The
International Confederation of Midwives believes that fundamental to the rights
of a woman is her ability to control her own fertility, and that, in the
interests of her own health and wellbeing, and that of her family,
she should play a full and equal part with her partner in determining the
number and spacing of their children. To enable her, with confidence, to effect
the choices about her childbearing, and to prevent unwanted pregnancies she
should have access to appropriate knowledge and adequate services. The
Confederation further believes that the midwife, by virtue of her education,
sphere of practice and unique relationship with women
and their families is in an ideal position not only to provide the information,
services and support which women need in planning their families, but also to
influence the type of services which are available to them.
·
The International Confederation of
Midwives, which supports the right of a woman to control her own fertility, to
play a full and equal part in determining the number and spacing of her
children, and to have the knowledge and services to enable her to do so, will
actively encourage midwives to:
·
participate in the planning, provision
and evaluation of services which enable women to plan their pregnancies and
prevent any that are unwanted;
·
take a proactive part in ensuring that
all women have available to them, services which are accessible and relevant to
their needs to plan their families as they wish;
·
provide
quality advice and support to women in a way and at a level which is relevant
to their needs.
Member
associations are urged to:
·
take an active role in supporting the
development of appropriate services for women which enable them to plan their
pregnancies and prevent any that are unwanted
·
seek to
influence the training of midwives to ensure that they have the knowledge,
understanding and appropriate skills to meet the needs of women.
Report of the
International Conference on Population and Development;
Supersedes ICM
Statement:
Planned
Parenthood 90/5
Adopted by the
International Confederation of Midwives Council,
Date for
review: 2005.