bordellosboheme, read what I said about a campaign too. If you want one, then there needs to be process to go through to get to a point where it would have benefit.
It is no good just saying 'we want a campaign'. Start thinking about how you go about it, and what you need to focus on and who you need to target for it to be successful.
MN as a organisation have the power to get things into the public eye and the media in two ways; first by direct contact with us and secondly by going to those with power. Direct contact with us, can initially just mean providing a platform for discussion just by having threads like this. They don't need to get fully involved just yet imho.
Campaigns are only successful if you work out a way of getting the message across to both in a clear, concise way. It has to really get under the skin of these organisations to make any impact what so ever. You need to find a way to MAKE them listen, as this is so institutionalised and ingrained into thinking that a) this doesn't happen b) we can easily ignore this and its just a few isolated cases and they should have reported it to their hospital. This is institutionalised, which is the very thing which makes it just so hard to fight. It can be done but it is difficult.
The campaign really starts by people on this forum working now; so that MNHQ can later pick up the baton and really look at it and make a difference. They DON'T have to do the ground work. Its people like you and me who can do that. Anyone on this forum can do this.
Like I said before, its about creating a groundswell that goes beyond MN too. Whilst MN have influence that still is regarded as being representative of a certain section of the public (which isn't true but perception is everything). If you can get wider involvement it will work. I'm sure that organisations like the Birth Trauma Association would be interested. Then you need to think about how you can play up to the media and talk about how tackling this issue is financially beneficial (because unfortunately you can not avoid that topic when it comes to the NHS and frankly lack of resources is the usual red herring totally unacceptable excuse).
Right now, I think getting women to simply talk about this issue in an open way, is the point we are at and where we need to go from. Recognise the fact that this is far more widespread than we would like to believe, recognise the fact that women whilst competent are vulnerable and need to be both respected and protected, challenge the idea that HCP always have your best interests at heart. Get people to ask questions and give them the confidence to challenge certain phrases (before the examinations even start) or to start making complaints if they have the misfortune to be abused in this way. Basically define the problem, define its extent, define what your rights are, support each other.
Like I say, much of this is about language and communication; or lack of it. We need to change a culture that says "I'm just going to" to "Do you mind if I". Thats bloody hard.