Opening Remarks by Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem at the 33rd International Confederation of Midwives Triennial Congress

Midwives of the world!

Excellencies,

Distinguished delegates,

Dear young people,

What a joy to join you in beautiful, spiritual Bali for this 33rd ICM Triennial Congress.

I greet you in peace! The noble purpose of the United Nations — a precondition for health systems to function. Peace! The fervent desire of women and people of good will everywhere.

At UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, it’s our honor to work hand in hand with some of the most dedicated, talented, beautiful and smart health professionals in the world: midwives!

What’s the measure of a midwife? How do we properly value their important contributions?

In a world where every two minutes a woman or girl dies during pregnancy, childbirth or its aftermath — as our latest data attest — the midwife is always the hero of the story.

Think of a midwife: what comes to mind? Excellent teamwork, competence, good judgment and caring. Hallmarks of the profession – traits that underpin the best of humanity, that will surely help create the peace we seek.

Unfortunately, our common story today is of a world of conflict and turmoil.

Somewhere now, a woman in labour is hiding, sheltering to avoid bombs and rocket fire. Will the midwife find her in time? Will mother and baby survive?

Elsewhere, a woman preparing to give birth has no assurance of transport. The nearest clinic is miles away. Without access to a midwife, what will happen to her? Does anyone care?

Yes! UNFPA cares and certainly, midwives care.

Midwives deliver on three zeros that transform life for women and adolescent girls: zero unmet need for contraception, zero preventable maternal deaths, and zero gender-based violence. All based upon data, facts.

In the 150-plus locations where UNFPA operates, the noble midwife yields results!

Through Covid, conflict, and climate disasters, midwives stand by women — often with few resources, or facing discrimination, sexual harassment and unequal pay. Courageous midwives are out on the humanitarian frontlines, risking their lives to shield women in the toughest of circumstances.

Thank you for your valiant service!

For a hundred golden years, ICM has set the standard for midwifery education and regulation. Midwives form the backbone of community-based reproductive care; essential partners in our collective drive toward zero preventable maternal deaths.

Working together, we’ve accelerated progress — in keeping with the demand for integrated services and reproductive justice. It’s about rights and choices.

That’s why UNFPA is excited about the PUSH campaign. Let’s fix the global shortage of almost a million midwives, half a million needed in Africa alone. Close that deficit, and we’d prevent two-thirds of maternal and newborn deaths, ultimately saving over 4 million lives a year.

No longer must women and adolescent girls die while giving birth. No longer should they fall victim to obstetric fistula, unsafe abortion, too-early pregnancy, or harmful practices. No more child marriage or female genital mutilation.

Over many years of proud collaboration, UNFPA technical assistance to midwives bolsters our mutual commitment to disaggregate data and use persuasive evidence to strengthen the profession, and improve maternal health outcomes globally.

Our fruitful, innovative partnerships look towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 on health — and 5 on gender equality to be met by 2030. We want stronger health systems with better job opportunities, higher pay, improved working conditions and full respect for women.

Midwives earn their trust every day. Earn respect every day. So yes, reward midwives with fair compensation and recognition, every day!

We must all stand with midwives — provide the supplies you need to stay safe; shore up capacity of health systems, and mobilize international solidarity and funding on the ground.

UNFPA stands with you in Indonesia and throughout the Asia-Pacific region, in Arab states, in Eastern Europe and of course, all across Africa. We’re hard at work together in Latin America and the Caribbean as well.

In the Chocó region of Colombia, Afrodescendiente communities suffer maternal deaths at double to four times the baseline. There we launched Partera Vital. It’s a phone app giving birth attendants up-to-the-minute guidance to saves lives.

In Afghanistan, UNFPA mobile teams are on call to ensure safe birth. Despite perilous conditions, and even in harsh winters, midwives bravely defy the odds, traversing the rocky terrain to reach women across the mountains.

There, as everywhere, the midwife understands the needs and traditions of her community. She delivers care with care — loving care. Her calming presence is a steady support to women and a stabilizing force in her community. She, or he, counsels women and engages men and boys to prevent gender-based violence, and also provides psychosocial support. Her referrals help victims overcome trauma on their road to survivor hood.

Midwifery has stood the test of time. That’s why I believe the work of a midwife’s hands must not be overlooked. She is a notable contributor to peace.

Elisa, a highly respected maternity coordinator, puts it best. She named her rural hospital program in Colombia:

“Cuidamos la salud, tejemos paz.

We care for health and we weave peace.”

That too is the measure of a midwife: her capacity to build the peace — peace of mind, peace in the home, peace in the community, and peace in our hearts.

Because somewhere…

There’s a woman with no choice but to flee

Running in panic, gathering children and baggage

UNFPA must be there to receive to her

To represent her needs

She’s not asking for favors

She just wants to give birth safely

maintain her dignity; exercise her reproductive rights

To undo damage that never should have been inflicted in the first place

Let the midwife accompany her into the light where she deserves to be

Living a life replete with power and beauty.

That’s her right. And that’s our promise.

With midwives standing tall, once we put women and girls at the center of health and of peace, you can be certain that once and for all this world will be set right.