25.02.25
UN New York – It has been thirty years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which laid the groundwork for transformative changes towards gender equality and the empowerment of women. In our written statement to the 69th UN Commission on the Status of Women, which will review implementation, we acknowledge the progress made, such as a global improvement in maternal survival, increased female literacy and economic agency, as well as an expansion in social policies and legal protections for mothers, but highlight that there is still much that remains to be done - in particular in relation to motherhood.
Progress on gender equality has been uneven and even stalled in many countries. Currently, no country is on track to achieve gender equality by 2030. Women’s rights to this day continue to be challenged.
Between 2019 and 2022, about 40% of countries worldwide stagnated or declined on gender equality indicators. The Covid-19 pandemic revealed how much our societies depend on unpaid care work, a responsibility that disproportionately falls on women and significantly impacts their economic participation. The issue of the inequitable distribution of unpaid care and domestic work – which is at the heart of gender inequalities, and which directly relates to motherhood – has not been properly addressed by the Beijing Platform for Action: it is the unfinished business of the Beijing Conference.
Investing in care is investing in the well-being of society and our future. Mothers play a critical role in both the family unit and the broader economic and social fabric of communities. When they are recognised as such and adequately supported, the benefits ripple across various dimensions of societal well-being. Empowered mothers shape the future.
Our statement calls for amending the social and economic barriers mothers face. In particular:
Read our full written statement as submitted– official UN Document (ref. E/CN.6/2025/NGO/74)
The 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women will take place 10-21 March 2025 at the UN Headquarter in New York. MMM will be there – with 2 parallel events: stay tuned for more information.
Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 in Beijing
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Mothers play an essential role in families by ensuring their loved ones are nourished, educated, and healthy, but their unpaid care work often leads to economic and social injustices, known
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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
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.
15.06.25
UN Geneva – At the 113th International Labour Conference (ILC), Make Mothers Matter (MMM) brought the perspectives of mothers and other unpaid caregivers to two key agenda topics: the transition to formal emp
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As part of European Mental Health Week, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) András Kulja and Zoltán Tarr (both EPP) hosted a two-day Mental Health Summit on Prevention and Recovery in Modern Society
07.06.25
Make Mothers Matter was delighted to celebrate and participate in the 40th Anniversary and International Conference of our member, the European Parents’ Association (EPA), hosted by the European Economic and
10.05.25
UN New York – The 69th UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) marked the thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA). This landmark global policy document was adopted