28.09.22
UN Geneva, Human Rights Council - MMM took the opportunity of a panel discussion on the future of the right to work in the context of Climate Change, to call for a more holistic view of 'work', where both paid and unpaid care work are considered and their interrelation recognized. In the context of Climate Change, which often increases mothers' unpaid care workload, we also called for a reassessment of what the Right to Work means in relation to a Right to Care.
The following is the oral statement delivered by MMM main representative to the UN Geneva, Valerie Bichelmeier.
Raising and educating a child, caring for an older person or a dependent relative, running a household – this IS all work, although mostly unpaid.
Yet, this indispensable work is not what we are talking about when discussing the right to work.
The unpaid work of caring for each other is only framed as a burden, an obstacle to the realisation of women’s right to (paid) work and economic empowerment.
The Covid-19 and Climate Change crises have both increased the unpaid domestic and care workload of women, mothers in particular, further threatening their right to paid work and exacerbating gender inequalities.
At the same time, these crises have also shed light on how essential and foundational this work is for the wellbeing of all, and for the functioning and future of our society and economy.
We at MMM are therefore calling for a redefinition of ‘work’ as a holistic concept, where both paid and unpaid work are combined and intertwined. The right to work and its relation to a right to care needs be reassessed and clarified.
We also call on states to:
This oral statement was delivered during the Panel on the The future of the right to work in connection with climate change actions, responses and impacts in the context of sustainable and inclusive economies, which took place on 27 September 2022 as part of the 51st Session of the Human Rights Council.
29.07.24
UN New York - Our virtual HLPF side-event brought together experts to shed light on how the various global crises we face (in particular climate change and other environmental crises,
21.07.24
UN New York - Participating in the meeting of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on care and support systems, MMM reaffirmed the principle of co-responsibility, which should underpin
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
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
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
06.07.25
UN New York / HLPF - Register now to join us online for our High Level Political Forum side-event.
06.07.25
UN New York – Ahead of the 2025 High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) MMM's written statement focuses on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 on Gender equality, which is under review this year. More specifically
06.07.25
From 30 June to 3 July, Make Mothers Matter was in Sevilla, Spain, for the 4th UN International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4). Here’s a look back at this major UN event and the key takeaways
05.07.25
Following the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Sevilla, Spain, we explore why Financing for Development is critical for mothers around the world.