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

 

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

Maternal Psychological Wellbeing: A Challenge and a Unique Opportunity

13.01.26

Wednesday 28 January 2026 | 15:15 – 17:30 GMT London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) – Live broadcast #MaternalWellbeingLSE Maternal mental health is one of the most pressing - and most overlo

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Unlocking the Power of Care: Skills, Equity, and Social Transformation

09.01.26

UN New York – Join us online on 5th February for an official side-event to the 64th UN Commission on Social Development, which will focus on how harnessing the skills developed through the unpaid work of care

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Care, the overlooked dimension of social development and justice

08.01.26

UN New York – In a written Statement submitted ahead of the 64th UN Commission on Social Development, Make Mothers Matter highlights a crucial yet still largely overlooked dimension of social development and

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The Future of the Right to Education: Make Mothers Matter at UNESCO to Bring Parents’ Voices Forward

15.12.25

UNESCO, Paris – On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the 1960 Convention against Discrimination in Education, UNESCO brought together the global community at an International Symposium on the Future of

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Protect the Ambition: MEPs Must Safeguard Funding for the EU Child Guarantee

09.12.25

MMM together with its partners of the EU Alliance for Investing in Children, welcomes the recent vote by the European Parliament’s EMPL Committee, which firmly supports substantial and dedicated funding for t

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She Does It All: The Devaluation of Caregiving in EU Work–Life Balance Policy

28.11.25

Across Europe, mothers carry out vast amounts of unpaid care work that keeps families and societies functioning—yet much of this labour remains largely invisible in EU policy. A new study shared with Make Mot

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