08.04.23
UN Geneva - In recent years, MMM has strongly advocated for eliminating the use of the word ‘Burden’ in association with unpaid care work. Many people have talked and written about the ‘burden of unpaid care work’, which goes against the idea – and our objective - of recognizing this work as valuable, even foundational work. Our efforts have paid off and we can now claim a small victory as it has disappeared from most UN reports, UN resolutions and other adopted texts.
It all began in 2017 at the 61st session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, where MMM was invited as a speaker to a side-event organized by Switzerland. This provided us with the opportunity for an open discussion with the diplomats involved in the negotiations, and the word ‘burden’ disappeared from the CSW61 agreed conclusions.
We have continued our fight against the use of this word, rallying other Civil Society Organizations, and getting resolutions and other UN documents amended, including at the 52nd session of the Human Rights Council, which has just closed.
Our rationale
We should stop associating the word ‘burden’ with ‘unpaid care work’ – for 2 mains reasons:
In addition, we at MMM argue that unpaid care work develops vital skills, soft skills/life skills in particular, of huge importance in the labour market. These include organizational, human relations & empathy, even negotiation skills….In fact, unpaid care work should be considered as valuable work experience!
Language is critical as it shapes people’s perceptions of an issue and how it will be addressed. Hence our advocacy work against the use of this word.
Today, the word ‘burden’ has mostly disappeared from the UN language, even if it still pops up here and there.
It is all the more important as the issue of the inequitable distribution of unpaid care work has gained visibility and is now on the global agenda.
14.04.23
Make Mothers Matter, together with the city of Ypres, and its grass roots partners Mothers for Peace, Mama Kivu and the Vrouwenraad, is organizing an international peace Conference Women at
23.03.23
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11.10.23
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11.03.24
UN New York, CSW68 - Join us for a discussion on changing the narrative in support of mothers - an online parallel event to the 68th UN Commission on the Status of Women
01.03.24
MMM as founding member, is pleased to announce the launch of Be Family®, a bold and new movement that aims to ensure companies and organisations act inclusively and responsibly towards families and people with
01.03.24
UN Geneva, Human Rights Council - - Co-organised with a group of Child Rights organisations, we invite you to join us for this hybrid event which will take place around the HRC's annual day of the rights of the
27.02.24
UN Geneva, Human Rights Council - Passy Mubalama, Activist and Executive Director of Aidprofen, our associate member in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was one of the 4 Civil Society speakers selected to addr
20.02.24
It is official. On this World Day of Social Justice, we are proud to announce that MMM has joined the International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s newly established Global Coalition for Social Justice.
18.02.24
UN New York, CSocD62 - The title of the resolution, “Promoting care and support systems for social development”, makes it clear that Care and Support are directly linked to the three core themes of social d