World Birth Rights Day is celebrated on June 7th and aims to raise awareness of the importance of the birth of every human being in this world, as well as to respect the sacred bond that is created between the mother and the baby from the very moment of delivery.
World Birth Rights Day was promoted by the so-called Birth Rights Platform, which proposed this initiative and was supported by its members. Annually, they used to carry out campaigns and events, and in recent years they have encouraged everyone to spread the Decalogue of Birth Rights, so that we all know what they consist of.
Why is World Birth Rights Day important?
Every birth represents a unique and indelible moment in the life of any human being. The truth is that one is only born once, and hence the importance of this moment.
The connection and bond of love that is born between parents and children transforms into a sublime experience, especially for the mother, who for nine months has carried a new being in her womb and whom she must breastfeed and care for until they can fend for themselves.
World Birth Rights Day aims to assert and respect the rights that all children and mothers in the world have so that birth is carried out in the least traumatic way possible, always thinking of the woman and the well-being of the future baby.
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Decalogue of Birth Rights
The so-called Birth Rights were made possible thanks to the collaboration and participation of associations and professionals who are directly involved in the practice of childbirth, who took on the task of creating the Decalogue of Birth Rights and which are detailed below:
- The baby has the right to receive recognition for both their physical and emotional capacity during their stay in their mother’s womb and subsequently when birth occurs.
- The baby’s mother must ensure the well-being of her pregnancy throughout the entire gestation period each time she goes to the doctor for proper check-ups.
- The baby and the mother have the legitimate right to have the moment, the environment, and the proper accompaniment respected, so that the entire physiological process takes place naturally and with the best possible care.
- The baby and the mother have the right to enjoy privacy throughout the entire labor process.
- The baby and the mother have the right to be together once the birth has taken place, especially in the hours and days that follow, so that the bonds between them are strengthened.
- The baby has the right to enjoy breastfeeding, at least during the first year of life.
- The baby enjoys the full right to be cared for directly by the mother, at least during the first year of life, and the mother has the right to enjoy the company of her child for as long as she deems necessary.
- For babies born prematurely, the ideal is to remain close to their mother’s lap, as it is the primary way to ensure the child develops physically and achieves a more optimal state of health.
- The baby has the right to be in direct contact with their mother’s body during the first nine months of life, as this will help them gain greater security and confidence, as well as acquire better emotional development.
- Parents have the right to make the best decisions for their children, which is why they need to be properly advised to provide the baby with the greatest possible well-being.
The right to life, a universal right
The right to life is seen and understood as a universal right, where all boys and girls on the planet have the opportunity to develop, grow, and reach adulthood, which is full of opportunities and where they have the privilege of achieving all their goals.
Children’s rights are not limited only to the fact of being born, but go beyond that. It is necessary to guarantee the ability to provide them with all the material and also affective resources so that they reach full physical and emotional development; for this, it will be necessary to cover their basic needs, which include food, health, education, and a favorable family and social environment.
