May 12
22
Your Excellency,
On behalf of all the organizations signed below we would be grateful if you could pass our plea for clemency on Ágnes Geréb to the newly elected Hungarian President.
Dear Incoming President Ader,
The Bulgarian branch of the European Network of Childbirth Associations discussed recently the current case against the Hungarian Midwife, Dr Ágnes Geréb. Members were dismayed to learn that Dr Geréb is still under house arrest and that the sentence of 2 years’ imprisonment has been deferred for an unknown period.
We are aware that Dr Geréb has submitted an appeal for clemency from you and this is the reason we address our letter directly to you.
Bulgariais a country where some of the fundamental birthing rights of women are still violated, where the percentage of caesarean births is one of the highest inEurope, and where the role of midwives during birth has been marginalized and taken over by over-medicalised procedures and technocratic approach. In this context countries likeHungaryhave been an example for us, leading the way by showing how the process of birth can once again become the natural process it always has been. For us people like Dr Ágnes Geréb, who is devoted to her profession and committed to making a change for the better, are an inspiring example to follow and give us courage to keep pressing for changes in the Bulgarian hospitals and health care system. The newly formed Midwives’AllianceinBulgariais a big step forward in fighting for the independence of the midwife profession.Hungaryhas so far been a model for our country in making all the positive steps in the area of pregnancy and neonatal care.
We do hope the injustice towards Ágnes will be undone and she will be pardoned. We also hope that the accusations against other midwives will be dropped, putting an end to this unjust course of action against women who have helped so many new lives begin in the best and most natural way. It only takes a simple comparison between the percentage of neonatal deaths in Ágnes’ own practice and that in Hungarian hospitals to see that Ágnes and people like her should not be punished for isolated adverse incidents.
As the new President of Hungary, we wish you well in your job and ask that act wisely and compassionately in the clemency requests of Dr. Geréb.
Please, grant clemency to Dr. Ágnes Geréb!
For further information contact:
Mrs. Elena Krasteva, MsPsy
Association Estestveno
Tel: +359 885 121 345
Sofia, 11.05.2012
Petition endorsed and signed by:
- Association “ESTESTVENO”
- BulgarianHelsinki Committee
- Association of Bulgarian Doulas
- Alliance of Bulgarian Midwifes
- Association “Rodilnitza”
- Foundation “Parents for Parents”
