Salon 75 Maternal Gift Economy and Maternity Care in Disasters

Elena Skoko is an interdisciplinary artist, mother-activist and citizen researcher currently working on her PhD on maternity care in disasters in Australia. Her study aims to understand how current disaster interventions work in a real-world scenario, and what should be done to better meet the needs and expectations of childbearing women and communities.

Elena's experience as a pro bono international activist and citizen researcher contributed to public and academic discourse on obstetric violence and human rights in childbirth. She has been collaborating with the WHO, UN Human Rights Office, and numerous formal and informal international research and advocacy networks.

Being a multi-disciplinary artist influenced her approach to research, contributing to methodological innovations and community engagement.