Dear team,

It's Black Maternal Health Week—and the Center is a proud sponsor of this seven-day series aimed at raising awareness, inspiring activism, and strengthening organizing for Black maternal health.

Now is a critical moment in maternal health. Black women have a maternal mortality rate approximately three times higher than white women, and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated ongoing inequities in health outcomes that disproportionately affect Black people.

We're fighting to ensure that all people have an opportunity to receive the highest standard of maternal health care possible for themselves.

Founded in 2018 by Black Mamas Matter Alliance (BMMA)—a national network of maternal health, human rights, and reproductive justice leaders—Black Maternal Health Week coincides with International Day for Maternal Health and Rights on April 11 and the month of April, which is National Minority Health Month.

The Center for Reproductive Rights is a founding partner of BMMA, and through our Maternal Health & Rights Initiative, we continue to collaborate with the Alliance and member organizations on proactive and progressive maternal health policy.

Harnessing the power of law, policy, and strategic advocacy, our Initiative seeks to improve access to safe and respectful maternal health care for all who need it.

The Center's own Breana Lipscomb, Senior Manager of our Maternal Health & Human Rights Initiative, will be speaking on a virtual panel today at 4:30 pm EDT. You can join the event live on Twitter here.

Join us in amplifying the voices of Black birthing people and the values of the reproductive and birth justice movements this Black Maternal Health Week and beyond.

Together, we can work to end racial disparities in maternal health care.

In solidarity,

Center for Reproductive Rights