Midwifery for All:Access and Human Rights in Maternal Care

The theme for our 2026 conference is:  Midwifery for All: Equity, Access and Human Rights in Maternal Care.  One of the key components of equity is ensuring that every woman, regardless of geography, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, or age, can access quality maternal care. 

Recently, in the high resource country of the United States, Dr. Janell Green Smith, a doctorally-prepared, Black midwife, died as a result of postpartum complications after a Cesarean birth. 

Our professional association issued this statement:

‘The American College of Nurse-Midwives mourns the devastating death of Dr. Janell Green Smith, CNM, who died from complications of childbirth. Dr. Smith was a respected midwife, scholar, and advocate whose life and work reflected a deep commitment to respectful, evidence-based, and equitable care.

That a Black midwife and maternal health expert died after giving birth in the United States is both heartbreaking and unacceptable. Her death underscores the persistent and well-documented reality that Black women—regardless of education, income, or professional expertise—face disproportionate risks during pregnancy and childbirth due to systemic racism and failures in care.” 

ACNM, January 3, 2026

The VIDM Organizing Committee invites you to share your practice and research that works to prevent such tragedies in your country.