Guillermo Javier De Cicco will offer two conferences on the history and physiology of birth during his IPOV secondment at Vall d’Hebron
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July 20, 2026PRESS RELEASE
European project IPOV – RESPECTFUL CARE holds its Fourth Consortium Meeting in Lisbon alongside the 1st Nascer.pt Forum on critical perspectives on childbirth
The international consortium met on 22 and 23 June 2026 at ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa to review the progress of the project, share results and define the next steps in the prevention of obstetric violence and the promotion of respectful maternity care.
Lisbon, June 2026. The European project IPOV – RESPECTFUL CARE held its Fourth Consortium Meeting on 22 and 23 June 2026 at ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Portugal, alongside the 1st Nascer.pt Forum on critical perspectives on childbirth.
The meeting was organised within the framework of the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Staff Exchanges programme, under grant agreement No. 101130141. It brought together members of the international IPOV consortium to review the progress of the project, share scientific results, strengthen coordination between work packages and establish the next steps in the prevention of obstetric violence and the promotion of respectful maternity care.
The Fourth Consortium Meeting followed a private working agenda and included an event livestream. It was hosted by ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa at its campus on Avenida das Forças Armadas in Lisbon.
Review of project progress and work packages
The opening session on Monday, 22 June 2026, included a welcome by Elsa Pegado, Deputy Director of CIES-Iscte | ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, and Dulce Morgado Neves, from ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa.
This was followed by the Coordinator’s Report, presented by Patrizia Quattrocchi, from Università degli Studi di Udine – UNIUD. The report provided an overview of the progress achieved by the project and the main priorities for its next phase.
During the first day, representatives of the consortium presented progress reports from the project’s principal work packages:
- WP1 Digital Tool, presented by María Hidalgo Rudilla, from En Positivo Comunicación y Diseño Social para ONGs – DS.
- WP2 Documents and Data, presented by Patrizia Quattrocchi, from Università degli Studi di Udine – UNIUD.
- WP3 Learning Scenario, presented by Serena Brigidi, from Universitat Rovira i Virgili – URV.
- WP4 Bridging Strategy, presented by Virginie Rozée, from the Institut National d’Études Démographiques – INED.
These presentations enabled the consortium to assess the development of the IPOV digital platform, the organisation and management of documents and research data, the preparation of innovative learning scenarios and the strategies designed to connect scientific research with clinical practice, professional training, public policy and social transformation.
Scientific discussions and thematic working areas
The programme also included scientific sessions and discussions on the main thematic areas addressed by IPOV – RESPECTFUL CARE.
Participants worked on issues related to professional training and research tools, perinatal mental health, restorative justice, transformative practices, laws and human rights, and the definition and use of the concept of obstetric violence.
These sessions provided a space to compare approaches from different disciplines, professional fields and national contexts. They also contributed to the development of shared concepts and methodologies for studying, documenting and addressing obstetric violence.
IPOV members additionally presented information on joint publications, forthcoming meetings, scientific collaborations and other activities connected with the project.
The first day concluded with closing remarks by Dulce Morgado Neves, from ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa.
Development of the IPOV Innovative Training and E-Learning Course
On Tuesday, 23 June 2026, the consortium continued its work with a session dedicated to the development of the IPOV Innovative Training and E-Learning Course.
This training programme is designed to contribute to the prevention of obstetric violence and the promotion of respectful maternity and childbirth care. It will provide innovative educational materials and training resources for healthcare professionals, professional trainers and other stakeholders.
The session included the presentation of secondment experiences and concrete examples of IPOV training tools, with contributions from:
- Alba Crespo, from Vall d’Hebron Research Institute – VHIR.
- Mirjam Lukasse and Enid Myhre, from Universitetet i Sørøst-Norge.
- Isabel Ferreira, from UTERUS – GIMNO / Saúde Integrativa da Mulher.
- Ema Schuler, from Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos – UNER.
- Other researchers and professionals participating in the project.
The contributions showed how international and intersectoral secondments are supporting the exchange of knowledge, research methods, professional experiences and educational practices between the organisations involved in IPOV.
The session also addressed the project’s internal evaluation tools, with contributions from the Institut National d’Études Démographiques – INED and Ilaria Mariani, from IRCCS Burlo Garofolo Ospedale Infantile – WHO Collaborating Centre for Maternal and Child Health.
Serena Brigidi, from Universitat Rovira i Virgili – URV, subsequently presented the progress made in the development of the e-learning course. This presentation was followed by an open discussion in which consortium members identified proposals for improving its content, structure, methodologies and accessibility.
Participatory methodologies and scientific working groups
The second day also included a role-playing session led by Ema Schuler, from Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos – UNER, and Serena Brigidi, from Universitat Rovira i Virgili – URV.
This participatory activity contributed to the exploration of innovative educational approaches that can support critical reflection, professional training and the transformation of practices related to maternity and childbirth care.
The consortium then continued its work through scientific section working groups. Each group examined the progress made in its respective area, identified priorities and established concrete next steps.
The conclusions were presented during a plenary session, enabling the consortium to coordinate future tasks and strengthen collaboration across the different scientific sections and work packages.
The Fourth Consortium Meeting concluded with closing remarks by Dulce Morgado Neves, from ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa.
Strengthening international and interdisciplinary cooperation
Through its Fourth Consortium Meeting, IPOV – RESPECTFUL CARE strengthened the international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral cooperation that underpins the project.
The meeting provided an essential space for sharing scientific knowledge, reviewing progress, coordinating research activities and developing educational, social and institutional tools to address obstetric violence.
The work carried out in Lisbon will contribute to advancing the study and prevention of obstetric violence from the perspectives of human rights, public health, restorative justice, professional training and institutional transformation.
It will also support the development of respectful, interdisciplinary and rights-based approaches to maternity and childbirth care.
Event information
Event: Fourth Consortium Meeting
Project: MSCA-SE 101130141-IPOV – RESPECTFUL CARE
Dates: 22–23 June 2026
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Format: Private consortium meeting and event livestream
Venue:
ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa
Avenida das Forças Armadas
1649-026 Lisboa, Portugal
Telephone: +351 217 903 000
Email: geral@iscte.pt
Website: https://www.iscte-iul.pt/
About IPOV – RESPECTFUL CARE
IPOV – RESPECTFUL CARE is a European project funded by the European Union through the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme, under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Staff Exchanges, grant agreement No. 101130141.
The project brings together academic institutions, civil society organisations and professionals from different countries to research, document and transform practices related to obstetric violence.
Through international, interdisciplinary and intersectoral cooperation, IPOV promotes respectful, evidence-based and rights-based maternity and childbirth care and develops scientific, educational and social tools to support changes in professional practices, institutions and public policies.