Mothers in Childbirth Still Waiting: Debate Absent, Responsibility Remains

Labor Support in FBiH: Mothers Still Waiting

The Association “Baby Steps” held a panel discussion titled “Mothers in Childbirth Are Still Waiting: Why Don’t We Yet Have the Right to Labor Support?”, with the aim of returning the issue of labor support to where it belongs – to women and their rights.

The panel brought together representatives of international organizations, institutions, and organizations working in the fields of human rights and public policy, once again confirming that this is not a narrow healthcare issue, but a matter of dignity, safety, and trust in the system.

At the same time, all representatives and delegates of the Parliament of the Federation of BiH were invited to participate in the discussion. Out of approximately 178 representatives and delegates, only 3 attended. This fact speaks for itself.

Meanwhile, the session of the House of Peoples of the Parliament of the Federation of BiH, at which the draft law on the right to labor support was to be considered, was cancelled without clear information on a new date.

As a result, women in Bosnia and Herzegovina remain without answers to one of the most fundamental questions: will they have the right to support at the moment they bring new life into the world?

This issue can no longer be postponed. It is not a privilege. It is not a complex reform. It is a minimum – that a woman should not be alone. Therefore, we believe that the minimum owed to mothers in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina is to finally open a discussion on this issue.

We expect elected representatives to take responsibility and enable the consideration of the draft law without further delays.

Because mothers in childbirth cannot wait.

This statement was created as part of the campaign “Labor Support: The Right to Support and Safety for All Mothers,” implemented by the Association Baby Steps. The 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 the Centers for Civic Initiatives (CCI) and the Institute for Youth Development KULT.