White Ribbon Alliance campaign calls on UN to tackle women's health

The White Ribbon Alliance, a global movement dedicated to advocating for the health and rights of women and newborns, has launched a campaign featuring stories of hundreds of women from across the globe. 

"Women are watching", created by Uncharted, aims to bring critical health issues to the forefront of global policy discussions, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and calling for greater accountability from world leaders.

The campaign draws on more than 300 stories from women across Kenya, Indonesia, Nepal, Nigeria and Uganda, capturing their lived experiences and demands for better healthcare. 

These stories, developed in collaboration with advocates and artists from these countries, are visually represented by the striking symbol of an eye—sending a clear message that women around the world are watching and demanding action.

In the lead up to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, which runs this month, posters have been displayed throughout New York City and in participating countries.

Social media gifs featuring the eye symbol and the hashtag #WomenAreWatching will be shared globally by supporters, amplifying the voices of women demanding accountability.

As part of efforts to hold global leaders accountable, the campaign was also a central feature of the PMNCH (Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health) Accountability Breakfast on Sunday 22 September. 

The event will include an exhibition showcasing the voices and stories of women featured in the campaign, highlighting the urgent need for clean, safe health facilities, respect for dignity and choice in pregnancy and childbirth, and an end to abuses like child marriage and female genital mutilation. 

Angela Nguku, co-chair of White Ribbon Alliance Global, said: “Our unique approach is to ask what women want and make womens’ and girls’ voices heard by those at all levels of power; those that make decisions on behalf of women and girls. 

"For over two decades, our advocacy for accountability work has led to local and national governments changing or creating new policies, increasing budgets, improving healthcare services among other actions—and we have seen childbirth deaths reducing in such instances. 

"Yet today these gains are being reversed, which is why our new transformed and locally led White Ribbon Alliance is amplifying the voices of women and girls, and demanding change from world leaders in our ongoing struggle for reproductive health justice.”

Laura Jordan Bambach, co-founder and chief creative officer at Uncharted, said: "This campaign is a testament to the power of grassroots women’s networks around the world. Their voices, their stories and their demands are at the heart of our effort to ensure global leaders act with urgency and commitment."