How Global Doula Project’s mission aligns with goals laid out by UN report on Violence against mothers

The United Nations Human Rights Council report on Violence against mothers(May 2026) is a far-reaching document which touches on physical, emotional, and psychological violence against mothers in a wide range of contexts, addressing the failures of developed countries to recognize and accommodate the particular needs and vulnerabilities of mothers, as well as the acute violence against mothers in contexts of war, poverty, and among migrants and refugees, and the needs of mothers with additional vulnerabilities such as disability, incarceration, and prostitution.

In this article I will be referring specifically to the aspects of the document which are pertinent to Global Doula Project’s mission to transform the way we experience birth and death by making doula support accessible and affordable to families around the world.

The report defines mothers as women and girls who have given birth, are pregnant, or who have legally adopted children. It begins by recognizing that “Motherhood remains largely undervalued and mischaracterized as a private choice rather than a public good requiring recognition and support from society and institutions.” This underpins the observations and recommendations that constitute the rest of the document, and closely echoes a core belief of Global Doula Project: that effectively supporting mothers within both private and public spheres has positive impacts that ripple far beyond the nuclear family to society at large.

This notion is developed by noting that mothers who choose to prioritize motherhood over paid work are often portrayed as being less ambitious or unproductive, despite the fact that care work accounts for 9% of the Gross Domestic Product.

This highlights that in addition to the social value of motherhood, the work of mothers is also of significant economic value, and yet this is often dismissed, ignored, or actively denied.

The report makes several recommendations that would contribute to improved conditions for mothers which closely mirror changes that Global Doula Project works to support: “To thrive, maintain physical and mental health and develop a bond with a child, mothers need comprehensive support… [such as] community-based and peer support programmes to reduce isolation.” In addition, it is recommended to “Adopt measures to improve the sharing of caregiving responsibilities and fathers’ engagement through education, campaigns and paternity leave, while supporting fathers’ active role”. This illustrates that to effectively support mothers, there needs to be a combination of additional support within the domestic sphere, and resources to provide support within the wider community.

Global Doula Project is actively engaged in the pursuit of these goals by facilitating wider access to doula care for pregnant and postpartum mothers. Doula care has been widely proven to improve physical and psychological outcomes for mothers, both via the direct care that doulas can offer, and by connecting mothers to additional networks of support within their communities.

You can read the full report by the United Nations Human Rights Council here.