Back during the UK election campaign earlier this year, a number of development, women’s and human rights organisations got together to produce a Manifesto for Motherhood. This manifesto set out what those organisations – including Amnesty International, White Ribbon Alliance, Oxfam, Mumsnet, Save the Children and the Royal College of Midwives – believe must be done in order to address the shockingly high numbers of deaths of women in pregnancy, newborns and children under 5 around the world.
All of the 3 main UK parties signed up to that manifesto and now as Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg goes off to New York to represent the UK Government at the UN Summit on the global goals to eradicate poverty (the Millennium Development Goals), we wanted to remind him of his commitments.
Our activists uploaded hundreds of pictures of them with a mum and we used these on the front of a giant card to present to the Deputy Prime Minister with the message ‘Make Everyday Mother’s Day’. Inside the card we urged Clegg to honour the UK Government’s commitment to spend 0.7% of GNI on international aid from 2013, help recruit and train vital health professionals, help developing countries build sustainable health systems, address the determinants of maternal, newborn and child health such as lack of access to safe sanitation and drinking water and nutrition and ensure women’s sexual and reproductive rights such as the right to education, family planning and safe abortion.
Our Director Kate Allen, along with myself and representatives from White Ribbon Alliance, Water Aid, Save the Children and Mumsnet, met with Nick Clegg after his webchat online with Mumsnetters. He looked pretty shell-shocked as apparently the Mums had been vigorously holding him to account!
We had a few minutes to talk about the Summit and the urgent need to prioritise maternal healthcare. He was impressed with the card and the work of our activists and I’m sure that he will be going to the MDG Summit with our message ringing in his ears.
Thanks again for your support!
Do men exist in the Amnesty International universe apart from as the enemy?
I’m beginning whether I should hand my AI subscription directly to the feminist movement and have done with it.
Oops! Second sentence should of course have begun: I’m beginning to wonder. . . .
We should be equal amongst ourselves and not be inhuman by being harsh. OMG
I read above “we urged Clegg to [...], ensure women’s sexual and reproductive rights such as [...] safe abortion. ”
Looks like AI UK a has not understood the position on abortion which amnesty has developed after a world-wide consultation process.
May I politely suggest to read up the relevant ICM decision from 2007, and rephrase your blogs accordingly.
Everybody in this world have equal rights………..!