This paper examines the concept of obstetric violence in the context of Public International Law. To do so, a doctrinal, and normative analysis of the main human rights’ legal instruments in the field of health and women’s rights has been carried out. Additionally, this has been supplemented with a jurisprudential review of the reasoning of the Committee of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee) in three leading cases regarding obstetric violence.

Although the theme is mainly approached from a Public International Law perspective, and, more particularly, through the lens of International Human Rights Law, a brief overview of the Spanish situation and legal framework regarding this type of violence has been included, to contrast it with the examined international human rights legal standards.

Key words: obstetric violence, human rights, pregnancy, international law, women’s sexual and reproductive health rights, non-discrimination, gender equality.