ICOMBO
The International Council of Multiple Birth Organisations (ICOMBO) is a volunteer run organisation that champions the rights of multiples. It has brought together communities from around the world, with the common goal of benefiting twins, triplets and more, and their families, throughout their lives. We have 39 members, who are mainly national multiple birth organisations, representing 21 different countries.
Website: www.icombo.org
Facebook: @InternationalCouncilofMultipleBirthOrganisations
Linkedin: @icombo
Email: chair@icombo.org
Sign up for our public newsletter: www.icombo.org/mailing-list
Our Vision for a Better Tomorrow
A world where the unique needs and rights of multiples and their families are understood and met.
United for Twins and Triplets
To collaborate globally to raise awareness of the unique health, educational, emotional, and social needs of all multiples and their families. Together with our member organisations and partners, we build strong networks to deliver positive health, wellbeing, and educational outcomes, foster inclusion and ensure freedom from discrimination of any kind.
Our Core Values
At ICOMBO we are clear about what we believe and hold important. We take care that our words, actions, and behaviours align with these beliefs and uphold the following core values to deliver on our vision and mission:
INCLUSIVENESS: We are committed to inclusion, respect, and fairness, and we value the diversity of experiences and perspectives our members and multiples worldwide bring to the multiples community.
COLLABORATION: Together we create positive change for the whole community. Harnessing our collective power we strive to build strong networks to support multiples and their families.
PROFESSIONALISM: We conduct ourselves in an honest, open, respectful and professional manner. We are ethical and guided by evidence, earning the trust of member organisations, professionals and families.
LEADERSHIP: As leaders we direct change, achieving a positive world for multiples. We believe in the work we do, our ability as a team and aim to inspire others to action by championing the rights of multiples.
DEDICATION: We are dedicated to a common cause and have a commitment to reliable research, appropriate training and development of resources. Through this dedication, the unique needs and rights of multiples and their families will be understood and met.
The Rights You Didn’t Know Your Twins Have!
Our objectives:
- Promote the principles detailed in the Declaration of Rights and Statement of Needs of Twins and Higher Order Multiples.
- Provide information, guidance and advocacy to our member organisations and families with multiples.
- Build connections with multiples groups worldwide as well as other organisations and professionals of relevance to the multiples community.
- Maintain a strong link with our founding organisation, the International Society for Twin Studies (ISTS).
- Conduct and participate in ethical research projects for the benefit of multiples and their families and disseminate their findings.
What we believe:
We have developed the Declaration of Rights and Statement of Needs of Twins and Higher Order Multiples, which is a key document that outlines what we believe are the fundamental requirements to assist in delivering positive health, wellbeing and educational outcomes, foster inclusion and ensure freedom from discrimination of any kind. The key elements are:
- The right to freedom from discrimination
- The right to be and feel included
- The right to be informed of the risks of a multiple pregnancy
- The right to be able to access chorionicity and zygosity information
- The right to protection from unethical research practices
- The right to appropriate health care, particularly during pregnancy and longer term follow-ups
- The right to the latest scientifically correct information
- The right to protect the bond between multiples
- The right to be treated and included as individuals
- The need for a good support network (with access to a wide variety of disciplines and services such as health professionals, social services, relationship counsellors, employment services, education and the multiples community)
- The need for access to education and support for parental stress and pre-/postnatal complications
- The need for nutritional and feeding support specific to multiples (breastfeeding, formula and mixed feeding)
- The need for equal access to specialised education and assistance to promote and encourage bonding
- The right to appropriate care, counselling and support by professionals where co-multiples have congenital disorders and where perinatal/infant death occurs
- The right to access support around parenting multiples
- The right to factually correct information and guidance in optimal practices regarding the unique developmental aspects of multiples
Becoming a Part of Something Bigger
ICOMBO membership is open to all multiple birth support organisations and other multiple birth related organisations, as well as individual parents of multiples and professionals whose focus is the multiple birth community.
Membership allows you to access additional resources, get involved in conducting research and raising awareness at an international level, and collaborate with others who are passionate about helping multiple birth families.
Interested in joining our movement? You can learn more about becoming a member here: ICOMBO Membership
