Pregnancy behind bars is an overlooked human rights issue. When someone who is pregnant or has recently given birth is facing criminal sentencing, international guidelines recommend that countries prioritize non-custodial alternatives. If incarceration is unavoidable, they should receive adequate perinatal care and be allowed contact with their child. Too often, this does not happen.

Around the world, researchers are examining pregnancy in custody, including its prevalence, access to care, and birth outcomes. At the same time, NGOs – often guided by impacted people – are providing critical support to incarcerated pregnant people, advocating for alternative sentencing, and demanding better care in correctional facilities.

At Children of Incarcerated Caregivers’ third annual GPNN Symposium, we will bring together dedicated experts to share what they have learned, their experiences, and their recommendations to improve perinatal care and reduce the number of pregnant people in custody.

Join us for important conversations at the intersection of health, law, and human rights, including:

• The need for international standards for perinatal care in custody
• Advocacy tools and best practices to improve care and protections in jails and prisons
• Alternatives to incarceration for pregnant people and new parents