Open Letter Urging a Positive Response to “My Voice, My Choice”
Dear President von der Leyen,
On behalf of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), representing over one million midwives globally and over 185,000 midwives in the European Union, I am writing to reiterate our support for the European Citizens’ Initiative “My Voice, My Choice.”
ICM officially endorsed this initiative in October 2024. The collection of over one million signatures across the European Union reflects a clear and legitimate call from citizens to address inequities in access to safe abortion care. We respectfully urge the European Commission to respond positively to the initiative, and to take concrete steps to ensure a policy pathway so that every woman in the EU, especially those in Member States with restrictive policies, can obtain safe and accessible abortion services.
Access to safe abortion is an essential component of sexual and reproductive health and rights. Where services are restricted, delayed, or financially inaccessible, health risks increase and inequities deepen. Ensuring consistent and universal access to abortion services across EU Member States is fundamental to protecting health, advancing gender equality, and upholding the EU’s commitment to fundamental rights.
We are aware of, and have been actively engaged in, the ongoing review of Directive 2005/36/EC on the Minimum Professional Qualifications: Midwife. The Directive has seen almost no change since 1980, and now, forty-five years later, it no longer reflects the realities of modern midwifery, nor the latest research and innovations that have shaped sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health in Europe – including access to comprehensive abortion services conducted by midwives. Ensuring that health professionals like midwives are educated and enabled to provide evidence-based abortion care is critical to strengthening health systems across the Union.
The European Union has consistently positioned itself as a global leader on gender equality and human rights. A positive response to the “My Voice, My Choice” Initiative would demonstrate that this leadership extends to ensuring equitable access to essential healthcare within its own borders.
ICM stands ready to provide technical expertise to support the Commission’s deliberations to ensure that every woman in the EU has access to high-quality sexual and reproductive health services.
Best regards,
Anna af Ugglas
Chief Executive, International Confederation of Midwives
