Motherhood Transformed: A Hub for Critical Engagement in the Visegrad Countries

Since the fall of state socialism in 1989, motherhood in the Visegrad countries has been shaped by shared transitions—privatisation of healthcare, shrinking welfare, and increasing pressure on women to balance work and care. Fertility rates remain below replacement level (HU 1.55, PL 1.2, SK 1.49, CZ 1.46 in 2023), childcare is often inaccessible, and reproductive rights are unevenly protected. Across the region, mothers face unequal access to care and the growing commercialisation of childbirth. Obstetric violence—non-consensual procedures, verbal abuse, and denial of dignity—has become systemic, as noted in a 2024 European Parliament report. Economic precarity disproportionately affects mothers: 20–36% of single parents (mostly women) live at risk of poverty; families with three or more children, rural mothers, elderly women, and Roma women face overlapping disadvantages. These challenges reflect broader trends: the erosion of public services, marginalisation of women’s voices, and a weakening of trust in democratic institutions. Despite shared histories and current struggles, there is no regional platform for those working on motherhood and women’s rights. These issues are often framed in national terms, described as local "cultural specificities," rather than as part of broader regional or global patterns—limiting opportunities for collective articulation and effective response.

The project addresses the outlined challenges through a twofold approach. First, it focuses on improving knowledge about the political, social, and cultural dimensions of motherhood in the Visegrad region. By bringing together scholars, activists, artists, and journalists, it facilitates interdisciplinary learning through workshops, webinars, and a summer school. These activities will deepen the understanding of current issues—such as obstetric violence, economic precarity, or shrinking reproductive rights—and explore how motherhood intersects with democracy, care, and economy. Second, the project creates space for long-term cooperation across Visegrad countries. It builds a regional hub for dialogue and mutual support, enabling participants to share experiences, co-create narratives, and learn from local examples—such as Hungary’s maternal rights movement. By strengthening ties between diverse actors and institutions, the project lays the groundwork for future initiatives, cross-border networks, and public engagement. In doing so, it reinforces democratic values and social resilience, promoting solidarity and inclusion through regional collaboration rooted in shared experience.