NEWS: UN WOMEN
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UN Women
Mar 18, 2023

CSW67 closing statement: Game-changing Agreed Conclusions for a more equal and connected world for women and girls
This year's Commission on the Status of Women marks a major milestone. Together, you have set the global normative framework on gender equality, technology and innovation that will shape the lives of women and girls right across the world. It is your collective commitment, your energy, your vision, your resilience and your patience that has successfully led us to our Agreed Conclusions for CSW67.? You have risen to this moment and demonstrated the promise and strength of the intergovernmental space.?Congratulations to you all.

UN Women
Mar 18, 2023

Press release: UN Commission on the Status of Women reaffirms the role of technology and innovation, and education in the digital age in accelerating gender equality
The 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67)— the UN's largest annual gathering on gender equality, the empowerment of all women and girls and their human rights—successfully closed its two-week long session today (6 to 17 March) with the acknowledgment of the critical role of technology and innovation in achieving gender equality. The agreed conclusions adopted by Member States provide a blueprint for all stakeholders, including governments, the private sector, civil society and youth to promote the full and equal participation and leadership of women and girls in the design, transformation and integration of digital technologies and innovation processes that fulfill the human rights and needs of women and girls.

UN Women
Mar 17, 2023

"Con Alma": Artivism for an inclusive digital world to achieve gender equality
During the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67), the Mexican singer Magos Herrera, in collaboration with the Italian composer Paola Prestini and other prominent musicians from around the world, performed at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The concert, titled "Con Alma" [With Soul], was held on 14 March and was presented by UN Women,?Generation Equality,?the Global Alliance for Care, the governments of Chile, Colombia and, through its National Institute for Women, Mexico.

UN Women
Mar 16, 2023

Young leaders take center stage at CSW67 interactive dialogue
The 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67) marked a momentous milestone for youth representatives, who took part in an interactive dialogue around the CSW priority theme on Monday, 13 March. The event, organized by UN Women, saw the inclusion of youth leaders in the official negotiations for the first time, opening space for them to share experiences, lessons learned and best practices relating to the role of innovation and technological change in achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls.

UN Women
Mar 16, 2023

Op-ed: Always on the frontline in every crisis
COVID-19, climate, conflict, cost of living. Over recent years, the world has been rocked by repeated shocks and multiple, overlapping crises. Violent conflict is a deadly reality for billions of people, while climate disasters are increasing in frequency and severity. With progress on poverty eradication and gender equality in reverse, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is under threat. In this world of soaring risks and vulnerabilities, bold, concerted action is needed to catalyze the changes that are needed to get back on track.

UN Women
Mar 15, 2023

Op-ed: Gender data can reinvigorate the SDGs
In his February 2023 remarks to the General Assembly during the Consultation on the Summit of the Future, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged Member States to commit to rescuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

UN Women
Mar 15, 2023

Op-ed: Accelerating action on gender equality
Everywhere, crises continue to exact their highest toll on women and girls. Violent conflict, displacement, the growing climate emergency, the repercussions of the global pandemic, and vocal anti-feminist movements have reversed generational gains in women's rights. UN Women's Gender snapshot 2022 shows that Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 is off track, reflecting and affecting the progress of all of the SDGs. Without change, it could take close to another 300 years to achieve full gender equality. Our sights are set on a much closer date: 2030, the endpoint for achievement of all SDGs.

UN Women
Mar 15, 2023

To tackle the pushback on gender equality, foster and fund inclusive feminist movements
On 13 March, UN Women, in partnership with the Generation Equality Action Coalitions on Feminist Movements and Leadership and Gender-Based Violence (GBV), gathered partners from across sectors to exchange experiences and identify strategies to counter the pushback on gender equality and strengthen civic space and women's digital rights. The flagship side event engaged participants at UN headquarters and online during the 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, this year focusing on the theme of innovation and technological change.

UN Women
Mar 15, 2023

Technology is playing key role in gender equality reversals, says UN chief
"The gender digital divide is fast becoming the new face of gender inequality," said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres during a town hall with women's civil society held on Monday, 13 March, during the 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The event, moderated by UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous, gave women advocates from around the world—some veteran activists, some youth and adolescent leaders—the chance to voice key concerns surrounding women's rights in the digital era.

UN Women
Mar 14, 2023

Op-ed: Technology and Gender Equality - bringing women and girls to the centre of innovation
The 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women is a global opportunity for us to celebrate the achievements of women and girls around the world, and to deepen our resolve to accelerate progress on gender equality. In dealing with a major issue at the centre of the advancement of women and girls, this year's focus on innovation and technology for gender equality could not be timelier—nor more important.

UN Women
Mar 09, 2023

Open, Safe and Equal - Shaping a Feminist Digital Future
The event "Open, Safe and Equal - Shaping a Feminist Digital Future" was held at the UN Secretariat in New York on Tuesday, March 7, and brought together leaders from across sectors, including governments, civil society organizations, women's rights activists, UN agencies, and the private sector to highlight the critical role of multi-stakeholder partnerships in advancing gender equality in the digital world. The event was the first major public-facing moment for Generation Equality since its launch and presented a critical juncture to convey progress as well as action still needed  by women and girls around the world.

UN Women
Mar 09, 2023

Every corner of the internet must be open, safe and equal for women and girls
The event "Open, Safe and Equal - Shaping a Feminist Digital Future" was held at the UN Secretariat in New York on Tuesday, March 7, and brought together leaders from across sectors, including governments, civil society organizations, women's rights activists, UN agencies, and the private sector to highlight the critical role of multi-stakeholder partnerships in advancing gender equality in the digital world. The event was the first major public-facing moment for Generation Equality since its launch and presented a critical juncture to convey progress as well as action still needed  by women and girls around the world.

UN Women
Mar 09, 2023

Revolutionizing STEM to bridge access gaps and uphold digital rights
Valentina Mun~oz is a 20-year-old feminist activist and programmer from Chile. In 2021, she was selected by the UN Secretary-General to serve as an SDG Advocate—becoming the first Latin American women ever appointed to the role. She is the co-founder of the Association of Young Women for Ideas (AMUJI Chile), an organization that aims to empower the next generation of women in STEM. "Girls are leading STEM in Latin America," she says. "The fight against the digital gender gap is happening here, the protagonists are here"—and they deserve a place on the global stage.

UN Women
Mar 08, 2023

Speech: Technology and innovation to accelerate gender equality and the rights of all women and girls
Welcome to the 2023 Commemoration of International Women's Day! It is inspiring to look out and to see so much blue and to see every single seat filled in this hall filled with energy, with positivity, with resilience and allow me to say—with love and with power. The blue today is in tribute to women in technology as this year's theme.

UN Women
Mar 08, 2023

Press release: International Women's Day spotlights massive costs to GDP and innovation caused by the exclusion of women from the digital world
Under the theme "DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality", UN Women, the United Nations, and its partners and allies around the world will celebrate International Women's Day (IWD) on 8 March 2023, calling on governments, activists and the private sector to "power on" in their efforts to shape a safer, more inclusive, and more equitable digital world for all. A paradigm shift is needed to harness the potential of technology and innovation to accelerate progress on the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

UN Women
Mar 07, 2023

Statement: Defiant and steadfast for full equality in the digital world
Women and girls have just as much right to access the digital world and prosper in it as men and boys. Their creativity, knowledge and perspectives can shape a future where technology contributes to transforming social norms, amplifying women's voices, pushing forward against online harassment, preventing the perpetuation of algorithmic biases, and distributing the benefits of digitalization as the great equalizer to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

UN Women
Mar 07, 2023

Speech: Raising the curtain on the Generation Equality Midpoint Event
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is a critical annual moment for us to steer progress on the global rights of women and girls and in particular, the progress we are making towards SDG5, the goal that enshrines the drive for gender equality. It is a moment where we collaborate to sharpen and accelerate our focus and see what more all stakeholders can do to create a world that is more equal, more peaceful and more sustainable. The mandate of CSW is more acutely important than ever, as global risks and conflicts intensify threats to gender equality.

UN Women
Mar 07, 2023

Accelerating action on gender equality
Everywhere, crises continue to exact their highest toll on women and girls. Violent conflict, displacement, the growing climate emergency, the repercussions of the global pandemic, and vocal anti-feminist movements have reversed generational gains in women's rights. UN Women's Gender snapshot 2022 shows that Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 is off track, reflecting and affecting the progress of all of the SDGs. Without change, it could take close to another 300 years to achieve full gender equality. Our sights are set on a much closer date: 2030, the endpoint for achievement of all SDGs.

UN Women
Mar 07, 2023

In the words of Sevgim Parilti: "Your choice can make a difference. Just like me, helping as a chef at the forefront of the crisis response."
Sevgim Parilti is a professional chef and the owner of a restaurant in Ankara, the capital of Türkiye. Following the 6 February earthquakes that struck 11 cities in the country's southeastern region, Parilti made the decision to travel to Iskenderun, one of the most affected cities, to cook for and serve the survivors.

UN Women
Mar 07, 2023

Speech: We need a radical change of direction
In the first twenty years since the Security Council adopted resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, we witnessed some historic firsts for gender equality. While we must pause to appreciate these firsts, we must recall that we have neither significantly changed the composition of peace tables, nor the impunity enjoyed by those who commit atrocities against women and girls.

UN Women
Mar 07, 2023

Women in power in 2023: New data shows progress but wide regional gaps
More women than ever hold political decision-making posts worldwide, but gender parity is still far off, according to the 2023 edition of the IPU-UN Women Map of Women in Politics. The map presents the latest rankings and regional distribution of women in executive positions and national parliaments as of 1 January 2023. The data shows that the number of women in political leadership roles, both in government and in parliament, has increased overall but some regions lag far behind.

UN Women
Mar 06, 2023

CSW67 Opening statement: Digital rights are women's rights
A new kind of poverty now confronts the world, one that excludes women and girls in devastating ways—that of digital poverty. The digital divide has become the new face of gender inequality, which is being compounded by the pushback against women and girls that see in the world today. That is why the work of this 67th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) could not be more timely nor more critical.

UN Women
Mar 01, 2023

In focus: International Women's Day
This International Women's Day, 8 March 2023, join UN Women and the United Nations in celebrating under the theme "DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality".

UN Women
Mar 01, 2023

WeRise app bridges generations to promote gender equality through gaming
Last July, hundreds of people from across the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) region—including activists, influencers, academics, journalists and the Swedish Ambassador to Jordan—gathered to celebrate the launch of WeRise, an edutainment app aimed at raising awareness on gender equality and women's empowerment. With support from UN Women, the platform was developed by youth for youth—and its success highlights the impact that new voices, ideas and technologies can have on the gender equality space.

UN Women
Mar 01, 2023

African Girls Can Code Initiative builds digital skills and momentum towards a better future
The African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI) is working to empower girls across Africa by helping them build digital literacy and computer skills and placing them on the path to tech careers.

UN Women
Mar 01, 2023

Promoting innovation to shatter gender stereotypes
Laith Abu-Taleb is a 28-year-old gender equality activist and tech entrepreneur from Jordan. A youth mobilization specialist for UN Women's Arab States regional office, he believes that integrating the unique knowledge and experience of young people into the tech sphere is a powerful way to drive not only technological innovation but also social progress. Laith is the co-founder of Arabic HeForShe, a movement to engage men in the fight for gender equality, and the co-developer of WeRise, a UN Women-supported app that promotes women's empowerment through gamification.

UN Women
Mar 01, 2023

Hidden mobile app gives women in Serbia a safer alternative for reporting violence
Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a second crisis—a global surge in violence against women—emerged in its shadow. To help safely connect survivors with support, Serbian civil society organization SOS Network of Vojvodina developed a mobile application through which women could report violence and seek help—and which was disguised to prevent detection by abusers.

UN Women
Mar 01, 2023

Transforming internet governance to eliminate online inequalities
Esther Mwema is a 28-year-old digital inequalities expert and artist from Zambia. A long-time activist on gendered safety issues, her current work grew out of the desire to increase girls' representation in the digital governance sphere. Tech has shaped the lives of young people in profound and unique ways, says Esther, so when it comes to its governance, "involving youth for me is a no-brainer". She is the founder of Digital Grassroots, the only youth-led organization in the Generation Equality Action Coalition on Technology and Innovation for Gender Equality.

UN Women
Mar 01, 2023

Spreading digital literacy and radical love to combat online gender-based violence
Dilanaz Güler is a 19-year-old gender equality activist from Türkiye. An advocate against femicide and online gender-based violence, she also works to promote digital literacy and critical media consumption and is the founder of the youth and adolescent-led collective Youth for Digital Literacy. Dilanaz believes that young people's unique relationship to the internet—including, for many, a lifetime of unadulterated online access—make them critical to tackling some of its trickiest problems.

UN Women
Mar 01, 2023

Expanding FemTech to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights
Ayesha Amin is a tech and gender activist and social entrepreneur from Pakistan. She is the founder of the youth- and women-led organization Baithak—Challenging Taboos, a Generation Equality Commitment Maker working to expand access to information on sexual and reproductive health and rights. Having experienced first-hand the discriminatory structure of the tech world, Ayesha highlights the urgency of involving young people—and young women in particular—in the decision-making processes that will impact their future: She believes "there is no alternative".

UN Women
Mar 01, 2023

Media advisory: International Women's Day 2023 and the Commission on the Status of Women to address the gender gaps in innovation and technology
Taking place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 6 to 17 March 2023, the 67th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67) will address the gap that exists for women and girls in accessing digital spaces and skills, as well as the dangers they face from online violence. Representatives of Member States, UN entities, civil society organizations, youth groups, and activists from all regions of the world will come together to shape a future where technology and innovations are harnessed to accelerate the achievement of 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

UN Women
Feb 27, 2023

In focus: UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67)
The 67th annual Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67), the UN's largest annual gathering on gender equality and women's empowerment, will take place this year from 6 - 17 March under the theme, "Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls".

UN Women
Feb 27, 2023

Civil society steps in to heal women's post-earthquake trauma in Türkiye
Following the earthquake that hit Türkiye and Syria on 6 February KAMER, a partner civil society organization of UN Women Türkiye, is among the many civil society organizations that are working tirelessly to support survivors. KAMER has been identifying and helping meet the needs of women, girls and their families from the beginning. While trying to attend to their immediate needs in Diyarbakir, KAMER has also been providing psychological support to women and girls who have lost their homes and loved ones and are struggling with the potent mental after-effects of the disaster.

UN Women
Feb 24, 2023

Power on: How we can supercharge an equitable digital future
From online learning and digital activism to the rapid expansion of high-paying tech jobs, the digital age has generated unprecedented opportunities for the empowerment of women and girls. But advancing technology is also introducing new forms of inequality and heightened threats to their rights and well-being. In the face of escalating global crises, we stand at a crossroads: allow technology to widen existing disparities and further concentrate power in the hands of the few, or put it to work on behalf of a safer, more sustainable, more equitable future for all. The choices we make today will profoundly impact our path forward. Here are four steps we can take in the right direction.

UN Women
Feb 24, 2023

Your guide to CSW67
In March of every year, activists, advocates, experts and governments from around the world come together for the annual meeting of the?Commission for the Status of Women?(CSW). The 67th CSW session, 6-17 March 2023, the first in-person CSW since 2019, will convene under the theme:?"Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls."

UN Women
Feb 24, 2023

Statement on Ukraine by Sima Bahous, UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director
Today marks one year since the Russian Federation's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The past twelve months have seen continued escalation of attacks?and the destruction of Ukraine's civil infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, government buildings and power plants.  The Ukrainian people have endured immense suffering. We pay tribute to the?exceptional dignity, resilience, leadership?and courage of?Ukrainian women and girls?who?continue to pay an enormous price for this severe violation of international?human rights and humanitarian law, including multiple?forms of?violence targeting women. We condemn these violations, for which survivors are owed, and the world demands, full accountability.

UN Women
Feb 23, 2023

Creating safe spaces for women in Ukraine
Launched by UN Women in September 2022, the Safe Spaces for Women and Girls Pilot Initiative has created four safe spaces for women in Ukraine. Each space provides crucial resources and services that displaced women have had trouble accessing. They distribute hygiene kits, educational resources, and offer multidimensional forms of support, including psychological counselling for both adults and children, access to legal advice, and information about local employment and housing resources and survivor services.

UN Women
Feb 22, 2023

Speech: Seize the opportunity for decisive action in Somalia
Speech delivered by Ms. Sima Bahous, UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director, to the UN Security Council meeting on the situation in Somalia, 22 February 2023.

UN Women
Feb 20, 2023

Responding with care: Beauty services coupled with counselling for Ukrainian refugees in Moldova
Since the first day of the war in Ukraine, Anastasia Bacico has been actively involved in the refugee response in Hîrbova?, Anenii Noi, a village in central Moldova. A 28-year-old from the local community, Anastasia studied as a foreign language interpreter, but her interest in civic engagement and community aid led her to begin a salon that offers free beauty services and psychological support for refugees and local women. The salon is run through the project "Feminist and localized humanitarian action", supported by Gender Centru—a partner organization of UN Women that receives funding from the Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF).

UN Women
Feb 17, 2023

In Focus: War in Ukraine is a crisis for women and girls
On 24 February, people across Ukraine awoke to the sounds of sirens and explosions as Russia began a military offensive. As war and conflict impact women differently than men, it is essential to recognize and the specific needs of women and girls in humanitarian response.

UN Women
Feb 13, 2023

Statement: Rising to the challenges of 2023 for women and girls
Everywhere, crises continue to exact their highest toll on women and girls. In fact, 2023 looks set to be one of the most challenging since UN Women's establishment. COVID and its longer-term impacts are not behind us. The food and energy crisis fueled by the war in Ukraine continues to impact those furthest left behind the most and threaten global security and sustainable development. Climate change, and in particular climate-driven disasters, still demand a gender lens in adapting and mitigating impacts.

UN Women
Feb 10, 2023

Paula Coto: The technology sector has outstanding debts on gender equality
For the International Day of Women and Girls in Science—and in the run up to International Women's Day, which focuses this year on innovation and technology for gender equality—UN Women spoke with Paula Coto, a sociologist with Master's Degrees in education and public policy and a postgraduate lecturer on issues related to education, STEM and gender. She is currently the executive director of Chicas en Tecnología [Girls in Technology], a non-profit organization that seeks to reduce the gender gap in technology in Argentina and Latin America. In 2022 she received the Anita Borg organization's "Change Agent ABIE Award", which recognizes women who positively impact the expansion of opportunities for girls and women in technology globally.

UN Women
Feb 09, 2023

Statement: Building a future of scientific progress and gender equality
The 2023 International Day of Women and Girls in Science celebrates women and girls who have devoted themselves to science and the advancement of human knowledge and understanding as students, researchers, and practitioners. Despite their many achievements, women and girls remain underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Globally they are a minority of students in STEM education, at only 35 per cent, with just 3 per cent studying information and communication technology.

UN Women
Feb 06, 2023

UN Women statement: International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation
The International day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation is an opportunity to focus efforts and build upon successful interventions. These include investing in the education of girls and their mothers, health education and community dialogues with parents and traditional and religious leaders. Men and boys also have an important role in transforming social and gender norms to end female genital mutilation as key change agents in prevention initiatives.

UN Women
Feb 03, 2023

International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation: UN Women GWA Jaha Dukureh speaks
6 February marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). FGM affects 200 million women globally, with dire consequences ranging from debilitating pain to childbirth complications to death. Today, UN Women is recommitting to ensuring that laws are not only passed against the practice, but that governments are taking action to implement those laws. We all have a moral obligation to stand against this harmful practice. Join UN Women and Goodwill Ambassador for Africa Jaha Dukureh as we reaffirm our commitment to ending FGM.

UN Women
Jan 24, 2023

In the words of Alice Ledu: "I feel happy that I can contribute to my family's well-being."
Alice Ledu is a South Sudanese refugee living in Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement in Yumbe District, Northern Uganda. Through UN Women's Second Chance Education Programme, implemented with financial support from the Government of Japan, she gained life-changing vocational skills. Now a business owner, Alice is paying it forward by helping to train and mentor a new generation of young people.   Access to education can transform the lives of women and girls, generating new possibilities for individuals, families and communities. Yet as of 2022 nearly 130 million girls worldwide were not enrolled in formal schooling, over half of whom resided in crisis-affected countries. On 24 January, UN Women marks International Day of Education by highlighting the central role of education in furthering women's empowerment—and the critical need to ensure its universal availability.

UN Women
Jan 21, 2023

Afghanistan: Top UN delegation tells Taliban to end confinement, deprivation, abuse of women's rights
The UN deputy chief and head of UN Women have conveyed a direct message to Afghanistan's Taliban leadership calling on them to put the good of the country first and end recent policies towards women and girls that have confined them in their own homes, and violated their basic human rights.

UN Women
Jan 20, 2023

Press release following UN Deputy Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director's visit to Afghanistan
On behalf of the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, the Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Bahous, and the Assistant Secretary-General of the Department of Political, Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, Khaled Khiari, completed a four-day visit to Afghanistan to appraise the situation, engage de facto authorities and underscore UN solidarity with the Afghan people.

UN Women
Jan 17, 2023

Women vendors register businesses, and hope, in DRC
UN Women and a Congolese women's civil society organization are helping women market vendors register their businesses, obtain key market support and access state services.

UN Women
Jan 16, 2023

UN Women Executive Board to convene first regular session of 2023
The UN Women Executive Board will convene for its first regular session on Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 February 2023 at UN Headquarters in New York.

UN Women
Jan 10, 2023

New UN Women Executive Board Bureau 2023 elected
In elections taking place on 10 January, the UN Women Executive Board opened the year by electing its new Bureau for 2023. The rotational Presidency of the Executive Board during 2023 is held by the Eastern European Group and is represented by H.E. Mr. Sergiy Kyslytsya, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the United Nations.

UN Women
Jan 10, 2023

Advancing Gender Equality: UN Women at Davos 2023
UN Women will be at Davos 2023, this year's annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, taking place from 16 to 20 January. Under the meeting's theme of "Cooperation in a Fragmented World", UN Women will spearhead solutions-focused conversations that advance gender equality during the week with leaders from across governments, businesses and civil society organizations. Through in-person engagements, social media highlights and visible on-site messaging, action for gender equality will take center stage this year. Will you join us?

UN Women
Jan 03, 2023

Op-ed: Sport is a key driver of social change
???????We live in a world that is fundamentally interconnected, where diseases have no borders and wars in one part of the world cause food, fuel and inflation crises in far-distant continents. The dire consequences are most acute for women and girls and can be seen in the reversal of recent progress on gender equality—and on all the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We need to change course—and move faster. Without change, it could take close to another 300 years to achieve full gender equality. Our sights are set on a much closer date—2030—the endpoint for achievement of the SDGs. At this halfway marker, it's time for solidarity as we shape our responses and aim for acceleration, not reversal of gains. It's time to invest intentionally—and better—in women and girls.

UN Women
Dec 27, 2022

Statement: The decree barring women in Afghanistan from working in non-governmental organizations is yet another stark violation of women's rights
Statement by UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous on the Taliban prohibition of women working with national and international non-governmental organizations.

UN Women
Dec 23, 2022

Looking forward to 2023
In 2022, amidst conflict, crisis and a growing global pushback on gender equality, UN Women pushed forward. As we look to next year, we're more determined than ever to keep building momentum and to deliver on our commitments to women and girls around the world. In 2023, let's work together to ensure that women's rights are upheld, their agency is respected, their leadership is guaranteed, their needs are met in times of crisis and their lives are always free of violence. Join us.

UN Women
Dec 22, 2022

International Women's Day 2023: "DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality"
The theme for International Women's Day, 8 March 2023 (IWD 2023) is, "DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality". This theme is aligned with the priority theme for the upcoming 67th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW-67), "Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls".

UN Women
Dec 22, 2022

Statement: Women's and girls' human rights - universal and indivisible
In a statement for Human Rights Day on 10 December, UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous calls to reassert the universality and indivisibility of women's human rights and the human rights of all people.

UN Women
Dec 21, 2022

Statement on Afghanistan by Sima Bahous, UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director
The comprehensive onslaught on women's rights in Afghanistan is unmatched in the world today.?The Taliban's latest announcement of the closure of universities for women, effectively banning them from higher education,?is yet another blatant curtailment of their fundamental rights. It is as short-sighted as it is appalling.??The right to education for all women and girls must be restored immediately.

UN Women
Dec 20, 2022

Around the world: 16 Days of Activism
For the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) from 25 November to 10 December 2022, UN Women teamed up with governments, civil society organizations (CSOs), the United Nations and other partners around the world to host events, raise awareness and galvanize people to take action.

UN Women
Dec 19, 2022

At COP27, UN Women Executive Director calls on global leaders to focus on gender equality as central to climate action
UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director Dr. Sima Bahous carried out a two-day mission to Egypt to participate in the 27th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Dr. Bahous met with global leaders, COP27 Presidency officials, government representatives, civil society organizations, private sector representatives, international organisations and climate advocates from around the world, calling on parties to make gender equality, women's empowerment and women's leadership central to climate action.

UN Women
Dec 19, 2022

UN Women Executive Director visits Japan, calls for creating more opportunities for women and girls in Japan and globally
UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous conducted a four-day mission in Japan, from 2 to 5 December, where she met with H.E. Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan, and delivered a keynote speech during the 6th World Assembly for Women (WAW!), a key global conference hosted by the government of Japan. The mission, which underscored the strong partnership between Japan and UN Women, saw Ms. Bahous highlighting the urgency of tackling challenges to gender equality head on to advance the world's common agenda for women and girls in Japan and globally.

UN Women
Dec 16, 2022

Generation Equality leaders UN Women and IDLO call for centring survivors in gender-based violence response efforts
Survivors of gender-based violence face a myriad of challenges in pursuing justice and accessing other essential support services such as emergency health care and safe accommodation. Social norms and stereotyping that stigmatize or blame survivors, constraints within justice institutions and a general culture of impunity often stop women from reporting violence they have experienced and seeking the help they need.

UN Women
Dec 16, 2022

Statement: New lives and livelihoods - protecting the rights of women and girls on the move
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development recognizes the positive contribution of migrants for inclusive growth and sustainable development. Migration can potentially bring significant benefits to women; a demonstration of their agency and a means of empowerment whose benefits, such as remittances, radiate to their families. However, without access to safe and regular migration pathways, many women have no choice but to turn to increasingly hazardous and even deadly journeys that can expose them to far higher risks of violence, sexual exploitation, forced labour and trafficking.

UN Women
Dec 12, 2022

In the words of Jaha Dukureh: "As long as I am alive, I will wake up every single day and scream to the world that FGM is wrong and child marriage is not different from rape."
Jaha Dukureh is the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador for Africa. A renowned activist, she herself is a survivor of female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage. On 19 to 27 November 2022, Jaha undertook a mission to Liberia to support the Liberian Government in their efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, including harmful practices such as FGM and child marriage.

UN Women
Dec 10, 2022

Statement: Women's and girls' human rights—universal and indivisible
In a statement for Human Rights Day on 10 December, UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous calls to reassert the universality and indivisibility of women's human rights and the human rights of all people.

UN Women
Dec 07, 2022

Speech: Tackling challenges head on
The 2022 World Assembly for Women (WAW!) is a testament of our shared commitment to placing gender equality at the forefront of the multilateral arena. This is both a matter of human rights and a critical path for achieving our Sustainable Development Goals. WAW! is an opportunity to discuss the unique leadership role that women and girls can and must play in key agendas such as the environment, climate change, energy, finance, public policy and public security and more.

UN Women
Nov 30, 2022

"Their courage should give us hope and direction": Generation Equality Action Coalition on Feminist Movements and Leadership uplifts the contributions and priorities of women human rights defenders
On 29 November, the Action Coalition on Feminist Movements and Leadership, together with UN Women and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, held their first official commemoration of International Women Human Rights Defenders Day to centre the voices and experiences of women human rights defenders and call on the international community to provide them necessary public, political and financial support and protection.

UN Women
Nov 30, 2022

Statement: Push forward - act now to end violence against women and girls
Five years ago, the global #MeToo movement brought new urgency and visibility to the extent of violence against women and girls. Millions of survivors came forward to share their experience. They forced the world to recognise a reality that shames every one of us. Their courage and voice led to a powerful collective activism and a sea-change in awareness.

UN Women
Nov 30, 2022

Statement: Transformative solutions for inclusive development - the role of innovation in fueling an accessible and equitable world
This year's theme for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities underlines the strong links between gender equality and disability inclusion. These issues are crosscutting and key to an equitable world. It is estimated that one in five women lives with a disability, among one billion people with disabilities. They are some of the most excluded in our society and are among the hardest hit in the current multiple global crises, including in terms of fatalities. These crises are deepening pre-existing inequalities, exposing the extent of exclusion, and highlighting the urgent need for work to address it comprehensively.

UN Women
Nov 30, 2022

Statement: For HIV progress - listen, respect, and respond to young women and girls
This World AIDS Day, I call upon all stakeholders to accelerate their work towards meeting both Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 on gender equality and SDG 3 on health and well-being. The current rates of HIV infections among young women demonstrates how closely these two goals are are interlinked, and how pressing it is to achieve both. I further urge stakeholders to deliver on the commitments made to Generation Equality, specifically those made to the Action Coalition on Bodily Autonomy and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, and to invest in feminist and youth-led HIV movements.

UN Women
Nov 28, 2022

Statement: We must urgently defend the rights and lives of women human rights defenders
International Women Human Rights Defenders Day is an occasion to celebrate and thank those women and girls who tirelessly advocate for human rights, and all people who defend women's rights. Around the world, women human rights defenders give of themselves to bring about a future in which all persons enjoy the dividends of equality and the fullest range of rights.

UN Women
Nov 28, 2022

Statement: Defending migrants' human rights must not cost women their lives
Statement by Mr. Jemimah Njuki, Chief, Economic Empowerment Section, UN Women, for the International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, 29 November 2022.

UN Women
Nov 25, 2022

Statement: Call to Action — "UNiTE! Activism to End Violence against Women and Girls!"
Joint statement by United Nations entities for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 25 November 2022.

UN Women
Nov 25, 2022

Five essential facts to know about femicide
Gender related killings (femicide/feminicide) are the most brutal and extreme manifestation of a continuum of violence against women and girls that takes many interconnected and overlapping forms. Defined as an intentional killing with a gender-related motivation, femicide may be driven by stereotyped gender roles, discrimination towards women and girls, unequal power relations between women and men, or harmful social norms. With the aim of galvanizing global action against this all too pervasive crime, in line with the vision of the Generation Equality Forum action coalitions, UNODC and UN Women have joined forces to produce the second edition of a report on gender-related killings of women and girls. Here are 5 key findings:

UN Women
Nov 23, 2022

Pushing forward: Protesting women's rights abuses in Iran
Mana Shooshtari is an Iranian American feminist activist and organizer whose work—spanning issues like immigration reform, gun violence prevention and sexual and reproductive health and rights—focuses on the protection and promotion of human rights. In the midst of widespread protests across Iran, she's working to amplify the voices of Iranian feminists and to bring their women-led movement to the global stage.

UN Women
Nov 23, 2022

Statement: Push forward — act now to end violence against women and girls
Five years ago, the global #MeToo movement brought new urgency and visibility to the extent of violence against women and girls. Millions of survivors came forward to share their experience. They forced the world to recognise a reality that shames every one of us. Their courage and voice led to a powerful collective activism and a sea-change in awareness.

UN Women
Nov 23, 2022

Press release: Women and girls are more at risk to be killed at home, new UNODC and UN Women report on femicide shows
A new study by UNODC and UN Women shows that, on average, more than five women or girls were killed every hour by someone in their own family in 2021. The report comes ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25 and is a horrific reminder that violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive human rights violations worldwide.

UN Women
Nov 23, 2022

Official UN Commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
The Official UN Commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women will take place on Wednesday, 23 November 2022 from 10 am - 11.30 am (EST) at the ECOSOC Chamber, at the Unite Nations Headquarters in New York.

UN Women
Nov 22, 2022

In the words of Salma*: "We, as women and girls, deserve better."
Salma*, 26, a Lebanese mother of 3 girls, was 13 years old when she eloped with her 16-year-old next door neighbor. Looking to escape her abusive stepmother, she thought marriage would offer her liberty. Instead, it opened a door to further abuse and violence.

UN Women
Nov 21, 2022

Statement: Call to Action - "UNiTE! Activism to End Violence against Women and Girls!"
Joint statement by United Nations entities for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 25 November 2022.

UN Women
Nov 18, 2022

Providing survivor-centered police and justice services in Morocco
Despite its pervasiveness, violence against women is preventable. This 16 Days, we're highlighting the UN Women and partner programmes and initiatives making a difference in the lives of women and girls worldwide. These impact stories prove that a better future is not only possible—it's already being built. The Regional Flagship Programme to address Violence Against Women and Girls in the Arab States, developed by UN Women, UNFPA, UNDP, UNODC and WHO, is working to bridge research with policy recommendations, provide guidance to adapt international standards in service provision to the region, and strengthen interagency collaboration in areas such as prevention.

UN Women
Nov 18, 2022

In focus: 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual campaign that begins on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs through International Human Rights Day on 10 December. Led by civil society, the campaign is supported by the United Nations through the Secretary General's UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women initiative. This year, the UN marks the 16 Days under the theme "UNiTE! Activism to end violence against women and girls".

UN Women
Nov 18, 2022

Push forward: 10 ways to end violence against women
Violence against women and girls remains the most pervasive human rights violation in the world, affecting more than 1 in 3 women—a figure that has remained largely unchanged over the last decade. Ending violence against women is everyone's business. This 16 Days, show your solidarity with feminist movements and advocates around the world. Whether you're a seasoned activist or just getting started, here are ten ways you can act now to end violence against women and girls.

UN Women
Nov 18, 2022

Pushing forward: Dismantling anti-LGBTIQ discrimination in Argentina
Fernanda Rotondo is an Argentinian feminist, LGBTIQ and human rights activist, and writer and photographer. She is also the Gender and Human Rights Coordinator for the organization ANDHES (Lawyers in Human Rights and Social Studies in the Argentinean Northeast). In the face of inconsistent national policies and protections, Fernanda is fighting to advance the human rights of Argentinians across the country and to ensure a violence free future for all.

UN Women
Nov 18, 2022

Stepping up for women and girls during the flood crisis in Pakistan
Despite its pervasiveness, violence against women is preventable. This 16 Days, we're highlighting the UN Women and partner programmes and initiatives making a difference in the lives of women and girls worldwide. These impact stories prove that a better future is not only possible—it's already being built. The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (UN Trust Fund), established in 1996 and managed by UN Women on behalf of the UN system, is the only global grant-giving mechanism dedicated to eradicating all forms of violence against women and girls. Since its establishment, the UN Trust Fund has awarded USD 215 million to 646 initiatives in 140 countries and territories.

UN Women
Nov 18, 2022

Pushing forward: Preventing violence against women in online spaces
Marwa Azelmat is a digital rights expert and lead policy advocate for the Association for Progressive Communications. She is also an activist involved with women's rights movements and organizations around the world. At the intersection of these issues, Marwa is facing off against a central barrier to progress on both: online violence against women and girls.

UN Women
Nov 18, 2022

Driving data-based progress on violence response and prevention in Colombia
Despite its pervasiveness, violence against women is preventable. This 16 Days, we're highlighting the UN Women and partner programmes and initiatives making a difference in the lives of women and girls worldwide. These impact stories prove that a better future is not only possible—it's already being built. UN Women's strategy for change on gender data is Women Count. The programme seeks to bring about a radical shift in how gender statistics are used, created, and accessed. Women Count supports countries to improve the production and use of timely statistics to inform policies and programmes and effectively monitor the SDGs from a gender perspective.

UN Women
Nov 18, 2022

Changing social norms to end violence against women and girls in Kyrgyzstan
Summary

UN Women
Nov 18, 2022

How male champions are helping to end gender-based violence in Uganda
Despite its pervasiveness, violence against women is preventable. This 16 Days, we're highlighting the UN Women and partner programmes and initiatives making a difference in the lives of women and girls worldwide. These impact stories prove that a better future is not only possible—it's already being built. Under the Spotlight Initiative, UN Women is working to train men as advocates for women's rights and against gender-based violence.

UN Women
Nov 18, 2022

Pushing forward: Ending conflict-related sexual violence in Ukraine
Hrystyna Kit is a Ukrainian women right's advocate, jurist and attorney. She is also the co-founder of the Ukrainian Women Lawyers Association JurFem, which focuses on increasing gender sensitivity within the legal community and Ukrainian legislation as well as improving survivors' access to justice. As Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues into its ninth month, she's pushing forward against a rising tide of gender-based violence.

UN Women
Nov 18, 2022

Pushing forward: Resisting systemic violence in Afghanistan
Malalay* is an Afghan lawyer and activist working to support and restore the rights of women and girls affected by family and social violence in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban's takeover last August, her work has gotten significantly more difficult—and more dangerous.

UN Women
Nov 18, 2022

Pushing forward: Countering anti-feminist backlash in Ethiopia
Hanna Lemma is a women's rights advocate and feminist researcher from Ethiopia. She is also the founder and director of Addis Powerhouse, a young women-led feminist knowledge production platform that conducts gender research and works to ensure young women's meaningful representation in Ethiopian politics and society. In the wake of civil war, Hanna is fighting hard to prevent progress on women's rights from becoming a casualty.

UN Women
Nov 18, 2022

Op-ed: Ramp up investment to support Asia-Pacific women to overcome climate disasters
The disastrous floods in Pakistan have proven, yet again, that our climate crisis disproportionately hurts women. Of the 33 million people affected, nearly 70 per cent have been women and children, according to the latest United Nations flash appeal. This is just one of the many accelerating, and devastating, climate impacts around the world.

UN Women
Nov 17, 2022

Media advisory: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
This year, the official commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women at UN Headquarters will take place on 23 November and will be followed by a press conference on the joint UNODC and UN Women global study on gender-related killings (femicide/feminicide).

UN Women
Nov 14, 2022

G20 op-ed: Unlocking the full potential of women
The effects of gender inequality are far-reaching, but with a package of bold measures the G20 can drive investment in delivering systemic, gendered solutions to the issues we face.

UN Women
Nov 14, 2022

Speech: Focus on gender equality as central to climate action with concrete solutions
Remarks by Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women, Sima Bahous, at the Twenty-seventh session of the Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 27), Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, 14 November 2022.

UN Women
Nov 14, 2022

Press release: UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Anne Hathaway calls on leaders of the business community worldwide to put women at the heart of economic growth
In the midst of interlinked crises around the world threatening progress on women's rights and pushing women out of the paid economy, UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Anne Hathaway has today called for women to be at the heart of economic growth and recovery.

UN Women
Nov 14, 2022

Op-ed: Three asks on gender equality to COP27
On today's Gender Day at COP27, the Executive Director of UN Women lays out what the UN Climate Conference must deliver to advance gender equality.

UN Women
Nov 11, 2022

Press release: UN Women launches first-ever National Committee in Spain
UN Women has today [11 November 2022] announced the launch of its first-ever National Committee in Spain to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. Spain is now the thirteenth country to have a UN Women National Committee, joining others such as Germany, the United States, and Japan.

UN Women
Nov 10, 2022

Op-ed: Unlocking the full potential of women
The effects of gender inequality are far-reaching, but with a package of bold measures the G20 can drive investment in delivering systemic, gendered solutions to the issues we face.

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