_ WHO WE ARE

About us

International partnership made up of 19 institutions from 6 European countries and 3 Latin American countries.

The relevance of the IPOV-RESPECTFUL CARE project, which invites reflection on the systemic and structural dimensions of obstetric violence, is also reflected in the growing interest in the topic shown by European and international institutions (UN 2019, Council of Europe 2019, European Parliament 2021).

The aim is to contribute to the social, political and medical debates on this issue, considered by the WHO as a major public health problem, and to build an alliance between the scientific community, health professionals, policy makers, women and civil society in order to rethink the modalities of a fundamental act par excellence: how we come into the world.

The project is funded by the European Union under the HORIZON-MSCA-2022-Staff Exchange programme (grant agreement no. 101130141). It began on 1 January 2024 and will run for four years.

This initiative involves a broad international consortium, coordinated by the University of Udine, comprising 19 institutions from six European and three Latin American countries.

A team of experts—including researchers, professors, health professionals, and civil society representatives—will focus on several key areas:

Designing and implementing an international, interdisciplinary digital platform that bridges academic research and public policy. This platform will prioritise the perspectives and needs of women, health professionals, and civil society. (led by Diseño Social, Spain)
Regularly updating the platform with research and data gathered through exchange and mobility activities across consortium institutions. (led by Uniud, Italy)
Developing an innovative training programme for health professionals—particularly gynaecologists and obstetricians—rooted in an intersectional, gender-sensitive, and human rights-based approach. This programme, a cornerstone of the project, will be piloted at Vall d'Hebron Hospital in Barcelona. The insights gained will inform the creation of remote-accessible materials through the platform. (led by URV, Spain)
Identifying strategies to unite various stakeholders—from social movements to national and supranational bodies—offering them a permanent advisory tool. This tool will comprise a network of experts responsible for organising a Consensus Conference on obstetric violence, to be held in France, bringing together leading European and international voices. (led by INED, France)

The project also includes a comprehensive set of research, training, dissemination, and communication activities aimed at both the scientific community and the broader public. These efforts will encompass the development of educational materials and awareness campaigns targeting women and couples, alongside seminars, workshops, and the production of scientific publications and multimedia content.

A team of 40 experts, including researchers, professors, health professionals and members of civil society organisations, will work to achieve four scientific objectives

In addition to the University of Udine, the following partners are involved in the project: for Spain, the Universitat Rovira I Virgili (Tarragona), the Universidad de Granada, the Universidad Complutense (Madrid), the Fundación Hospital Universitario Vall d’Hebron – Instituto de Investigación (Barcelona), En Positivo Comunicación y Diseño Social for NGOs (Malaga), the Observatorio de Violencia Obstétrica (Madrid); for France, the Institut National d’Études Démographiques (Aubervilliers Cedex); for Norway, the Universitetet i Søraust-Noreg (Porsgrunn); for the United Kingdom, the University of Durham; for Portugal, the Instituto Universitário (Lisbon) and Gimnográvida – Preparação Para Parto e Maternidade (Porto); for Italy, the Istituto di Cura a Carattere Scientifico e Ospedale materno infantile Burlo Garofolo-Who collaborating Centre for maternal and Childbirth health (Trieste) and the Scuola elementare di arte ostetrica in Firenze; for Argentina, the Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos (Concepción del Uruguay), the Municipalidad de San Isidro-Hospital materno-infantil de San Isidro (Buenos Aires), the Asociación Civil Argentina de Puericultura (Buenos Aires); for Costa Rica, the Universidad de Costa Rica (San José); and for Uruguay, the Universidad de La República (Montevideo).

Breakthrough Experts

Organisations

19

European countries

6

Latin American countries

3