Development of a National Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on Obstetric Violence (OV) within the Framework of Respectful Maternal Care (RMC) in Lebanon

Obstetric violence (OV) is a significant public health and human rights concern that affects women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. It can take many forms, including disrespectful or abusive treatment, lack of informed consent, neglect, violations of privacy and dignity, and harmful clinical practices. In Lebanon, the absence of a standardized national framework for defining, preventing, identifying, reporting, and responding to OV has contributed to fragmented approaches and limited institutional accountability.

The project builds on an earlier UNFPA-supported initiative implemented in 2025 by the Arab Institute for Women (AiW), in collaboration with the Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine at the Lebanese American University (LAU). The first project conducted a perception study examining awareness and understanding of OV among healthcare stakeholders at LAU and produced a policy brief outlining recommendations for improving laws and regulations, healthcare provider training, and support systems. The findings highlighted varying levels of awareness and recognition of OV, as well as the normalization of certain practices and gaps in training and accountability.

Building on this evidence, the current project moves from research and policy recommendations toward the development of practical systems and standards. It aims to develop a National Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on the prevention and response to OV within the framework of Respectful Maternal Care (RMC). The SOP will establish a common national definition and classification of OV and provide clear procedures for its prevention, identification, reporting, and response across healthcare facilities in Lebanon. It will also support the integration of RMC principles into quality assurance, accreditation, education, and institutional governance.

The project brings together evidence, legal and policy analysis, and consultation with key national stakeholders. This includes a review of Lebanese laws and policies, international standards, medical ethics frameworks, and existing evidence on OV, alongside consultations with relevant ministries, healthcare facilities, professional orders and syndicates, universities, NGOs, and civil society actors. The SOP will include prevention protocols addressing communication, consent, companionship, and privacy, as well as identification tools, reporting and grievance mechanisms, response and referral pathways, and clearly defined roles and responsibilities for healthcare providers and institutions.

Through this approach, the project seeks to contribute to a more consistent, accountable, and rights-based system of maternal healthcare in Lebanon. Its expected outputs include a comprehensive national SOP, standardized operational tools for healthcare facilities, implementation guidelines, and a dissemination plan. Ultimately, the initiative aims to support the integration of RMC into health systems and contribute to improved quality of maternity care and patient experience.