The House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Federation of BiH announced yesterday that there were not enough votes to include the item on the right of women in childbirth to have a companion during labor on the agenda, claiming that 48 representatives voted “in favor”.

This information is not correct. A review of the official video recording of the vote clearly shows that 50 representatives voted IN FAVOR. Because of this serious and unacceptable institutional failure, the debate on one of the basic rights of women in childbirth has once again been blocked—not by the will of the majority, but by the institution’s incompetence or negligence in accurately counting votes.

This is not a technical error. This is a direct attack on women’s rights.

While votes are being miscounted in Parliament, women are giving birth without a companion, without support, and without a basic sense of safety. The dignity of women in childbirth must not become collateral damage of parliamentary failures.

On behalf of all women in childbirth, the association Baby Steps demands:

1. That this item be included and considered already at the continuation of the House of Representatives’ session;
2. That the vote be reviewed and responsibility publicly established for the incorrect vote count;
3. A public apology by the House of Representatives of the Parliament of the Federation of BiH to women in childbirth who were, due to this error, once again denied a debate on their right.

Ignoring this failure would amount to conscious complicity in its consequences. The rights of women in childbirth are not a procedural mistake. Institutional negligence is not an excuse.