international
As one of the oldest midwifery organisations in the world, the RCM has a significant role on the international stage, as well as in the UK. We are an active member of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), the European Midwives Association (EMA) and the European Forum for National Nursing and Midwifery Associations (EFNNMA).
The RCM nominates delegates to each of those forums and holds leadership roles within these organisations., supporting the development of a shared vision for midwifery practice across the globe.
Our international priorities
Representation and leadership
We provide leadership and bring the voice of midwives to other professional organisations, NGOs, governmental bodies, and civil societies.
The RCM is a full member of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), the European Midwives Association (EMA), the European Forum for National Nursing and Midwifery Associations (EFNNMA). The RCM nominates delegates on each of those forums as well as holding leadership roles within these organisations. At present Lia Brigante is ICM Board Member for Europe (2023-2026 term), Gill Walton and Mervi Jokinen are ICM Council delegates; Mervi Jokinen & Lia Brigante are EMA and EFNNMA delegates. Mervi Jokinen is the President of EFNNMA and former president of EMA (2009-2021).
Technical expertise
We provide expert advice and leadership in several international and European projects and collaborations including policy, research, and dissemination.
We work closely with the WHO Regional Office for Europe, WHO headquarters in Geneva and several other European bodies. Mervi Jokinen is on the advisory group of the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for Midwifery at Cardiff University. Lia Brigante is also an ICM representative for WHO selected groups including guidance development groups and the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on maternal, newborn, child, adolescent health and nutrition (STAGE) working group on Enabling policy, regulation, and environment (EPRE). Lia Brigante & Mervi Jokinen are members of the WHO Europe Midwifery Experts hub.
Advocacy
We assure the voice of midwives is influential by holding leadership positions and advocate for safe, quality evidence-based midwifery care and access to high quality, respectful sexual and reproductive care for all women.
We work collaboratively with universities in the UK and internationally, encouraging international exchange and research. We also work collaboratively with the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET) and UN Women UK.
RCM leadership on the world stage
Through our international partnerships, the RCM provides expert advice and leadership, including through the World Health Organization (WHO) European region, WHO Geneva and UNFPA. We have a representative on Cardiff University’s World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre (WHOCC) for midwifery development advisory group which engages us in their projects.
The RCM was a sponsor or the last ICM Triennial Congress in Bali (June 2023). The RCM is one of the largest midwifery associations and member of ICM, globally. The RCM team was extremely well represented with several oral presentation and abstract.
The RCM stand was one of the busiest as midwives and midwifery associations representatives from all over the globe engaged with RCM staff and board members to find out more about the RCM international and national work.
The RCM runs a competition to fund a full member and a student member to attend ICM Congress and in 2023 supported consultant midwife Suzanne and student midwife Megan Critchlow to travel to Bali and support team RCM. Megan was the only student midwife to carry the association national flag in the opening ceremony.
