04.03.23
UN Geneva, Human Rights Council – Like thousands of others, Razia Arefi, who had been working as a field director for our associate member Mothers for Peace in Afghanistan, fled the country in August 2021 after the Taliban takeover and became a refugee - for the 3rd time in her life.
On Friday 3 March, Razia, a mother, an ex-civil servant, and a women’s rights activist, delivered a powerful statement to the Human Rights Council, calling on Member States to not forget the continuous suffering of Afghan women, especially those left behind, reduced to objects under the anti-woman rule of the Taliban.
Razia, who now lives in Belgium, told the Council what was happening in her country was ‘death in slow motion’.
Razia’s statement for download
Razia was one of four NGO speakers selected to deliver their message during the High Level Segment of the 52nd Session of the Human Rights Council.
28.08.25
On 22 September 2025, the voices of mothers will take centre stage in Brussels. For the first time, Make Mothers Matter (MMM) will present its State of Motherhood in Europe
03.07.25
Belgian mothers are facing a mental health crisis. According to the State of Motherhood in Europe 2024 survey by Make Mothers Matter (MMM) and Kantar, Belgium reports the highest rates
02.04.25
Paris, France – On April 2nd, Make Mothers Matter was honoured to have key findings from its State of Motherhood in Europe 2024 report cited at the French National Assembly
25.03.26
UN Geneva – Violence against women is widely acknowledged. Yet the specific forms of violence linked to motherhood remain largely overlooked. Drawing on grassroots evidence from across the globe, Make Mothers
25.03.26
UN New York – At the event MMM organised on the margins of the 70th UN Commission on the Status of Women, experts and policymakers converged to argue that parental leave is far more than a workplace benefitâ€
24.03.26
By Ariane de Liedekerke, Network Co-ordinator, Make Mothers Matter While many women are still sidelined professionally after becoming mothers, leading to a lose-lose situation, some companies are testing new wa
23.03.26
The European Parliament has adopted its Resolution on a new EU Anti-Poverty Strategy for 2025–2026, following joint work by the EMPL and FEMM Committees. This marks a significant political milestone in the fi
16.03.26
Make Mothers Matter (MMM) responded to the Public Consultation on the European Commission’s upcoming Skill Portability Initiative. We submitted a paper outlining our views and provided feedback on the need to
14.03.26
UN Geneva – An MMM submission to the OHCHR call for input on the impact of mental health challenges on the enjoyment of human rights by young people highlights a critical, often overlooked human rights issue: