More than 3,000 midwives from around the world open the 34th ICM Triennial Congress in Lisbon 

The 34th ICM Triennial Congress opened in Lisbon with music, flags, movement and a clear message: the world needs more midwives. 

After a fado performance by Mafalda Vasquez, ICM Chief Midwife Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent welcomed more than 3,000 participants from around the world, including midwives, ministers, policymakers, researchers, educators, donors, partners, humanitarian organisations and civil society. 

“What unites us makes us stronger,” she said, opening a ceremony centred on solidarity, partnership and action. “The world needs more midwives. One million more, to be precise.” 

Nania Schärer-Hernández, Global Senior Head Medical Affairs and Education at Medela, the premium sponsor of the Congress, reflected on the lifelong impact of midwives, both personally and professionally. “Your impact goes way beyond the delivery room,” she said. “Your presence makes a difference and your role is today as critical as ever.” 

As co-hosts, APEO welcomed the global midwifery community to Portugal. Vitor Varela, President of APEO, invited participants to make the days ahead a time of “meaningful dialogue, new connections and memorable opportunities,” before the audience stood for the Portuguese national anthem. 

The Honourable Eva Brás Pinho, Member of Parliament of Portugal, reminded the room that political choices shape what happens in maternity care. “Politics can sometimes feel distant from people’s lives, but few things are more tangible than this: whether a mother and her child return home safely from the hospital,” she said. 

One of the most exciting announcements of the ceremony came from the Honourable Ziauddin Hyder, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Affairs, Bangladesh, who shared Bangladesh’s plan to recruit and deploy 25,000 new midwives. “There can be no strong primary care system without strong midwifery services,” he said. “When a nation invests in midwives, it invests in healthier pregnancies, safe births, stronger families and more productive societies.” 

Diene Keita, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and UNFPA Executive Director, called midwives the people who “go the last mile” for women and newborns. “The question is no longer why we must invest,” she said. “It is how we scale up midwifery models of care with speed and with staying power.” 

The flag ceremony then brought the room to its feet. Midwives from every region crossed the stage with pride, dancing, cheering and celebrating their countries and associations.  

ICM Chief Executive Anna af Ugglas honoured the work midwives do every day. “Every minute of every day, somewhere in the world, a midwife is saving a life,” she said. She also recognised the many midwives who could not be in Lisbon because they were caring for women, newborns and families. 

She acknowledged that the Congress comes at a critical time, with the world facing conflict, climate emergencies, overmedicalisation and a growing pushback against women’s rights. She told delegates that this was precisely why gathering together mattered. “This Congress is not a pause from the world around us,” she said. “It is our response to it.” 

Outgoing ICM President Sandra Oyarzo Torres reflected on leadership, service and the future of the profession. “No president can do this alone. No board can do this alone. No Member Association can do this alone. Our strength is how we support each other,” she said. She also encouraged everyone to become the leaders their communities need and not be afraid to step up and take on that responsibility. 

A second cultural performance by Teatro de Carnide added colour and energy to the ceremony, celebrating Portuguese creativity and bringing delegates together through music and movement. 

Allisyn Moran of WHO called for the momentum in the room to move into action. “We have the evidence, we have the tools… and now we need the courage to act at scale.” 

Frank Louwen, President of FIGO, spoke about collaboration between midwives and obstetrician-gynaecologists, saying: “It is a waste of time, waste of money, waste of energy to compete… It is to stand together.” He also launched the new Joint Statement on Interprofessional Collaboration between Midwives and Obstetrician-Gynaecologists for Woman-Centred Care.  

Sara do Vale, founder of Associação Gravidez e Parto, closed the speaker programme with a call for greater autonomy, visibility and recognition for midwives in Portugal. Speaking from the perspective of women and families, she highlighted the importance of respectful, woman-centred care and the role midwives play in improving experiences and outcomes. She also emphasised the value of partnerships in advancing maternity care. “The cooperation between midwives and women and civil society, that’s where the magic happens.” 

The ceremony ended with the Congress song Together by Abelone Melesse and an invitation to continue the celebration at the Welcome Reception. Lisbon 2026 has begun with energy, purpose and a shared commitment to one million more midwives.