Every Woman Every Child is an unprecedented global movement spearheaded by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that mobilizes and intensifies international and national action by governments, the UN, multilaterals, the private sector and civil society to address the major health challenges facing women, children and adolescents. The main objective of Every Woman Every Child is to end all preventable deaths of women, children and adolescents within a generation, and ensure that they thrive within a lifetime.

The Global Strategy was formally launched at the 70th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2015. An Operational Framework is currently being developed to accompany the Global Strategy for the first five years (2016-2020), to be continually updated through 2030. Building on ongoing efforts and existing structures, the Operational Framework will inform support to countries as they develop and refine their plans for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health based on country-identified needs and priorities. Other stakeholders can also use it as a guide to align their actions in support of countries. The Operational Framework is being developed in consultation with governments, civil society, the private sector, international agencies, and other constituencies and partners. The Global Strategy can only be implemented through collective action and collaborative effort: everyone has a critical role to play. Governments and national leaders will own and drive this process in countries, developing investment and implementation plans, and building the multistakeholder platforms needed to achieve national targets. Countries will be supported by many partners under the Every Woman Every Child umbrella in three main areas: technical support for planning and implementation, financing, and advocacy. Globally, the United Nations Secretary-General leads the Every Woman Every Child movement and will be supported by a High-Level Advisory Group.

The Every Woman Every Child initiative is advanced by leaders worldwide and brings together partners within governments, philanthropy, the private sector, civil society, health-care workers and other relevant partners around the world. It is coordinated by the Executive Office of the Secretary-General that works to ensure continued support for the Global Strategy at the highest levels.

UN Secretariat/The Office of the Secretary-General