More than 100 Midwife Leaders Call for Urgent Reconsideration of Visa Refusals Ahead of ICM Congress in Portugal

Friday June 12th 2026

Dear Ambassador / Consular Officer,

We write to express our profound concern regarding the refusal of visas for registered midwives from Burundi, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda and countries in Asia, who are due to attend and present at the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) Triennial Conference in Portugal, commencing tomorrow.

These delegates are not tourists. They are qualified healthcare professionals, leaders, researchers, educators, and advocates who have been formally invited to participate in one of the most significant global gatherings of the midwifery profession.

Several of the affected delegates are scheduled presenters whose contributions have already been accepted into the conference programme.

The delegates possess documentary evidence supporting the purpose of their travel, including:

• Official conference registrations
• Letters of invitation and confirmation of attendance
• Evidence of accepted presentations and speaking engagements
• Employment and professional credentials
• Travel and accommodation arrangements
• Documentation demonstrating their intention to return to their home countries following the conference

The exclusion of these professionals has consequences extending beyond individual applicants.

Midwives from Africa and Asia work on the front line of efforts to reduce maternal mortality, neonatal mortality, preventable obstetric complications, and inequities in access to healthcare. Their expertise and lived experience are essential to global discussions concerning maternal and newborn health.

Africa and South Asia continue to bear a disproportionate burden of adverse maternal and newborn outcomes. The participation of midwives is therefore not merely desirable; it is vital.

Meaningful global dialogue on maternal health cannot occur if those working in the regions most affected are prevented from contributing their knowledge, evidence, innovations, and experience.

We respectfully submit that the refusal of visas in these circumstances raises concerns regarding:

• Fair and equitable access to international professional and scientific forums
• The principle of non-discrimination in professional participation and knowledge exchange
• The promotion of international cooperation in healthcare, education, and scientific advancement
• The ability of healthcare professionals to exercise their professional roles as presenters, researchers, and representatives of their institutions

The affected delegates have acted in good faith, complied with application requirements, and demonstrated legitimate professional reasons for travel.

The conference represents a time-sensitive opportunity that cannot be replicated once proceedings have commenced.

We therefore respectfully request:

• An urgent review and reconsideration of the visa refusals for the affected midwives
• Expedited processing of any appeals or supplementary documentation
• Direct communication with conference organisers where verification of attendance or presentation status is required
• Every possible measure to facilitate attendance before or during the conference period

At a time when the global community is working collectively to improve outcomes for women, newborns, and families, it is imperative that the voices of midwives from Burundi, Nigeria, Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, and Asian nations are represented and heard.

We respectfully urge your office to take immediate action in the interests of fairness, international collaboration, and the advancement of maternal and newborn health worldwide.

This appeal reflects the collective concern and support of the international midwifery community. We therefore submit this letter on behalf of the 108 undersigned signatories, representing midwifery leaders, educators, researchers, practitioners, and advocates from across the world, who stand united in calling for fair and timely visa access for all eligible Congress participants.

Thank you for your urgent attention to this matter.

Yours faithfully,

1. Laura Bridle, Senior Midwife, Helix Maternal Mental Health Service, London, UK
2. Professor Jane Sandall CBE, King’s College London
3. Emily Maclean, Midwife in Nairobi, Kenya and NHS of England & Wales, UK, on behalf of H.A., a Ugandan national, whose visa was declined by the French Embassy in Kampala acting on behalf of Portugal
4. Samio Mohamud, Midwife, London, UK
5. Dr Judith Jackson, Retired Midwifery Academic, Canterbury, Kent, UK
6. Kenya Fantie, Assistant Psychologist, Oxleas Helix Maternal Mental Health Service, London, UK
7. Froukje Jorissen, Midwife, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
8. Nola Holness, Certified Nurse Midwife, Florida, USA
9. Theodora Loumousioti, Senior Lecturer in Midwifery, UK HBMA Board Member, UDA UK Women Deputy Secretary
10. Alice Ciochino, Registered Midwife, Brighton, UK
11. Nafiza Anwar, Nurse Midwife, Project Manager North East London, UK, Director, Association of South Asian Midwives, UK
12. Benash Nazmeen, Midwife, Assistant Professor, University of Bradford, Director, Association of South Asian Midwives, UK
13. Dr Maeve O’Connell, Midwifery Lecturer, University College Cork, Ireland
14. Dr Anna Byrom, Midwife, Educator, CEO All4Maternity
15. Georgia Kontosorou, Senior Digital Midwife, PhD candidate, HBMA Board Member
16. Dr Ukwuori-Gisela Kalu, London, UK
17. Mavis Afriyie, Lead Professional Midwifery Advocate, Midwife, NHS London, UK
18. Professor Jayne Marshall, Lead Midwifery Educator, University of Leicester, UK and Chair of ICM Regional Professional Committee for Europe
19. Marylou Carr, Lead NIPE Midwife, University College London Hospital, London, England
20. Dr Gina Finnerty, Visiting Fellow, University of Greenwich, London
21. Donna Clement, Assistant Professor, University of Bradford, UK
22. Grace Nartey, North West London Lead Midwife, Maternity Trauma and Loss Care Service, MMHS, London Northwest University Healthcare NHS Trust, UK
23. Leah Lewin, The Perinatal Specialist, Chief Executive Officer, White Ribbon Alliance UK
24. Sue Macdonald, Midwife Educationalist and Curator, Midwifery and Maternity Forum UK
25. Patience Gyampeh, Honorary Consultant Midwife, Midwifery Lecturer and Researcher, UK
26. Diane Menage, Lecturer in Midwifery and Honorary Research Fellow, De Montfort University, UK
27. Dr Ella Caine, Consultant Midwife, NHS, London
28. Jennifer Cody, Assistant Psychologist, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
29. Charlotte Egan, Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
30. Dr Esther Sharma, Research Associate and Midwife, King’s College London
31. Sheena Byrom, Midwife and Co-Owner, All4Maternity
32. Michelle Quashie, London, UK
33. Wanda Warrington, Midwife, RCM Board Member, Lecturer in Midwifery, Salford University
34. Laura Godfrey-Isaacs, Midwife and Chair, Shifrah UK, The Jewish Birth Association
35. Dr Bernice Gyapong, Senior Lecturer in Midwifery, Buckinghamshire New University, UK
36. Sheila Brown, Senior Lecturer in Midwifery, Bangor University, UK
37. Ariadna Sole, Midwife, Midwifery Lecturer and PMA, City St George’s University, London, UK
38. Zoi Vardavaki, Midwife, Midwifery Lecturer, PMA at City St George’s University of London, HBMA Board Member, UK
39. Nikeeta Shah, Assistant Psychologist, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
40. Natalie Charalambides, Lead Practice Development Midwife, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust
41. Elidh Parslow, Consultant Midwife, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
42. Dr Juliet Albert, PhD, Specialist FGM Midwife, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
43. Camella Main, Consultant Midwife, East Midlands Ambulance Service / Lead Midwife, London Ambulance Service, UK
44. Suki Elliott, Midwife, London, UK
45. Mary Edu-Mensah, Midwife, Doctoral Researcher, King’s College London
46. Zeni Koutsi, Midwife, UK/UAE, Chair of the Hellenic British Midwifery Association
47. Laura Spence, Midwife, Founder of NeuroNatal
48. Verena Wallace, Midwife, Northern Ireland
49. Tracey MacCormack, Assistant Director for Midwifery, Nursing and Midwifery Council
50. Samie Zijlstra, MSc, Midwife, Junior Researcher, Department of Midwifery Science, The Netherlands
51. Dora Wijermars, MSc, Midwife, The Netherlands
52. Nina Khazaezadeh, Senior Midwife Leader, London, UK
53. Dr Claire Feeley, Senior Lecturer in Midwifery, King’s College London
54. Dr Aafke Bruinsma, Midwife, Researcher and Teacher, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, School of Midwifery, The Netherlands
55. Anne van Dellen, Midwife, The Netherlands
56. Maaike Schlingmann, Midwife, The Netherlands
57. Dr Suze Jans, Midwife and Researcher, The Netherlands
58. TNO, Institute for Applied Research, Department of Child Health, Leiden, The Netherlands
59. Emilie Edwards, Lecturer in Midwifery, King’s College London, UK
60. Myrte de Geus, Midwife and Clinical Epidemiologist, MSc, The Netherlands
61. Olga Smit, Midwife, The Netherlands
62. Prof Ank de Jonge, Midwife and Professor in Midwifery Science, Amsterdam University Medical Center / University Medical Center Groningen / Midwifery Academy Amsterdam Groningen, Inholland, The Netherlands
63. Jolanda Liebregts, MSc, Midwife NP, PhD candidate, Organisation of Maternal and Newborn Care, Midwifery Science, Amsterdam UMC, The Netherlands
64. Tirza Beekhof – ’t Lam, MSc, Midwife, The Netherlands
65. Maaike Kennes-Oerlemans, MSc, Midwife, Tutor, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands
66. Pien Offerhaus, PhD, Midwife NP, Midwifery Science, Zuyd Hogeschool Maastricht
67. Claire Spencer, Registered Midwife, London
68. Lauren McDonald-Wright, MSc, BSc, RM, North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust
69. Celine Walters, Registered Midwife, Professional Midwifery Advocate
70. Jetske Duncker, Medical Coordinator, Emergency, MSF-CH
71. Shiny Kaki, Project Medical Referent, MSFH
72. Paulien Verhoeven-Janssen, Midwife, The Netherlands
73. Annemarie de Jong-Bardelmeijer, MSc, Midwife NP, PhD candidate, The Netherlands
74. Riët Kremers, Midwife, The Netherlands
75. Anne van Dellen, Midwife, The Netherlands
76. Unnur Berglind Friðriksdottir, President of the Icelandic Midwives Association
77. Petra Graf Heule, President of the Swiss Federation of Midwives, Switzerland
78. Melina Muller, Midwife, Association luxembourgeoise des sages-femmes
79. Kristel Von Laufenberg, Midwife, Association luxembourgeoise des sages-femmes
80. Kirsten Straathof, MSc, Midwife, The Netherlands
81. Dr Elke Slagt-Tichelman, Midwife and Former Member of Parliament, The Netherlands
82. Maaike van Rijn, MSc, Vice President of the Royal Dutch Association of Midwives
83. Alieke de Roon-Immerzeel, MSc, Treasurer of the Royal Dutch Association of Midwives
84. Sanna Veenstra-Kwakkel, MSc, Midwife and Policy Advisor at the Royal Dutch Association of Midwives
85. Margriet Wegman-Rikkink, MSc, Midwife, The Netherlands
86. Dr Kaat De Backer, Midwife Research Fellow, King’s College London, London, UK
87. Dawn Johnston, Midwife
88. Dr Marlies Rijnders, Midwife and Researcher, TNO, Institute for Applied Science, Department of Child Health, Leiden, The Netherlands
89. Veronika Stechovska, Midwife, UNIPA Vice President, Czech Republic
90. Mgr Anna Ťopková, Midwife, UNIPA Member, Czech Republic
91. Josephine Frame, Registered Midwife, UK, HCWH Europe
92. Ms Joanne Farrugia Imbroll, Midwife, PRO Malta Midwives Association
93. Dianne Garland, UK Freelance Midwife
94. Ms Romina D’Agostino, Charge Midwife
95. President, Malta Midwives Association
96. Astrid Van Damme, Midwife Researcher, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
97. Nicky Clark, UK Educationalist
98. Professor Ruth Oshikanlu, Independent Nursing and Midwifery Consultant, CEO, Abule CIC, UK
99. Eva Nordlund, President of the Swedish Association of Midwives
100. Katherine Clark, King’s College London, Postdoctoral Midwife Research Fellow
101. Natalia Zapiórkowska-Blumer, Swiss Federation of Midwives
102. Camille Scheidegger, Swiss Federation of Midwives
103. Rohit Sagoo, University of Bedfordshire
104. Dr Caterina Montagnoli, Haute école de santé, HES-SO, Geneva; University of Basel; Member of the Ethics Working Group of the European Midwifery Association
105. Päivi Oinonen, President, Federation of Finnish Midwives, Finland
106. Dr Elsa Montgomery, Senior Lecturer in Midwifery, King’s College London
107. Sabine Meier, Midwife MSc, Lecturer in Midwifery, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland
108. Petra van der Tempel, Midwife, The Netherlands