Tunisian midwives demand full legal recognition

On the occasion of World Midwife Day, the Tunisian Midwives Confederation has raised its voice, demanding the full legal recognition of their profession. This is not merely a call for a title, but a profound assertion of their right to practice as an independent health profession with a clearly defined scope of competence. The confederation has unequivocally stated that an end must be put to all forms of illegal interference and weakening of their essential missions.

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The world needs an additional million midwives

In a powerful statement, they highlighted the global slogan 'The world needs an additional million midwives,' emphasizing that this is no longer a technical recommendation but an international commitment tied to the fundamental right to health and the protection of women and children's lives. They are pushing for a national data system to accurately gauge needs and ensure planning is grounded in solid evidence, moving beyond mere assumptions.

The midwives are also fighting for professional dignity, seeking a safe work environment free from discrimination and harassment. They insist that national policies must align with international standards for maternal and neonatal health and the Sustainable Development Goals. This fight is for the recognition of their role not as a supplementary job, but as a sovereign pillar of the health system, a critical first line of defense for mothers and newborns, as affirmed by the World Health Organization and international standards.

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The profession of midwife is not an auxiliary profession, but a sovereign pillar of the health system and a first line of defense for the lives of mothers and newborns, in accordance with the standards of the World Health Organization and international standards.

Tunisian midwives face a stark contradiction: a historical acknowledgment of their vital role coexists with persistent marginalization, restricted autonomy, unjustified overlaps in competencies, professional pressures, and subtle gender-based discrimination. This article, from La Presse, underscores their struggle for effective recognition as essential actors within the healthcare system, a fight that resonates deeply within Tunisia.

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a historical recognition of their role on the one hand, and on the other, persistent marginalization, a limitation of their professional autonomy, unjustified overlaps in competencies, professional pressures, implicit discrimination based on gender and the absence of effective recognition of their role as essential actors in the health system.