International Solo Mothers By Choice Day (ISMBCD) November 17 is a global day celebrating solo mothers by choice and their families.
The day also marks a call to action for accelerating the legal equality of solo mothers by choice.
International Solo Mothers By Choice Day (ISMBCD) November 17 is a global day celebrating solo mothers by choice and their families.
The day also marks a call to action for accelerating the legal equality of solo mothers by choice.
History
behind the date
International Solo Mothers By Choice Day and International Solo Parent By Choice Day were initially founded by a grassroots group of South Australian solo mothers by choice in collaboration with other national and international parent groups.
The date was chosen to recognise the day Hon Ian Hunter introduced the Statutes Amendment (Surrogacy Eligibility) Bill into the Legislative Council of South Australia on November 17, 2016 on behalf of a Minister in the House of Assembly.
The Bill amended several acts under the guiding principle that people seeking to undergo assisted reproductive treatment must not be discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation, marital status, or religion.
The second reading of the speech was on November 29, 2016.
It went through the third reading and passed on December 07, 2016.
Reproductive justice
Equality for SMBCs is a matter of reproductive justice. As defined by Black feminist US activist group Sister Song, reproductive justice as “the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities."
ISMBCD and ISPBCD recognize that reproductive rights are inseparable from social justice issues like gender and sexual equality, anti-racism, Indigenous sovereignty, and economic and environmental justice. SMBCs from marginalized groups, including LGBTQIA+, Indigenous, Black, disabled, and poor communities are disproportionately affected by policies that restrict reproductive rights.
History behind the date
International Solo Mothers By Choice Day and International Solo Parents By Choice Day were initially founded by a grassroots group of South Australian solo mothers by choice in collaboration with Solo Mum Society and with support of various national and international advocacy and parenting groups.
The date was chosen to recognise the day Hon Ian Hunter, South Australian Labor Member of Parliament introduced the Statutes Amendment (Surrogacy Eligibility) Bill into the Legislative Council of South Australia on November 17, 2016 on behalf of a Minister in the House of Assembly.
The Bill amended several acts under the guiding principle that people seeking to undergo assisted reproductive treatment must not be discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation, marital status, or religion.
The second reading of the speech was on November 29, 2016.
It went through third reading and passed on December, 2016.
Reproductive justice
- Equality for SMBCs is a matter of reproductive justice. As defined by Black feminist US activist group Sister Song, reproductive justice as “the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities."
- ISMBCD and ISPBCD recognize that reproductive rights are inseparable from social justice issues like gender and sexual equality, anti-racism, Indigenous sovereignty, and economic and environmental justice. SMBCs from marginalized groups, including LGBTQIA+, Indigenous, Black, disabled, and poor communities are disproportionately affected by policies that restrict reproductive rights.
International Solo Mothers By Choice Day is a day celebrating solo mothers by choice across the globe no matter how they chose to start and grow their family.
On November 17 each year, we come together globally to:
- Celebrate solo mothers/solo parents by choice and their families
- Acknowledge their contributions, resilience, and reproductive autonomy
- Advocate for equal treatment in law, policy, and society
How can you get involved
There are many ways you can support International Solo Mothers By Choice Day:
→ Share the message: Use hashtags #ISMBCD #ISPBCD #Equality to spread awareness.
→ Celebrate families: Post stories, photos, and messages of support for solo mothers by choice and their children.
→ Advocate for change: Contact policymakers, share petitions, and join campaigns for family law and policy reform.
→ Connect: Join our mailing list to hear about upcoming initiatives, research, and advocacy opportunities.
Fast facts about Solo Mothers By Choice
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Single women have conceived and raised children successfully in countless cultures and in every era. With the global growth of assisted reproduction technology (ART), expanded rights for women, and decreased stigma around autonomous motherhood, SMBC families are on the rise.
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Research shows that the rates of single women and same-sex couples accessing fertility treatment are increasing.
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According to the 2023 ANZARD report, single women undertook 14.6% of the 109,535 assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles performed in Australia and New Zealand in 2023, representing a steady increase in the use of ART to create diverse families.Single women and female same-sex couples accounted for one in five IVF cycles in 2023.
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In the UK, the number of single women having fertility treatment has more than trebled in the past decade. According to data released by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority on Tuesday, there was a 243% increase in the numbers of single women accessing fertility treatment between 2012 and 2022. The number of women in a same-sex couple having fertility treatment has also more than doubled.
Fast facts about Solo Mothers By Choice
-
Single women have conceived and raised children successfully in countless cultures and in every era. With the global growth of assisted reproduction technology (ART), expanded rights for women, and decreased stigma around autonomous motherhood, SMBC families are on the rise.
-
Research shows that the rates of single women and same-sex couples accessing fertility treatment are increasing.
-
According to the 2023 ANZARD report, single women undertook 14.6% of the 109,535 assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles performed in Australia and New Zealand in 2023, representing a steady increase in the use of ART to create diverse families.Single women and female same-sex couples accounted for one in five IVF cycles in 2023.
-
In the UK, the number of single women having fertility treatment has more than trebled in the past decade. According to data released by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority on Tuesday, there was a 243% increase in the numbers of single women accessing fertility treatment between 2012 and 2022. The number of women in a same-sex couple having fertility treatment has also more than doubled.
Together, we can create a future where all families are recognised and valued equally.
Join our mailing list to hear about upcoming initiatives, research, and advocacy opportunities.