Obstetric violence is the abuse of pregnant people seeking sexual and reproductive health services and information, including maternal health care. However, these services remain difficult to access for many women on the continent, especially with growing reports on abusive care coming into light, causing an erosion of trust in maternal healthcare among women and girls. Women seeking sexual and reproductive health care often face physical and verbal abuse, abandonment, detention, coercion, denial of pain relief and the denial of the presence of birthing companions in healthcare facilities. To achieve change, it is fundamental that the upcoming African Union’s Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls recognizes obstetric violence as a form of violence against women and girls. To learn more about obstetric violence throughout the African continent and ways to reduce its occurence, please use the link below to access the article.