T?n? koutou,
Please find attached an Open Letter from Ng? M?ia M?ori Midwives o Aotearoa calling on the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) to reinstate the Position Statement on Partnership Between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Midwives while any review or revision process is undertaken.
The removal of this Position Statement has raised significant concerns for Indigenous midwives and Indigenous communities. For Ng? M?ia, this is not simply a question about one policy document. It is a question of how Indigenous peoples are recognised, represented, and engaged within international midwifery governance while colonial settler perspectives dominate by continuing to hold disproportionate influence over decisions that affect Indigenous peoples.
Our Open Letter outlines why the Position Statement remains important and respectfully requests greater transparency regarding the governance processes that led to its removal. It also proposes constructive steps to strengthen partnership between ICM and Indigenous midwives into the future.
Specifically, we seek:
- Immediate reinstatement of the Position Statement while any review is undertaken.
- Greater transparency regarding the decisions and governance processes that resulted in its removal.
- Confirmation of the ongoing status, composition, and mandate of the Indigenous Working Group.
- Meaningful engagement with the Indigenous Working Group on future policy relating to Indigenous midwifery.
- Strengthened Indigenous participation and representation within ICM governance.
We offer this letter in the spirit of partnership and with a shared commitment to improving maternal and newborn outcomes for Indigenous peoples worldwide. We believe this presents an important opportunity for ICM to demonstrate leadership by reaffirming its commitment to Indigenous partnership, transparency, and equitable governance.
We respectfully request that this Open Letter be circulated to the ICM Board, Council Delegates, Member Associations, and the Indigenous Working Group.
We also welcome the opportunity to meet with ICM leadership and representatives of the Indigenous Working Group to discuss the matters raised and to identify a constructive pathway forward.
Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to your response and to continuing this important dialogue.
N?,
Ng? M?ia M?ori Midwives o Aotearoa
He kahu p?kai m? t?n?, m? t?n?.
M?ori hands catching M?ori babies.
Tamara Karu (ia/she)
Ng?ti Tamater?, Ng?ti Tara
Manager Te Ara o Hine Tapu Ora
