About Campaign 4 Safe Births
Campaign 4 Safe Births is a reproductive justice and public health campaign working to end the use of restraints on incarcerated people during pregnancy, labor, childbirth, postpartum recovery, and transport.
We believe every person deserves dignity, safety, and appropriate medical care during one of the most vulnerable moments of their life.
Why this campaign exists
While Oregon has taken important steps to limit shackling during pregnancy and childbirth through House Bill 2535, gaps remain. Current protections do not fully cover all people in custody, especially those held in county and city jails. Existing language also leaves room for discretion, which can allow restraints to be used when they are not medically necessary or safe.
This campaign exists to close those gaps and ensure that clinical judgment, human dignity, and reproductive safety guide care for pregnant and postpartum people in custody.
What we are working toward
Campaign 4 Safe Births is building support for stronger protections that:
Prohibit restraints during pregnancy, labor, childbirth, postpartum recovery, and related medical transport except in the rarest circumstances where there is an immediate and specific safety risk.
Extend protections to people held in jails, not only prisons.
Center the judgment of medical providers during labor and delivery.
Protect privacy, bonding, recovery, and safe medical care.
Create clearer accountability when violations occur.
Who is involved
The campaign brings together social workers, students, healthcare providers, legal advocates, community organizers, people with lived experience, and supporters committed to reproductive dignity and ending harmful carceral practices.
Our work is grounded in:
Reproductive justice
Medical safety
Human dignity
Trauma-informed care
Racial and gender justice
Accountability in carceral systems
The belief that no one should be chained while giving birth
Our call to action
We are currently building relationships with healthcare providers, community organizations, advocates, and lawmakers to support a stronger legislative path in Oregon. If you or someone you know would like to be involved, please contact us at info@campaign4safebirth.org.