Elevating the voices of our grassroots members at the UN HRC

01.03.25

UN Geneva, Human Rights Council – Two of our associate members, Irish Maternity Support Network, represented by founder and director Liz Kelly, and Child Nepal, headed up by Executive Director Mohan Dangal, were among the 4 Civil Society speakers selected to address the High Level segment of the 58th session of Human Rights Council. They called for for respectful maternity care and prioritising the right to education.

They both seized the opportunity to deliver strong statements through video messages, which were broadcast on 26 February at the end of the High Level Segment of the 58th Session of the Human Rights Council. (Recording available here)

A call for respectful maternity care

“Women should never face neglect, abuse, or violence during childbirth,” said Liz, reiterating what a vulnerable moment this is in a woman’s life. Yet far too many experience mistreatment when they need care and compassion the most. Dignity in childbirth, respectful maternity care for the more than 140 million women who give birth globally each year are fundamental rights, not a privilege.

Her vision for change: “Maternity Care must be woman-centred, consent-based, and evidence-based. Women must be actively involved in the design, planning and evaluation of their services.”

Read her full statement or watch her video message below

 

A call to prioritise the human right to education

Education is a fundamental right that remains unfulfilled for 251 million children across the world.

Mohan stressed that “Without education, children face heightened risks of exploitation, forced labor, and early, child and forced marriage, perpetuating cycles of poverty, violence and inequality”. He added: “Education is not just about classrooms—it is about ensuring that every child, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status, has access to quality and inclusive learning opportunities.”

He went on to call upon governments to prioritise education, including in funding, to support teacher training and curriculum development, to champion innovative solutions using technology to bridge education gaps, and last but not least to hold governments accountable to fulfil their commitments to education under international frameworks.

Read his full statement or watch his video message below

 

 

Most read articles

The New EU Gender Equality Roadmap : A Call for Inclusion of Mothers

04.03.25

The European Commission’s initiative on a new Gender Equality Roadmap post-2025, marks a significant step forward in addressing gender disparities across the European Union. Make Mothers Matter (MMM

Lire plus

Sharing is caring:
equal parenting, a path to social cohesion?

27.01.25

UN New York, UN Commission on Social Development – Register now to our virtual side-event for a discussion on how a more equal sharing of unpaid care and domestic work

Lire plus

Child and Family Support in Europe : ensuring families receive the best possible care

05.12.24

We were delighted to coorganise, together with the European Parents Association (EPA), the “Quality Assurance in Child and Family Support in Europe: Policy Lessons for Evidence-Informed Decision

Lire plus
See all the articlesof the category

Latest News from MMM and its Network

Mothers: The Missing Link in Child Rights Discussions?

01.08.25

UN New York – Following the Human Rights Council's 2025 Annual day on the rights of the child – which focussed on Early Childhood Development – a resolution on that same topic will be tabled at the 80th U

Read more

Human-Centred Strategy: Care at the Core of Sustainability

29.07.25

UN New York – UN New York – On 16 July, we hosted a side-event at the UN High Level Political Forum (HLPF) titled Unpaid Care at the Core: A Catalyst for Achieving the SDGs. The event aimed to highlight the

Read more

Empowering Mothers, Advancing Rights: MMM at HRC59

14.07.25

UN Geneva - The UN Human Rights Council provides a crucial platform for advocacy and engagement on key human rights issues that affect mothers. This overview highlights MMM’s engagement at the 59th session of

Read more

Intergenerational Solidarity in work-life balance and childcare

13.07.25

MMM was invited to speak at AGE’s annual conference, which focused on contributing to the EU Strategy on Intergenerational Fairness. The event explored a range of key areas, including the labour market, healt

Read more

Joint Letter to EU Leaders: MMM and Partners Advocate for Strategic Investment in Children and Families

09.07.25

Make Mothers Matter, along with 24 member organisations of the Alliance for Investing in Children, has sent a joint letter to Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission), Roberta Metsola (Presid

Read more

Unpaid Care at the Core: A Catalyst for Achieving the SDGs

06.07.25

UN New York / HLPF - Register now to join us online for our High Level Political Forum side-event.

Read more