Birth Forward (BF) is a member-based, grassroots organisation active across Cyprus since 2015. Governed by our Annual General Assembly and a seven-member Board—mostly parents—and supported by a Scientific Advisory Board of medical, legal, and human-rights experts, we work to advance respectful, informed, and evidence-based maternity and perinatal care.
We support families and professionals throughout conception, pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and early parenthood. Our work focuses on building confidence, offering evidence-based information, strengthening partners and chosen companions, and equipping professionals with resources to provide balanced, human-centred care. We help families understand their rights, reduce unnecessary interventions, and promote dignity, autonomy, privacy, and emotional safety in the birthing process.
Cyprus faces urgent challenges: the highest cesarean rate in Europe, low breastfeeding rates, and frequent violations of human rights during birth. Families often feel unsupported, uninformed, and disconnected from updated, evidence-based care. We address these gaps by advocating for change and creating networks of support.
Our mission is to ensure every woman, birthing person, family, and professional in Cyprus has access to respectful, evidence-based care. We work through three core pillars:
-
Parent Education & Support – helping families make informed, conscious choices.
-
Advocacy, Research & Policy Change – promoting alignment with EU standards and human-rights recommendations.
-
Professional Training & Networking – fostering collaboration across sectors to improve maternity and perinatal care.
Our vision is a Cyprus where every family feels supported, respected, empowered, and informed—every step of the way.