinical practice.

With this step, long-standing recommendations of domestic and international institutions finally take the form of a binding legal norm, thus eliminating the previous arbitrariness of hospitals and ensuring equal treatment for all women in labor in the FBiH.

This proposal is the result of broad political support – from both the ruling and opposition parties – which shows that the issue of dignified childbirth transcends political divisions and is a priority of general social interest. The Baby Steps Association expresses its gratitude to all the representatives who recognized the importance of this topic and jointly supported the proposal, because dignified childbirth is a matter of human rights, not politics. We also owe special gratitude to the women who bravely shared their experiences and thus gave us the strength to persevere in advocating for this right.

Providing accompaniment during childbirth is one of the key measures for improving the birth experience, preventing obstetric violence, reducing the space for corruption in maternity wards, but also an extremely important pro-natal policy.

We believe that all other representatives, regardless of party affiliation, will recognize the importance of this amendment and support it in the debate and vote, because it is a matter of public interest and protection of women's rights. The Baby Steps Association will continue to closely monitor the process and regularly inform the public.

Our goal remains the same – a safe, dignified and supported childbirth for every woman in Bosnia and Herzegovina.