Home > The GWANC^SM Initiative

The Global Women's Action Network for Children^SM

About the GWANC^SM Initiative

• What is the GWANC Initiative and how did it start?
• What is the GWANC Initiative’s goal?
• What is the GWANC Initiative's added value among many global networks?
• What are the GWANC Initiative's objectives?

What is the GWANC Initiative and how did it start?

The Global Women’s Action Network for Children (GWANC) international initiative formally launched in June 2006 at a Conference “Mobilizing for Action” held at the Dead Sea under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah of Jordan and co-convened by Marian Wright Edelman, President and Founder of the Children’s Defense Fund, Madeleine Albright, Founding Chair of the International Assembly of Women Ministers and former US Secretary of State, Mary Robinson, Executive Director of Ethical Globalization Initiative and former President of Ireland, Mahnaz Afkhami, President of the Women’s Learning Partnership, and Melanne Verveer, Chair of the Vital Voices. It represents the culmination of several years of meetings, learning, listening and planning how women can work together to improve the health of mothers, infants and children and to enhance educational opportunities for girls.

In Jordan the GWANC Initiative brought together 212 women leaders from 38 countries spanning diverse faiths, generations and disciplines including two Nobel Laureates, a former President, six First Ladies, numerous Ministers and senior government officials, corporate leaders, heads of international and national agencies and civil society organizations.

What is the GWANC Initiative’s goal?

The GWANC Initiative seeks to help create a new generation of women leaders to catalyze the moral and political will and to draw international, regional and national attention to preventable deaths of more than 14 million mothers, infants and children each year and to some 55 million school-ages girls presently out of school globally. The GWANC Initiative is committed to connecting existing organizations and other networks to work together to improve maternal, infant and child survival rates and overall health status and to enhance educational opportunities for girls.

What is the GWANC Initiative's added value among many global networks?

New advocacy voices from powerful women leaders across sectors, faith and age, united with advocates for children and youths on behalf of powerless women and children; a strong focus on action and helping create and sustain the political will to do what we know works; and on the ground efforts to realize the selected MDGs in selected target countries where progress is lagging. And working collaboratively with others, the GWANC Initiative hopes to support the national campaigns in the U.S. in monitoring budget commitments to and urging greater support for accelerating the investments in maternal and child health and girls’ education nationally and globally.

What are the GWANC Initiative's objectives?

• To raise a stronger, more united and focused voice across sectors of prominent women leaders for powerless women and children and to expand community, national, regional and global media and public awareness efforts to keep visible the preventable death and suffering of poor mothers and children through a global maternal, infant and child health campaign.
• To engage in persistent targeted actions to accelerate the rate of progress and achieve success on girls’ education in target nations, applying promising practices and sustained assistance and advocacy. The first target country chosen for this initiative is Liberia.
• To increase the understanding, commitment, passion and sisterhood among prominent women committed to stand for powerless women and children through annual Maternal and Child Health and Education Watches, a Global Interfaith Day of Prayer; and regular communication of best practices and opportunities for action through a web site and dedicated staff.