Hermine Hayes-Klein, JD

I have been passionate about justice, civil rights, and sexual and reproductive rights since the beginning of my studies at the University of Chicago. After law school, I worked at law firms in New York City and Connecticut, before starting my own practice in 2003. My law practice focused on LGBTQ rights, family law, and art law, until I moved to The Netherlands in 2007. From 2008 – 2012, I taught International Law at The Hague University in The Hague, where I was also the Director of the Research Center for Reproductive Rights at the Bynkershoek Institute.  

After giving birth to my two sons at home with a midwife in the Dutch maternity care system, I began to focus on how women are treated during childbirth in maternal health systems around the world. I learned that women’s fundamental human rights are routinely violated in many maternity care systems. The disrespect and abuse of women during childbirth is an issue that was just beginning to gain recognition as a violation of human rights law, and I was inspired to support the activism and legal advocacy necessary to make women’s rights a reality during childbirth. In 2012, before moving back with my family to the US, I led the organization of the first global Human Rights in Childbirth conference at The Hague University.

I became licensed to practice law in Oregon in 2013 and have represented clients in family law, midwifery, and birth rights cases ever since. From 2013-2016, I organized five additional international conferences of maternity care stakeholders to discuss various aspects of human rights in childbirth. Through these undertakings, I learned from many amazing people who were working on different aspects of maternal healthcare around the world. Since 2017, I have focused my practice on legal advocacy in the state of Oregon, while continuing to consult on cases and with organizations in states and countries around the world. 

When I am not working, I enjoy life in the beautiful Oregon with my family and our dog, Bella. I love to cook, spend time with my fast-growing boys, and garden.