White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood

We envision a world where all girls and women realize their right to quality health and well-being. Our mission of activating a people-led movement for reproductive, maternal and newborn health and rights accelerates progress by putting citizens at the center of global, national and local efforts.[1]

In 1999, talking to women about their needs was largely an afterthought, even as maternal and newborn mortality rates soared. By engaging with a diverse range of women and listening to their experiences, White Ribbon Alliance pioneered the practice of amplifying women’s voices in order to guide global health and rights advancements. Today, we unite all of our voices through the efforts of our alliances and partnerships, to expand our power and to make progress on many levels. Our collective efforts result in increased resources, improved policies, and greater accountability to save women’s and newborn’s lives.

'Mothers Day Every Day:The Campaign for Healthy Moms and Newborns: A US-based campaign launched February 27, 2009 and sponsored by The White Ribbon Alliance and CARE calling for greater U.S. leadership to accelerate progress toward safe and healthy pregnancy and childbirth globally. Many influential leaders are members of the Mothers Day Every Day Advisory Committee such as co-chair Donna Shalala, president of the University of Miami and former Secretary of U.S. Health and Human Services; co-chair Ann M. Veneman, Executive Director of UNICEF; Maria Cino, former Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation; and Mark R. Dybul, co-director and distinguished scholar at the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law and former United States Global AIDS Coordinator.

Million Mums:[2] This campaign launched on March 22, 2009, Mother’s Day in the UK, to raise awareness about maternal death globally. The campaign has two simple aims: To sign up a million people and raise a million pounds to prevent women from dying in pregnancy and childbirth. The campaign has high profile support from Sarah Brown and from a host of celebrities including Davina McCall, Sarah, Duchess of York, Claudia Winkleman, Eve Pollard, Kirsty Young, Helena Christensen, Lauren Laverne, Mariella Frostrup, Meera Syal, Myleene Klass, Naomi Campbell, and Bill Nighy. The Duchess also designed a special pin for the campaign available to the first 25,000 people that donate.

Global Maternal Mortality Campaign:[3] Stemming from the progress and commitments of 2008, the 2009 Global Maternal Mortality Campaign is maintaining momentum and maximizing delivery on the promises made towards safe motherhood on a global, national and community level. This campaign’s objectives are:

• Establish a major new innovative financing mechanism to fund health systems.

• 20 countries to have financed health plans in place by 2010, to meet the WHO recommended levels of 2.3 workers per 1,000 people by 2015.

• Appointment by the UN Secretary General of someone to a role dedicated to Maternal Mortality.

• Appoint national champions to mobilize action at a national level.

• Agree on, and develop delivery plans for, a small number of high impact interventions (via the ongoing meetings amongst various groups and with regular circulated materials to all campaigning partners).

• Ensure maternal mortality is recognized as a key indicator of a functioning health system.

The tragedy of maternal death has attracted the attention of numerous prominent individuals around the world who have committed to speaking out for this cause. The WRA is supported by First Ladies, celebrities, and other influential individuals around the world including the WRA's Global Patron Sarah Brown.

Other WRA champions include Queen Rania of Jordan; Bill Nighy; Christy Turlington Burns; Tammy Haddad; Sarah, Duchess of York; Wendi Murdoch; Star Thomas; Djata Ilebou; Emma Freud; Diana Quick; Anna Chancellor; the Sugababes; Maya Masai; Takuma Sato; and many more ambassadors worldwide.

• Maternal mortality
• Maternal Health

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