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.
02.07.22
UN New York, HLPF - Join us on July 11th for a discussion on how #SharingTheCare at every level - family, community, governments and private sector - is vital for
26.04.22
We are delighted to be launching our new podcast series An almost Perfect Mother featuring Isabelle Roskam, professor of development and parenting psychology at the University of Louvain, Belgium. Isa
09.05.22
UN New York, HLPF - In the Sustainable Development Goals, Target 5.4 calls for the recognition, reduction and redistribution of unpaid family care work, i.e. the domestic and care work
23.03.23
UN New York - On the occasion of the World Water Day and the UN Water Conference, MMM highlights the impact of the lack of access to safe and clean water on women's unpaid care work. This is a key barrier to th
19.03.23
UN Geneva, Human Rights Council - Framing Care as a Human Right at the UN level - right to care, right to be cared for, right to self-care - would unequivocally put obligations on all governments to provide ade
14.03.23
Make Mothers Matter submitted its contribution to the Call for Evidence of the EU Commission on Mental Health.
10.03.23
UN Geneva, Human Rights Council - The dialog following the presentation of the report Women, girls and the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment was the opportunity for MMM to reaffirm the urgen
10.03.23
UN Geneva, Human Rights Council - At the annual day on the rights of the child, which focused on child rights in the digital environment, MMM reaffirmed the importance of considering parents as key stakeholders
07.03.23
Family is the primary social structure through which the needs and rights of children and young people are met and realized. The right to family life as set out by the UNCRC, is a key right for all children and