Midwifery Regulation and Collaboration with Women

Advocacy, Enabling Environment, Regulation

ICM

Last Edited 6 June 2023 02:39 CEST

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Background

While the midwifery profession should be self-governing within the legislation enacted in any country, it is appropriate that women who are reliant on the quality of their caregivers be included in the organisation that develops and oversees any midwifery regulation. ICM has a number of documents such as International Standards, Guidelines and Position Statements that are explicitly supportive of the Women’s Rights in general and in being included in the decisionmaking process that governs their and their baby’s care specifically.

Collaborating with women in regulating midwifery enhances among others women’s ability (1):

To influence and track the design and delivery of midwifery services of which they are the primary users.
To educate, empower and engage other women and their families on their right to health and quality midwifery services.
To build grass-roots initiatives within communities to track progress and hold governments, development partners and other stakeholders accountable for providing high quality maternal and newborn health care.

Position

ICM recognises the importance of inclusion of laywomen on the governing body that oversees and manages midwifery regulation in any country.
ICM reccommends that representatives be identified from within the women’s organisations concerned to advance the quality of care in their country
ICM urges governments and those engaged in the revision or drafting of midwifery regulation, consult with a broad range of women as to the content of such regulation and its application within their nations.

(1) Adapted from WHO Immunization

Recommendations

ICM urges Member Associations to:

Work with the bodies that regulate midwifery in their country and advocate for consultation with women in developing, reviewing and implementing regulation.
Work with women to could become a reality and work to achieve this goal.

Background

Position

Recommendations

Other relevant documents