Over the past two weeks, the international community has been deeply affected by a tragic incident of obstetric violence against a Romani woman in Serbia, resulting in the heartbreaking loss of her newborn baby girl. We, as protesters of the international community, Romnja, feminists, activists, and allies, unite to condemn this shocking and traumatic act, demanding justice for the affected Romani family.
Marica Mihajlović, a Romani woman from Serbia, endured a harrowing experience in a Serbian hospital. The circumstances surrounding her childbirth can only be described as a severe case of obstetric violence. Her testimony reveals a series of aggressive, violent and racial insults and acts, including physical abuse by the attending doctor.
Marica’s account, shared on social media and across national media outlets, describes hours of induced labor without access to care. Despite desperate pleas for a C-section, the doctor not only ignored her calls for help but also resorted to physical violence, including hitting her, squeezing her jaw, and making threats. Shockingly, the doctor performed on Marica the Kristeller maneuver without her consent, a practice condemned by the World Health Organization (WHO) if applied nonconsensually or with excessive force.
This traumatic experience left Marica Mihajlović seriously injured, and tragically, her newborn, Elena Novakov, suffered complications that led to her untimely death shortly after birth. Disturbingly, a testimonial from another Romani woman from Serbia suggests that this incident is not an isolated case involving the same doctor, nor is it the first time such abuse has allegedly resulted in the death of a newborn.
Furthermore, we reference here another recent case from July 2023 in Romania, where another Roma woman was refused the right to proper healthcare, resulting in her giving birth on the pavement in front of the hospital.
These situations underscore the urgent need for widespread reform, aimed at addressing systemic issues within healthcare systems that perpetuate discrimination and unequal access to healthcare for Roma communities.
We, the undersigned, express our deep concern and call for immediate action from the Serbian government. We demand a just and thorough investigation into this case, holding the responsible obstetrician accountable for their actions. Additionally, we urge the government to provide full support to the grieving family and to investigate the potential presence of racial motives in the incident in question. When examining the incident, officials or investigators should strongly consider the possibility that the actions were influenced by racial bias against the Roma ethnicity.
Furthermore, we call on the Serbian government to support organizations and individuals fighting against obstetric violence, gender-based violence, women’s rights, and racism in the country. We demand concrete measures to prevent similar cases from occurring in the future. Furthermore, we reference here another recent case from July 2023 in Romania, where another Roma woman was refused the right to proper healthcare, resulting in her giving birth on the pavement in front of the hospital.
Acknowledging that this is not a uniquecase nor an isolated incident, we emphasize the urgent need to address structural racism and obstetric violence against Romani women. This situation reflects a broader pattern of discrimination informed by interlocking systems of oppression,and systemic failures within maternity and reproductive care. This abuse must not go unnoticed or unaddressed, and we demand a swift response from the authorities to rectify this deeply distressing situation.
