The unifying symbol of the White Ribbon: ICM Deputy Director Judi Brown reports from the Zambia, November 2003, meeting of the Decision Making Committee of the White Ribbon Alliance.

In 2003 I was elected to membership of the Decision Making Committee (DMC) of the White Ribbon Alliance (WRA) Organisation, based in Washington, DC. The Decision Making Committee will function as a temporary committee for two years (July 2005) for the purpose of providing guidance and support to the WRA Secretariat and, in consultation with the field, to determine the permanent organisational structure and governance of the WRA. The ICM Board agreed to support my participation with a view to closer alliance between the two organisations.

Background to the WRA

The WRA was created in 1999 by a group of international professionals who saw the need for a large, united and multi-sectoral effort to prevent women dying needlessly in pregnancy and childbirth. WRA's new institutional home is at the Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA). The WRA is supported by funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the POLICY II Project.

The WRA is a grassroots movement for safe motherhood that builds alliances, strengthens capacity, influences policies, harnesses resources, and inspires action to save womens' and newborn's lives everywhere.

WRA activities

The inaugural meeting of the DMC was held in July 2003 in Washington. The members of the DMC include Debbie Armbruster, Kathlyn Ababio, Kokila Agarwal, Judi Brown, Milly Kayongo, Nancy Russell, Theresa Shaver (Executive Officer) and Patricia Stephenson.

In November 2003, the WRA held a second meeting of the DMC as well as a Capacity-Building Workshop in Lusaka, Zambia for member associations. (My participation was funded in part by the WRA and in part by my employer, the Nurses Board of South Australia.)

A set of draft principles were drafted by WRA members, Decision-Making Committee members, and National Secretariat Coordinators. The workshop participants provided significant and useful feedback and input on the draft principles, which were initially developed during the Saving Mothers' Lives: What Works international conference in India, in October 2002 by the former WRA Steering Committee.

In Zambia, feedback and input to the principles were received and the principles were revised several times.

The DMC has agreed a workplan for 2004/early 2005 with actions under the following categories:

* Make clear recommendations and decisions about an organisational structure and governance system appropriate for a flexible, evolving and inclusive WRA

* Working actively with the field, determine roles and responsibilities of national and global secretariats including governing bodies 

* Raise the profile of the WRA and use all possible opportunities to advocate WRA principles and communicate with other DMC members about activities and contacts

* Develop systems and criteria for accepting new members and monitoring adherence to principles of WRA membership

A future meeting of the DMC and ICM representatives is also planned.

5th Annual White Ribbon Contest for Safe Motherhood

The purpose of this competition is to recognise innovative projects that have raised awareness about maternal mortality, using the white ribbon, and inspired action to reduce these preventable deaths. Award-winning activities have the potential to serve as models in the promotion of safe motherhood, and may be replicated in other regions of the world. They will be based on the 'Ten messages for Safe Motherhood':

1. Advance safe motherhood through human rights

2. Empower women: ensure choices

3. Safe motherhood is a vital economic and social in vestment abortion

4. Delay marriage and first birth

5. Every pregnancy faces risks

6. Ensure skilled attendance at delivery

7. Improve access to quality reproductive health services

8. Prevent unwanted pregnancy and address unsafe

9. Measure progress

10. The power of partnership

Please note this is a last reminder: entries are due to be completed by March 12, 2004. Further details from:

White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood, Global Secretariat

1050 17th Street, N.W., Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036, USA

Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]

E-mail: [e-mail] Website: www.whiteribbonalliance.org