Vision and Mission 

Our Vision

ICM envisions a world where every childbearing woman has access to a midwife's care for herself and her newborn. 

Our Mission

To strengthen Midwives Associations and to advance the profession of midwifery globally by promoting autonomous midwives as the most appropriate caregivers for childbearing women and in keeping birth normal, in order to enhance the reproductive health of women, and the health of their newborn and their families.

WHO Photographer / Anna Kari

ICM's Mission indirectly relates to structural poverty reduction through its focus and activities. ICM advocates for the education of girls and women (MDG 2), the empowerment of women and midwives, through education. This enables economic independence, sexual and reproduction health rights in deciding; when, if and how they become pregnant. There is a globally acknowledged inequity in access to skilled professional midwifery attendants; the poor and marginalised being disadvantaged. ICM's Mission focuses on ensuring that all women, irrespective of their economic status, have access to midwifery care . This is a key factor in achieving the reduction in Maternal Mortality (MDG 5) and reduction in infant and child mortality (MDG 4).

"The world focuses on maternal health because saving women stimulates the economy, bolsters communities and strengthens families. Women’s unpaid work equals about one third of world GDP; when a woman dies, children risk of dying within two years increases tenfold."

See the statistics from The Global Health Policy Summit Report from this year's inaugural meeting in London in August.