03.03.20
UN Geneva, Human Rights Council - MMM oral statement calls upon governments to support single mothers in their double responsibility of raising children and earning a decent living.
Single mothers’ economic hardships result in high rates of private debt. In France for example, they account for 29% of over-indebted women.
According to Oxfam, globally extreme poverty rates are 4% higher for women than men – a gender gap that rises to 22% during women’s reproductive years.
Not only do women generally earn less than men, but their inequitable share of unpaid domestic and care work constraints their time and ability to perform paid work, thus limiting their income – especially when they have young children.
For single mothers, assuming care responsibilities and earning a living can be challenging. Failing fathers and non-existent or expensive childcare further push many of them into debt.
As rightly stated in the report “for women, access to social protection (or lack thereof) and private debt are closely connected”.
We at MMM call upon governments to prioritize the wellbeing of families, especially single-mothers, and invest in adequate social protection and public infrastructure and services.
These must include full maternity protection, child and if necessary housing allowances, access to healthcare, and most importantly quality and affordable childcare.
The unpaid care work of raising and educating children must be recognized for what it is: essential WORK – that must be considered as an investment and supported.
Mélanie Nédélec, MMM Representative to the UN in Geneva, delivered the statement on 2 March 2020 during the Interactive Dialog with the UN Independent Expert on the effect of Foreign Debt and Human Rights on at the 43rd session of the Human Rights Council.
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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,
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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
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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
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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.
03.07.25
Belgian mothers are facing a mental health crisis. According to the State of Motherhood in Europe 2024 survey by Make Mothers Matter (MMM) and Kantar, Belgium reports the highest rates of both maternal burnout