Threads of Protest: Human Rights in Childbirth
Yarnbombing. Craftivism. Challenging Human Rights Abuses
Funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), Threads of Protest is a touring crochet exhibition, which highlights human rights in childbirth.
It combines the talents and knowledge of members of the public, artists, professional crocheters and charitable organisations to create crochet artwork designed to challenge and inform.
Based on the idea of yarnbombing and craftivism, the exhibition acknowledges the long history of women using thread as a form of protest. This appears as far back as in Greek myth and more recently via the Suffragettes’ use of embroidered handkerchiefs and banners.
What do we mean by human rights in childbirth?
In the UK and globally, women and birthing people experience human rights violations during pregnancy and birth. This ranges from the overuse of interventions in high income countries, to the lack of appropriate maternity services in other areas of the world. In addition, women continue to birth in prisons, in refugee camps, in war zones and in poverty.
Another common problem is obstetric violence. Examples of this abuse include forced sterilisations; routine interventions such as enemas and pubic shaving; and non-consensual vaginal examinations, episiotomies (cutting of the perineum) and breaking of the waters. In some parts of the world, women have reported being slapped, pinched and humiliated by health care staff as they try to birth their babies.
This crochet exhibition is an opportunity for people to come together to challenge these injustices through art.
Get involved
The exhibition will include a range of pieces by professional artists that have been created with input from various charities and their service users. Using the idea of yarnbombing and craftivism, there will also be one piece which incorporates granny squares that have been donated by members of the public.
We are therefore looking for donated granny squares!
If you would like to take part, simply create a granny square in any colour and any design. We just ask that they are around 6 x 6 inches (15cm x 15cm) or less. Don’t worry if your square is a bit wobbly or the stitches are not perfect - it is simply an opportunity to get involved in a human rights project and to donate your squares to a larger cause.
If you would like to donate a granny square, please send your square(s) to:
Threads of Protest, PO Box 239, Liverpool, L37 8YU
In the meantime, if you live in the North West of England, you may wish to drop your square(s) off at:
A Modern Yarn, 39 Chapel Lane, Formby, L37 4DL
Where will the exhibitions take place?
The exhibitions are all free to attend and will take place at:
The Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport, PR8 1DB from July to September 2025
The Curiosity Cabinet, 171 Strand, London, WC2R 1EP from 25th September 2025 to 15th January 2026.
For people who cannot attend in person, all the images of the exhibitions will appear online.
Who is involved in the exhibition?
The exhibition includes contributions from the following organisations, experts and artists:
AIMS (Association for Improvements in Maternity Services)
The Apex Trust, St. Helens
Chrysalis, St. Helens
Refugee Women Connect, Liverpool
Sophie Neville
Helen Davies
Jana Vodickova
Michelle Freeman
Madeleine Famurewa
Barbara Touati-Evans
Dr Mari Greenfield
