ICM Statement Condemning the Ban on Afghan Women Accessing Midwifery Education 

On 03 December 2024, the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan ordered the closure of midwifery and nursing institutes in Afghanistan, effectively banning women from pursuing education in these vital fields. This is a devastating blow for women in a country where, according to the United Nations Population Fund, the maternal mortality rate is already one of the highest in the world.  

At ICM, we know the positive impact Afghan midwives have had on maternal and newborn health outcomes over the past twenty years.  According to a 2023 report by the Afghan Midwives’ Association and UNFPA, the number of midwives in Afghanistan has grown from 467 (2002) to 6376 (2020). This was accompanied by a dramatic drop in maternal mortality, from 1600 per 100,000 (2002) to 638 per 100,000 (2019). Improvements were also seen in neonatal survival over the same period. This work was possible thanks to individual efforts, but also because midwives have established a strong national professional association, and a national regulator.  

Banning women from studying midwifery threatens to undo all the progress made.  It will make the already critical shortage of midwives even worse. Ultimately, it will mean more women giving birth alone, and more women and newborns dying of preventative causes, or facing lifetime health challenges because there are no midwives available to care for them. 

Midwifery has been one of the few remaining avenues of safety and opportunity for Afghan women, providing a pathway to education, careers, and a chance to proudly serve their communities. This ban is part of a broader pattern of restricting women’s access to education, independence, and freedom. By removing this opportunity, Afghan women can no longer access one of the final educational options open to them, deepening the gender inequality already pervasive in the country. 

As we bear witness to these events, we urge all our member associations and midwives globally to stand in solidarity with ICM, UN agencies, and human rights organisations in advocating to their governments and calling for:   

• the reinstatement of educational programmes for women in Afghanistan, especially those that train midwives and health workers, 
• ensuring an enabling environment where female midwives can work, while ensuring their safety and wellbeing, 
• immediate action to protect, promote and respect women and newborn’s right to life, health and dignity.  

ICM believes the rights of women, newborns and children should be protected and upheld under all circumstances. We also believe that woman-centred care is the cornerstone around which all sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health (SRMNAH) services should be built.  

We stand with our fellow midwives, healthcare workers and global community in condemning this new ban. We will continue our support of the Afghan Midwives’ Association, and stand in unwavering solidarity with them, committed to providing the resources and support necessary to uphold their work.  

We continue to call on our stakeholders to unite and amplify efforts to stand with Afghan women, whose rights are being systematically taken away before our very eyes. The time to act is now, to protect their futures and ensure that they continue to have access to the education and care they deserve.