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Gender Equality Resources

Gender equality, justice, equity, diversity and inclusion are core to ICM’s work. These ICM documents provide insights for midwives and midwives’ associations on gender equality.

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Joint Statement

Statement on contraception

FIGO and ICM call upon OBGYNs and midwives at all levels of practice, in hospitals and communities to prioritise and actively engage in the following ways to ensure the provision of contraception to all.
Position Statement

Partnership between Women and Midwives

Midwifery is based on a partnership between women and midwives with the goal of promoting health outcomes. Midwives should develop a partnership with women to actively share information and support women to actively participate in making decisions about their care.
Core Document

Bill of Rights for Women and Midwives

The Bill of Rights for Women and Midwives addresses the basic human rights of women and midwives that have been systematically denied and adds another framework to approach governments when demanding change to improve midwifery and maternity services.
Joint Statement

The Health-Care Professional Associations’ response to the Honoring Women’s Demands paper

In 2022, women's voices united through the What Women Want campaign, demanding respect and dignity in healthcare, prompting Honoring Women's Demands.
Midwife Talita Oseguera performs a general check up with Lacee Rodgers who is 32 weeks pregnant at Choices clinic. Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
Core Document

Professional Framework for Midwifery (2021)

Every profession needs a structure to support it, strengthen it and guide its development, that includes all the elements required before an occupation can be considered a profession.
Position Statement

Gender equality and pay equity for midwifery

ICM advocates the reduction of gender inequalities and pay equity. Member associations should strive to implement funding models that recognise parity and promote equal pay for equal work.
Position Statement

Female Genital Mutilation

FGM is a harmful practice that violates the human rights of girls and women. Midwives should not support FGM, and should work to eliminate it in their countries.
Midwife Nikia Grayson reads a brochure on LGBTI health with patient Antoine Dandridge, who is a gay man, during a wellness check at CHOICES Center for Reproductive Health in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
Position Statement

Human Rights of LGBTI People

Everyone has the right to self-determination and the right to receive humanised, inclusive midwifery care regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Midwives have a critical role in providing compassionate, culturally safe care to LGBTIQ+ people.
Shamsun Nahar is with her 1-day old son. She gave birth to the child with the assistance of midwives in Keraniganj Upazila Health Complex, Bangladesh.
Position Statement

Mother- and Baby-Friendly Employment Policies for Midwives 

Midwives need flexible working conditions and policies so that they can return to work as soon as it is appropriate for them after giving birth. These must enable a quality relationship with their newborn or infant, and support the right to breastfeed.
Position Statement

Midwives and Violence against Women and Children

The human rights of women and children should be respected in all societies. This includes the prevention of violence against women and children. Midwives should support prevention strategies and programmes.