White Ribbon Alliance Celebrates 25 Years of Reproductive Justice Activism at Glastonbury
Global movement joins forces with Cyndi Lauper to amplify call for reproductive health rights
Cyndi Lauper @ Glastonbury Festival on BBCiplayer
Glastonbury, UK - The White Ribbon Alliance (WRA), a leading global grassroots advocacy movement for safe childbirth and reproductive health justice, marked its 25th anniversary at Glastonbury Festival with a powerful message of reproductive, maternal and newborn rights.
WRA's presence was felt across the festival, from their Birth Day Tent in The Park to Cyndi Lauper's incredible performance on the Pyramid Stage[4]. The organisation's supporters were front and centre during Lauper's set, holding placards to amplify her call for reproductive health justice.
Before performing her hit "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," Lauper drew attention to the White Ribbon Alliance and declared, "It is time that the world leaders understand that women are half the population of the world and we deserve to be treated equally, no matter where we're from or what we look like”.
The Birth Day Tent, decorated as a birthday party to emphasise that every birth should be a celebration, offered festival-goers the opportunity to surprise friends with birthday moments or receive "Birthday Grams" across the festival grounds[2]. A 12-metre banner reading "GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS" was prominently displayed during Lauper's performance[2].
Brigid McConville of the White Ribbon Alliance stated, "White Ribbon Alliance is calling for HAPPY BIRTH DAYS for all. We must have autonomy over pregnancy decisions so that women have babies because they choose to, are treated respectfully, and give birth safely".
WRA's presence at Glastonbury since 2008, with support from Emily Eavis, has been instrumental in pushing for reproductive justice and safe childbirth. This year, the organization stands in solidarity with activists worldwide, from communities preventing child marriage in India to anti-FGM campaigners in The Gambia.
As part of their ongoing "What Women Want" campaign, WRA has gathered voices from over 4 million women, primarily in Africa and South Asia, to inform their advocacy efforts[2]. With half the world voting in 2024, the organisation urges people to use their votes to call for action on reproductive and maternal health rights.
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About White Ribbon Alliance:
White Ribbon Alliance is a global grassroots movement that amplifies the voices of women and girls to achieve reproductive, maternal and newborn health rights for all.
