Invest More in Traditional Midwives, Health Centred on Human Rights, Secretary-General Urges Governments in Observance Message for World’s Indigenous Peoples

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, observed on 9 August:

Indigenous Peoples account for over 6 per cent of the world’s population.  They are guardians of cultural heritage, stewards of vital ecosystems and crucial contributors to our shared future.

Yet, across the globe, their rights and well-being face disproportionate threats.  Some of the starkest relate to maternal and infant health, with complications and deaths far more prevalent than among the wider population.

That is why, on this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, we celebrate Indigenous midwives.  Evidence shows that they improve outcomes for mothers and babies, strengthen trust in health systems and ensure continuity of care.  As knowledge holders and leaders, they also help preserve the languages, values and practices that sustain Indigenous cultures across generations.

The United Nations is working with Member States and Indigenous Peoples to advance rights-based approaches to health.  Governments must gather the missing data that so often leaves Indigenous patients invisible in healthcare systems, and they must invest more in training for midwives and natal care.  It is also vital that we uphold the rights of Indigenous women to make informed decisions about their own bodies and care.

Traditional wisdom can protect new life.  Together, let us ensure that Indigenous midwives, and the communities they serve, have everything they need to thrive.