MIDWIFERY GROUP 13 PRESENTATION

1. MIDWIFERY GROUP 13 PRESENTATION

2. Objectives: • What is International Confederation of Midwives? • The history • Member Associations • Achievements • Vision and Mission • Governance • Policy and Practice

3. International Confederation of Midwives • ICM is an accredited non-governmental organization and represents midwives and midwifery to organizations worldwide to achieve common goals in the care of mothers and newborns. • It supports, represents and works to strengthen professional associations of midwives throughout the world.

4. History • In 1919, a group of European midwives, centered in Antwerp, Belgium, established the first beginnings of what was to become the International Confederation of Midwives. By this time, many countries already had a national association of midwives; communication among them increased and a series of regular meetings was launched.

5. History cont. • During the 1930s and 1940s, detailed records of the earlier midwives´ meetings and documents were destroyed due to the 2nd world war. However, the desire to continue international work was still strong. In 1954, the initiative grew again and this time the location was London, UK. For the first time, the name of ´International Confederation of Midwives´ was decided, and also the idea of regular triennial congresses was established. Since 1954 the series of such meetings every three years has remained unbroken.

6. Member Associations • The ICM started from a small group of associations from western Europe and now has over 100 members – all autonomous midwifery associations, from around 100 countries spanning four regions: Africa, Asia Pacific, the Americas and Europe. • Criteria for membership demand that each association is headed by midwives who determine their own governance and activities, and are committed to the mission, vision and aims of ICM.

7. Achievements of ICM ICM has successfully; • Secured the rights of women and provides access to midwifery care before, during and after birth. • Set global standards for midwifery education. • Worked alongside UN to minimize maternal mortality. • Achieved the drive for safer motherhood.

8. Vision and Mission • ICM envisions a world where every childbearing woman has access to a midwife's care for herself and her newborn. • ICM seeks to strengthen member 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.

9. Governance •  ICM is governed by an International Council, the decision making body of the organization, which sets strategic direction for ICM at each Triennial Council Meeting. The Council elects a President, Vice President and a Treasurer to work closely with the Chief Executive to achieve the strategic directions approved by Council and prioritized by the Board.

10. The Board Members; • There are 108 Midwives Associations in 95 Countries in membership of the ICM representing approximately 300,000 midwives. • Council: 2 Members from each Midwives Associations plus Board •  Board: 9 members from 4 Regions; Africa (2), Americas (2), Asia-Pacific (2), Europe (3)

11. Policy and Practice • In June 2011 ICM Council approved new By-laws, which had been reviewed and updated by the Board following a decision by Council to amend the Constitution and By-laws to clarify governance issues and better reflect the composition of the new Board. • The triennial conferences held serve as a platform to review and improve on the policies governing the ICM.

12. THANK YOU.