The National Department of Health has recently released updated Maternal Care Guidelines, which now include a new chapter on Respectful Maternity Care, to address the widespread issue of obstetric violence within the healthcare system. Obstetric violence is a pervasive but underreported form of gender-based violence (GBV) and 16 Days of Activism provides a timely opportunity to highlight the harmful practices that undermine women’s rights, health, and dignity during one of their most vulnerable moments: childbirth.Khuliso Managa from the Women’s Legal Centre and Prof Simone Honikman (Perinatal Mental Health Project)