Turning Outrage into Action: Defending Women’s Health and Rights on International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate progress—but also to recognise the urgent challenges we face today. Over recent years, women’s rights, particularly access to sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, and adolescent health (SRMNAH) services, have faced increasing pushback, with a sharp escalation over the past few months. This has been compounded by devastating funding cuts, particularly those driven by the United States, which represent a catastrophic threat to the most vulnerable women, girls, and newborns worldwide. Additionally, American policies are influencing other governments, who are similarly rolling back funding for SRMNAH services, development, and assistance to countries facing conflict and humanitarian crises. Together, these rollbacks on rights and funding cuts are reversing progress and deepening inequalities on a global scale.
ICM member associations tell us that funding cuts have forced them to immediately close their activities and services, leaving midwives without the resources to continue their work. As a result, many midwives have been forced to close clinics that provide life-saving SRMNAH services. NGOs that provide essential SRMNAH services in humanitarian settings are being left without the resources they need, leaving women and newborns without critical and lifesaving care. Cuts to food distribution programmes are worsening malnutrition, further endangering the health of pregnant women, new mothers, and their babies. Drastic reductions in funding for data collection mean we can no longer track whether SRMNAH indicators are improving or worsening, making it impossible to monitor where, how, and how many mothers and babies are dying during pregnancy and childbirth. Without this data, it will be impossible to understand the scope of crises or hold governments accountable for their action – or in this case, inaction.
As midwives, providers of SRMNAH services to women and gender diverse people, and human rights defenders, we cannot stand silently, or passively as vital services and hard-won rights are dismantled.
The removal of resources and funding will inevitably lead to increased maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, reversing years of progress made for safer childbirth and better sexual and reproductive health worldwide. The health, growth and prosperity of communities globally will deteriorate.
We cannot afford to let this trend continue and therefore, voices of those who champion women’s and girls’ rights must rise louder than ever. We must unite in opposition to these harmful and short-sighted policies. It is up to all of us to put pressure on the leadership of countries that are currently implementing these actions, demanding that vital programmes be restored, and women’s rights be prioritised.
This rollback is a direct attack on the health, well-being, and dignity of women and girls around the world. The devastating consequences of ongoing actions are already starting to show, and the ripple effects will be felt globally for generations if they are allowed to continue. We must all do our part to reverse these policies.
ICM commits to conducting bold advocacy and awareness campaigns to ensure that women’s health and rights are prioritised. We call upon governments, international organisations, midwives’ associations, civil society and women’s groups, midwives, and individuals to unite against the actions that are now jeopardising the health and rights of women, newborns and communities. The power lies in us, and in coming together in solidarity.
Turning outrage into action is essential—we therefore encourage you to:
Hold Elected Officials and Governments Accountable
Governments must be held accountable for policies and actions that endanger the health and rights of women and gender-diverse people. To achieve this, we call on:
- Civil society organisations and advocacy groups to engage with representatives at local, regional, and national levels, demanding that SRMNAH services remain a priority.
- International human rights bodies and legal experts to monitor and strengthen accountability mechanisms, ensuring governments uphold commitments such as the Sustainable Development Goals and human rights treaties.
- Multilateral institutions to put diplomatic and financial pressure on governments rolling back women’s health and rights.
Raise Public Awareness and Mobilise
Many people remain unaware of the devastating consequences of these rollbacks. To build momentum and resistance, we urge:
- The media and journalists to amplify the voices of those most affected and highlight the essential role midwives play in advancing rights and providing SRMNAH services.
- Midwives’ associations and SRMNAH organisations to organise grassroots movements, mobilise communities, and form strong alliances with women’s rights and advocacy groups.
- Public health and gender equality organisations to prioritise communications campaigns that educate the public about the impact of SRMNAH funding cuts.
Prioritise Global Initiatives Related to Women’s Rights and Health
With funding constraints shaping future investments, midwives offer the safest and cost-effective solution for delivering essential SRMNAH services. To ensure resources are directed where they are most effective, we call on:
- Governments and policymakers to recognise midwives as primary providers of SRMNAH services at every level of the health system and integrate them into national health strategies.
- Donors and multilateral organisations to prioritise investments in midwifery education, regulation, recruitment, and retention to build a sustainable workforce.
- Health systems leaders to coordinate funding and policies that maximise impact, ensuring SRMNAH services are protected from budget cuts and accessible to all.
Empower Women and Midwives to Lead
Women’s health and rights have always been won through collective action. Now more than ever, it is imperative that decision-making spaces must reflect the people most affected by these policies. We call on:
- Governments and institutions to ensure women have a seat at every decision-making table—no policies about our health and rights should be made without us.
- Midwives’ associations and professional bodies to ensure midwives are recognised, valued, and integrated across health systems as leaders and key providers of SRMNAH services.
- Donors and international development agencies to support leadership programmes for midwives and women in healthcare to strengthen their advocacy capacity.
The ultimate measure of a person, a profession and an organisation is not where they stand in moments of comfort, but where they stand at times of challenge and adversity. Now, more than ever, midwives must stand with women with one voice, and say clearly – our health, rights and wellbeing are critical for the prosperity of our societies. We demand sustainable systems and policies that keep us all safe and healthy.
