Three years ago, Biljana Cicic-Stanic gave birth to her son Vuk in Serbia. What she remembers most about childbirth is the pain, violence and humiliation she endured. "Literally, from the moment labour starts until it ends, you are tied up non-stop," says Biljana. "You can’t scream, you’re not allowed to scream." According to a 2022 report, women in Serbia are regularly subjected to various forms of violence at maternity clinics and hospitals, including having their stomach pushed during labour and being given invasive procedures without their consent.
