Vision and Mission


“Women bring various powers to the table. One is the power of the purse […] Second, they bring the power of life.
I think that actually giving birth gives you a sense of prosperity, heritage, transmission, that is quite special.
I know it’s going to be controversial but I think maternity is central to making sure that our children inherit something that is sustainable, that they can live in, live with and transmit to other generations.” 

Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank
in a November 2020 New York Times interview

 

Click on the image to read our brochure

Make Mothers Matter (MMM), formerly known as Mouvement Mondial des Mères/World Movement of Mothers, is an international NGO established in 1947 at the UNESCO in Paris.

We act through advocacy, network and communication.

Our poles of action are education, health, peace and economy.

We federate an expanding network of member associations and partners active in the field around the world reaching over 10 million mothers globally.

MMM has no political or religious affiliations and can therefore transparently voice the concerns of mothers at the highest level: at the European Union, UNESCO and the United Nations where we have a general consultative status.

Vision

We believe in the power of mothers to make the world a better place.

Mission

We advocate for the recognition and support of mothers as changemakers.

We understand locally, act globally to initiate laws and policies benefiting mothers and families.

We work to:

  • Empower mothers to understand and freely exert their rights and responsibilities
  • Demand respect, autonomy and dignity for mothers in their diversity
  • Emphasise the essential role of a mother in a child’s education and development
  • Include maternity in gender equality
  • Overcome stigma and discrimination
  • Improve maternal and child healthcare
  • Reduce unpaid-work hardships
  • Promote shared family care work with fathers
  • Push for a better work-life balance
  • Champion the role of mothers in peace and security

We adhere to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Beyond the diversity of cultures and socio-economic environments, mothers have a lot in common. Our strength as an international NGO lies in bringing them together, whilst recognising their key role in education, health, economy and peace.

When mothers are heard and respected, informed and supported, they become key partners. And as partners, they must be consulted and involved in development projects, particularly those that directly impact them and their families.

 

Extracts from the Bylaws of Make Mothers Matter

 

Latest News from MMM and its Network

Rethinking Development: Care and Social Protection at the Core

17.10.25

Join us on Monday 3rd November for our online solution session to the Second World Summit for Social Development on Shifting the paradigm: centring care society and social protection for social development

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Amplifying Mothers’ Voices at the UN Human Rights Council

15.10.25

UN Geneva, Human Rights Council – The MMM Geneva team seized opportunities to shed light on the multiple human rights violations mothers face, and to call for care-centred policies, and the recognition and em

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A roadmap to eradicating poverty beyond growth must centre Care

15.10.25

UN Geneva – MMM's contribution to the initiative led by Olivier de Schutter, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Poverty, aimed at establishing a Roadmap for eradicating poverty beyond growth, calls for

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Mothers’ Voices at the Heart of Europe

29.09.25

A Look Back at Our State of Motherhood Survey Presentation at the EU Parliament

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Make Mothers Matter on RTBF’s Tendances Première: The State of Motherhood in Europe

16.09.25

Make Mothers Matter was recently featured on Belgian public broadcaster RTBF’s Tendances Première radio show to present the findings from our latest report, The State of Motherhood in Europe 2024. The discus

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The European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan
Strengthening Support for Mothers

12.09.25

Our 2024 State of Motherhood in Europe survey of 9,600 mothers across 11 EU Member States and the UK paints a clear picture: motherhood is still not properly recognised or supported by society. Instead, it freq

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