BLACK MAMAS MATTER ADVANCING THE HUMAN RIGHT TO SAFE AND RESPECTFUL MATERNAL HEALTH CARE The Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA) is a Black women-led cross-sectoral alliance. We center Black mamas to advocate, drive research, build power, and shift culture for Black maternal health, rights, and justice. We envision a world where Black mamas have the rights, respect, and resources to thrive before, during, and after pregnancy. BlackMamasMatter.org The Center for Reproductive Rights uses the law to advance reproductive freedom as a fundamental human right that all governments are legally obligated to protect, respect, and fulfill. The Center’s U.S. Maternal Health and Human Rights Initiative promotes and seeks accountability for the right to equal and nondiscriminatory access to safe and respectful maternal health care. ReproductiveRights.org © 2018 Center for Reproductive Rights Text first published in 2016. Redesigned and reprinted in 2018. Any part of this report may be copied, translated, or adapted with permission from the author, provided that the parts copied are distributed free or at cost (not for profit) and the Center for Reproductive Rights is acknowledged as the author. Any commercial reproduction requires prior written permission from the author. The Center for Reproductive Rights would appreciate receiving a copy of any materials in which information from this report is used. Center for Reproductive Rights 199 Water Street, 22nd Floor New York, NY 10038 Tel +1 917 637 3600 Fax +1 917 637 3666
[email protected] BLACK MAMAS MATTER ADVANCING THE HUMAN RIGHT TO SAFE AND RESPECTFUL MATERNAL HEALTH CARE TABLE OF CONTENTS BMMA steering committee members and CRR staff gather after the June 2017 “Black Maternal Health Matters” Congressional briefing in Washington, D.C.