$70 billion US dollars was promised by governments last year for women and children’s health. We want to make sure it is spent effectively.

Why we care: 287,000 women die in childbirth each year. The UN set a goal to reduce this number to 150,000 by 2015. There is still a long way to go.

How we’re solving it: The Citizens’ Voice project gives women cameras to make films to post directly on YouTube, reminding governments to act on their promises.

White Ribbon Alliance is helping local women around the world to raise awareness about what their local, district, national authorities and Ministries of Health are actually doing to keep their promises on maternal health. We give women cameras and they make short films as part of the Citizens’ Voice project, giving communities the opportunity to ask questions and give an insight into what’s actually happening on the ground.

These films are shown on local television channels, screened publicly, heard on the radio, messaged through social media and posted online. National leaders see that voters care about women’s health and are reminded that there are women watching them, making sure they keep their promises.

It’s already working in India. With raised awareness via Citizens’ Voice, local governments were pushed to act. Safe births have doubled and around the clock emergency services have tripled. Citizens’ Voice holds governments accountable and keeps up the pressure for change where it most needs to happen, at a grassroots level.