We envision a world where all girls and women realize their right to 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.
More People. More Possibilities.
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.
Strategic Approaches

Media Champions
Use media champions to amplify voices
Approach in action: In 2016, WRA Malawi conducted The Summary of a Count of Bedside Midwives in Malawi, a nationwide survey that revealed a gap of more than 20,000 midwives needed to meet the WHO-recommended standard, thereby contributing to Malawi’s maternal health crisis. In response, WRA Malawi launched a multi-pronged strategy. The survey, and the challenges that surfaced as a result, were widely covered in the media, forcing decision-makers to take notice.

Evidence for Advocacy
Collect and use evidence for advocacy
Approach in action: In 2016, together with World Health Organization and International Confederation of Midwives, WRA launched the groundbreaking Midwives’ Voices, Midwives’ Realities, the largest global survey of midwifery personnel, detailing the barriers that midwives face in providing high-quality care to women and babies.

Community Demand
Support women and girls to know and demand their health rights
Approach in action: In 2003, with two women dying every hour from labor and delivery complications, WRA Indonesia launched “Alert Villages” in rural areas to educate women, families and communities about the signs of pregnancy complications and how to mitigate them. Over the lifetime of the program, PPI/WRA Indonesia helped to establish 200 Alert Villages across five provinces, 10 districts and 40 villages creating a sense of shared responsibility for the health and lives of women and newborns.
Community Demand

Feedback Loop
Create a feedback loop to foster linkages between policymakers, organizations and people for long-term relationship building
Approach in action: In 2015, the recommendations from hundreds of Citizens’ Hearings held in the previous year were taken to the World Health Assembly where citizens, nongovernmental organizations, health ministers, government delegations and UN agencies met for the first Global Citizens’ Dialogue Global Citizens’ Dialogue on Accountability for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.

Influence Decision Makers
Influence decision makers and support policymakers to respond
Approach in action: WRA Nigeria established a clear national standard of practice for respectful maternity care embedding it into all levels of the health system, making Nigeria the first country to officially institute it as a standard of practice.

Convene and Catalyze
Convene and catalyze action from governments, community organizations and individuals to drive change.
Approach in action: In 2019, White Ribbon Alliance launched the global What Women Want campaign, mobilizing 1.2 million responses worldwide. Advocacy strategies are now being developed based on women’s self-articulated needs.
More Voices. More Change.
White Ribbon Alliance is a global grassroots movement. We believe that every person and every effort counts to advance our mission for women’s health and rights. We were born from a group of “founding mothers” who raised their voices against the unacceptable treatment of women. Today, we celebrate the brave voices of change around the globe.
Get inspired by the voices of White Ribbon Alliance!
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— Theresa Shaver, Changemaker
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