Freedom For Birth
A safe childbirth should be a fundamental human right for women. Sadly, for many, many millions of women and their babies across the world this is not the case.
A new documentary that reframes childbirth as the most pressing global Human Rights issue today is launching with hundreds of premieres all over the world on the same day, Thursday 20th September 2012.
Freedom For Birth is a 60 minute campaigning documentary featuring a Who's Who of leading birth experts and international Human Rights lawyers all calling for radical change to the world's maternity systems.
Made by British filmmakers Toni Harman and Alex Wakeford, Freedom For Birth film takes a global look at how we are failing to meet women’s basic rights in labour all around the world, rights that many women are not even aware they have. The filmmakers hope to help inform millions of women of their legal rights and spark a revolution in maternity care across the world. They are calling for a Mothers' Revolution.
In Ontario, women have access to a limited number of midwives covered by provincial health care. This, however, is not the case even across the country and more needs to be done to ensure that all Canadians are aware of their rights in birth and are having them met.
As part of the global movement which is aiming for 1000 screenings worldwide, local groups will be holding screenings on September 20th, including the Centre for Social Innovation and the Association of Ryerson Midwifery Students. Discussions will follow film screenings and local attendees will discuss ways in which we, as Torontonians and as Canadians, can make a difference locally and globally.
Birth will change when women realise they have a right to meaningful support for childbirth and claim that right. Birth will change when women stand up against the abuses that are currently suffered in such high numbers and say, No More.
Freedom For Birth will be screened at the Centre for Social Innovation, 720 Bathurst Street, Meeting Room 1 at 7pm. The screening is hosted by Twyla Kowalenko, a local mother, and Heather Neville, a doula and birth advocate www.labourdoula.com. Contact heather@socialinnovation.ca to RSVP.
Additional Notes
Additional information about Freedom For Birth can be found on the website:
http://freedomforbirth.com
Toni Harman and Alex Wakeford are a filmmaking couple who have set up a cross-media global film project called One World Birth to provide educational videos featuring the world's leading birth experts http://oneworldbirth.net