The International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) represent the internationally recognised professional organisations of midwives, obstetricians and gynecologists worldwide. Both our federations are in official relations with the World Health Organization and the United Nations.

 We are writing in connection with the long-running case of the midwife / obstetrician Dr. Ágnes Geréb who is submitting a clemency request to you about the court verdict of January 9th, 2018, which confirmed that she must now serve a two-year prison sentence.

Both ICM and FIGO support her forthcoming application for clemency and respectfully ask for your kind consideration. It is also our shared belief that women around the world have the right to excellent midwifery and/or obstetric care and we encourage and celebrate midwives and obstetricians who respect and enable a woman’s right to make
informed choices and decisions about her care during childbirth.

In the unfortunate case of a birth incident we believe that, in accordance with the principles of natural justice, midwives and obstetricians always have the right to first be investigated by their peers; that is, a professional hearing by experts from their own profession of midwives or obstetricians, respectively. Such a professional hearing should
always precede the potential necessity of handling by police and investigation by a criminal court.

To this end, both ICM and FIGO are willing to offer our respective technical expertise to assist the Republic of Hungary, where necessary, by giving opinion and feedback on its newly developed guidelines for home-birthing and for the structure of its health professional disciplinary processes. On behalf of our 1,500,000 professional members worldwide, we urge you, as President of Hungary and a European Union Head of State, to uphold these rights for all women, midwives and obstetricians in your country. We look forward to being of service if required.

Yours sincerely,

 International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 

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