World Movement of Mothers: Charter

The work of the World Movement of Mothers is based on the Mothers’ Charter and all of its members adhere to its principles.

The Mother's Charter : extracts

A mother’s influence goes far beyond the home – It impacts through her role in the family and community and her contribution to the economic and social development of her country

The organisation of family and social life has to take into account the fundamental equality between a man and a woman while recognising their complementary nature

A woman must be free to choose her state of life and allowed fulfilment, in all her activities in the home and outside.

Public organisations should acknowledge the importance of the education given by the family through financial support and appropriate legislation.

The role of a mother within the family is as irreplaceable as that of the family in society.

Paris, 1947

The Mother's Charter

A mother is the well-spring of human history.
A mother is the most powerful influence on the cultural, economic and social life of the family and society.
A mother, therefore, determines the moral and spiritual values of an entire nation and impacts on the ethos of the international community.
It is a human reality that the dynamics of a mother’s vocation in the family are as irreplaceable as the role of the family in society.

With these underlying beliefs, the activities of MMM International (le Mouvement Mondial des Mères/the World Movement of Mothers) are based on the following principles:

Man and woman are equal. Their different attributes are mutually advantageous and complementary.

The organisation of family and social life must recognise that, like a man, a woman must have an equal opportunity to make informed choices about her own life: her education, her employment status, her relationships, her marriage, her fertility and motherhood, free from cultural, economic and social pressures.

In the same way, the union of a couple in marriage and the fertility of their conjugal life are subject to their conscience alone and may not be imposed nor impeded by legislation, political institutions or economic planning.

Together with a father, a mother is responsible for birth and a child’s first lessons about love, the fragile balance of rights and responsibilities, one’s place in the family and in the community, understanding and respect for oneself and for others. A mother passes on to her child the cultural heritage of the family. Private and public organizations have to prolong, complete and not replace the education given by the family. A mother must be enabled to ensure her happiness and that of her loved-ones in strong, stable family life.

Mothers are the living link between the family and the community. The shared experience of motherhood transcends all cultural, ethnic, religious or social barriers.

For these reasons, it is vital that public opinion and policymakers in all countries recognise and value the priceless contribution of mothers throughout the world.

Mother's Charter - Paris 1947 Translation 2006