The people-led global movement

for the health & rights of women, newborns and girls

OWNING OUR POWER

The Nairobi Declaration

ISSUED AT THE END OF OUR GLOBAL WHITE RIBBON ALLIANCE CONVENING

Since 1999, White Ribbon Alliance has advocated for women’s voices to be heard by those in power.

Our advocacy has led to governments across Africa and South Asia changing policies, increasing budgets, improving health services – and we have seen childbirth deaths coming down by half.

Yet today these gains are being reversed, which is why our revived, reconstituted, locally-led White Ribbon Alliance is again leading the global movement for reproductive health justice.

We, the 11 autonomous national White Ribbon Alliances gathered in Nairobi this 27th day of February 2024, declare that as the original and authentic WRA, we continue our journey strong and united in our advocacy for women, girls and newborns around the world.

We thank all of those who have trusted and supported us for 25 years. We assure you that while maternal and newborn mortality has stagnated and/or reversed in some countries, we are reinvigorated and remain passionately committed to our mission of advancing women’s health and wellbeing globally. COVID-19, multiple conflicts and climate change are exacerbating the risks already facing mothers and newborns in a world riven by gender and other emerging inequalities, where lifesaving health care is just not there for millions of the most vulnerable.

We are the people who know the specific problems of our own communities - and who know the solutions. We have now achieved our long-held aspiration to take back our power by being regionally led, with Co-Chairs/ conveners in India and Kenya. The former global secretariat (aka ‘White Ribbon Alliance Global’), an administrative office based in Washington DC, has chosen to sunset/close.

Our growing network continues to be wide-reaching, respected and unrivalled. We have a proven track record in advocacy from grassroots to global level. Our ASK -LISTEN- ACT approach is unique, making the voices of over 4 million girls and women heard in the ongoing WHAT WOMEN WANT (WWW) campaign which was created by and belongs to the national alliances; that curated and led these campaigns

Therefore, if you are looking to truly impact the lives of women, girls and newborns, partner with us. If you want to reach the last mile, work with us. We call on all our allies, friends and supporters to stand with us as we carry forward the torch of the White Ribbon Alliance into the future.