Position Statement

Partnership between Women and Midwives

Gender Equality, Midwifery Practice
ICM
Last Edited 25 July 2024 02:51 CEST

Background 

ICM Midwifery Philosophy and Model of Care is based upon a partnership between women and midwives. Midwifery care takes place in partnership with women and gender diverse people, recognising the right to self-determination, and is respectful, personalised, continuous, and non-authoritarian. The ICM International Code of Ethics for Midwives urges midwives to develop a partnership with individual women in which they actively share information and support women in their right to participate in decisions about their and their newborns’ care. Midwives facilitate an environment where women are free to speak for themselves on issues affecting their health and that of their families in their culture/society.   

Position 

ICM will take every opportunity to work with groups representing the interests of women at international, regional, and national levels to achieve worldwide equitable sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health outcomes. All initiatives undertaken to aid the further development of the midwifery profession will be premised on:  

  • The health care needs of women and newborns, 
  • The involvement of women in the process of identification of those needs,  
  • Encouraging midwives to proactively have women, as service users of midwifery care, participate in activities directed at the provision of quality care, 
  • Secure women-friendly services through midwives who value women’s right to make their own decisions, 
  • Promote the adoption of practice guidelines supporting women’s informed choice and the importance of consent-based care.  

Recommendations   

Member associations are urged to: 

  • Use this statement for action in their own setting, 
  • Involve women in their activities. 

Related ICM Documents  

 

Adopted at Brisbane International Council meeting, 2005

Revised at Toronto International Council meeting, 2017  

Revised at the Virtual Council Meeting 2024 

Date for next review 2027