Supporting Movements That Defend Women's Right to Health
Traditional midwifery remains a vital practice in Mexico and other parts of the Americas, with Indigenous midwives serving as the primary healthcare providers for women in their communities. Through their experience and commitment, they provide essential care for both women and the broader community. In the context of the poverty and marginalization that many Indigenous people face in Mexico and Guatemala, the role of midwives becomes even more crucial, often representing the only reliable source of quality care available to women during pregnancy.
Despite the crucial role midwives play, they often encounter significant barriers within health services that hinder their ability to practice, making it increasingly difficult for them to continue their work. This leaves many Indigenous women without access to quality care, jeopardizing their health and the well-being of their newborns. In response, GPA has been supportive of efforts to protect and promote the practice of traditional and Indigenous midwifery, with the goal of sustaining community health systems and safeguarding women's rights. GPA supports Indigenous midwives in their advocacy at the local, national, and international levels to protect their right to practice, and to defend a woman's right to choose how, where, and with whom she gives birth.
The Nich Ixim Midwife Movement of Chiapas
Representatives of the Nich Ixim Midwife Movement and supporting organizations gather during for a press conference
Since 2016, GPA has been accompanying the Nich Ixim Midwife Movement of Chiapas, Mexico, which is made up of more than 600 TBAs representing more than 30 Indigenous, mestizo, rural and urban municipalities throughout the state. The midwives have united in order to colletively fight for their right to preserve and practice their ancestral occupation of caring for women, in the face of increasing obstacles, discrimination and violations of their rights. The movement seeks to dignify traditional midwifery and heighten awareness of the vital role midwives play in the health of women and children in their communities. They also are advocating for improved and respectful health services and policies for Indigenous women at the state and national level, and are documenting cases of obstetric violence, and violations of women and children's rights. GPA is working with the represenatives and spokeswomen of this movement, and the many local groups of midwives throughout the state. Learn more about the Nich Ixim Midwife Movement at www.nichixim.org.mx
The National Agenda for the Defense of Traditional Midwifery in Mexico
Participants of the National Agenda convene in Mexico City to analyze proposed legislation that could impact their work and lives.
The National Agenda for the Defense of Traditional Midwifery arose as a response to the devastating effects the Covid-19 pandemic had on maternal mortality in Mexico, especially for rural and Indigenous women, and the vital role midwives played in caring for women and the larger community, without government assistance, protection or recognition. Midwives from throughout the country, academics and representatives of civil society organizations convene to share information and experiences, and define strategies for collective actions to improve conditions, policies and recognition of midwives at the national and state level, and ensure midwives have a say in the decisions and norms being made that affect their work and the lives of the women and communities they care for. The Agenda is divided into commissions that advance strategy and advocacy recommendations, which are presented at in-person & virtual national meetings.
The Continental Alliance for Traditional Midwifery and Birth Workers of the Americas
Traditional Indigenous Midwives and Birth Workers Convene in NY ahead of the UN Permanent Forum for Indigenous Issues in 2024.
In 2023, GPA began collaborating with the Nich Ixim Midwife Movement of Chiapas, and organizations including Formación y Capacitación A.C., Camati, Kinal Antsetik, and Sakil Nichim, with the goal of uniting the efforts and voices of Indigenous midwives and birth workers from throughout the Americas. Those efforts resulted in the organization of an in-person meeting of nearly 50 midwives and birth workers in New York City in April, 2024. The meeting, funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and supported by the International Funders for Indigenous Peoples, coincided with the celebration of the 23rd session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNFPII), the UN's central coordinating body for matters relating to the concerns and rights of the world's Indigenous peoples. The midwives who attended represented Indigenous peoples from Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Haiti and the United States. The result of that meeting was the formation of the Continental Alliance for Traditional Midwifery of the Americas, which has as its objective the development of strategies and actions for the protection and preservation of traditional midwifery on an international level.