New programme to boost the rights of women migrant workers in Asia and the Pacific
The Safe and Fair programme will focus on women migrant workers in the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.
UN Women Statement for International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
On this International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, our focus must be strongly on inclusion. That means advocating for change in ways that acknowledge the intersections between multiple forms of discrimination.
Advocating for services and legislation to protect survivors of violence in Ecuador
In 10 districts in Ecuador ACDemocracia, a grantee of the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, is working to address gaps in service delivery and to guarantee women’s access to justice within the project titled,“Integral intervention to guarantee access to justice for women survivors of violence.”
In the words of Sohini Shoaib: “Women are building the economy, yet denied their basic economic rights”
Sohini Shoaib works with The Jan Jagran Shakti Sangathan, a non-party political union of landless rural workers, marginal farmers and youth, currently operating out of six districts of the state of Bihar, India. Shoaib’s work includes supporting the mobilization of labourers and farmers—especially those from oppressed castes, genders and communities, …
Statement: Appeal for clemency for Noura Hussein
UN Women, UNFPA and the UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa join the people of Sudan who are appealing for clemency in the case of 19-year-old Noura Hussein of Sudan, who has been sentenced to death for killing her husband. Reports indicate that she was forced against her …
Five activist moms who inspire us
As many countries around the world celebrate Mother’s Day this week, meet some moms who are fighting the good fight, for women’s rights and equality for us all.
From where I stand: “I am passionate about promoting peace”
Lyop Chong is one of few women to become a member of her local traditional council in conflict-affected Nigeria. Since being trained as a woman mentor for peacebuilding, she has become a passionate advocate for peaceful conflict resolution, starting from home and extending to the larger community.
In the words of Yuan Feng: “Different sectors need to work together to fight domestic violence”
Yuan Feng, from China, is the co-founder of Equality, an NGO based in Beijing, dedicated to women’s rights and gender equality. The organization, a grantee of the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, managed by UN Women, works to end domestic violence and helps survivors of violence. Since …
In Bangladesh, women garment workers gain confidence, promotions and better futures
A project is carried out by UN Women and CARE is helping women get into positions of decision-making, not only at home and in the community but at the workplace as well.
Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network meets in Berlin to promote women’s role in peace processes
About 150 representatives from UN Member States, regional and international organizations and civil society from around the world met in Berlin, Germany, for the annual capital-level Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network (WPS-FPN) meeting on April 9-10, 2018.
From where I stand: “It’s not just men who can do business”
Deyanira Cordoba belongs to a family of coffee growers of Tablon de Gomez, in the of Nariño region of Colombia. As part of a UN Women project, she has learned about her economic rights, bodily autonomy and more. The future holds many possibilities for this talented artist and coffee grower, …
In the words of Marija Andjelkovic: “The girls are getting younger…poverty is driving trafficking in persons”
In the 1990s, Marija Andjelkovic worked at a call centre for girls experiencing violence, when she received a training on human trafficking. In those days, trafficking was not a known, researched and understood phenomenon in Serbia which left an institutional vacuum in addressing the needs of survivors. She was one …
Statement from Purna Sen, UN Women’s Executive Coordinator and Spokesperson on Sexual Harassment and Other Forms of Discrimination
Saddened by the pain caused to women that is now being heard through the #MeToo movement across the world, UN Women’s Executive Coordinator and Spokesperson on Sexual Harassment, Purna Sen, honours victims who have spoken and who continue to come forward.
Take five: “A feminist in decision-making roles makes a difference”
Thelma Aldana is the Public Prosecutor and Head of the Public Ministry of Guatemala, who will complete her term in May 2018. She is known as a champion of women’s rights, UN Security Council Resolution 1325, and the force behind the creation of specialized courts for femicide and violence against …
Speech: Winning the fight for equality with the whole of society
Remarks by Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, at the Tribeca Film Festival’s Tribeca Talks – Times up event in New York City
Remarks by Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka at the African Women Leaders Network: Second Women Leaders Forum for Africa’s Transformation
Remarks by Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka at the African Women Leaders Network: Second Women Leaders Forum for Africa’s Transformation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
From where I stand: “I am worried about the monsoon…will our small shelter keep standing?”
Minara Begum is among the thousands of Rohingya women who fled the violence unleased by the Myanmar army in her village, Buchidong, Myanmar. Having learned new skills in a UN Women-supported Multi-Purpose Women’s Centre in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, she is speaking out, meeting decision-makers in the camp and helping other …
Coverage: UN Women Executive Director in Canada’s G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council meeting
UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka participated at the first in-person meeting of the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council from 25 – 26 April in Ottawa, Canada, in the lead up to the G7 Leaders’ Summit, which will be hosted by Canada in June this year.
In the words of Sandra Moran: “Being the first openly lesbian Congresswoman in Guatemala has been a big responsibility”
Sandra Moran is Guatemala’s first openly lesbian member of the Congress. She organized the country’s first lesbian group in 1995, and was elected in 2015. She is well-known for her vocal support for women’s rights, indigenous women’s rights and LGBT rights in Guatemala.
Madrid joins UN Women Safe Cities Global Programme
The City of Madrid, in Spain, is joining UN Women’s “Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces Global Programme Initiative”, which aims to prevent and respond to sexual harassment and other forms of sexual violence against women and girls in public spaces, including public transport.
Gender Handbook for Humanitarian Action launched to improve humanitarian response worldwide
On 17 April, the Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC), an inter-agency forum on humanitarian action, the Humanitarian Aid department of the European Commission (ECHO) and UN Women co-hosted the launch of the “ Gender Handbook for Humanitarian Action ”, a practical tool that provides guidance to frontline humanitarian workers on …
UN Women statement for International Girls in ICT Day 2018
Unprecedented hunger for change brings girls expanded horizons and changed attitudes
Speech by UN Women Deputy Executive Director Yannick Glemarec at a parallel session during the second Syria conference in Brussels
Remarks delivered by UN Women Deputy Executive Director Yannick Glemarec at a parallel session during the EU-UN Conference on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region”, seeking to raise awareness on the added value of women’s engagement in the economic recovery of the region.
Speech by UN Women Deputy Executive Director Yannick Glemarec at the Ministerial Segment of the second Syria Conference in Brussels
Remarks delivered by UN Women Deputy Executive Director Yannick Glemarec at a side event during the EU-UN Conference on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region”, calling for the international community to embed gender justice and social equality in all work responding to the crisis.
The second UN-EU conference on Supporting the future of Syria and the region starts in Brussels
The European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN) are co-chairing the second conference on ‘Supporting the future of Syria and the region’, which will take place in Brussels from 24 to 25 April. At the sidelines of the conference, UN Women, together with the European Union, UNFPA, Kvinna till …
International Girls in ICT Day, 2018
The ICT sector presents tremendous opportunities for women. It’s slated to become a very big chunk of the job market, with an estimated 90 per cent of jobs soon requiring ICT skills. But for women to seize these opportunities equally as men, we have to tackle the gender stereotypes and …
Women Working Together for the Africa We Want: African Women Leaders Network convene for a second forum
The “Second Women Leaders Forum for Africa’s Transformation” of the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) will run from 24 to 26 April at the African Union (AU) Headquarters in Addis Ababa, under the theme, “Women Working Together for the Africa We Want: From Commitment to Action”.
In the words of Nandini Chami: “The conversation on ICTs needs to move beyond just accessibility”
Nandini Chami works on policy research and advocacy on the intersection of ICTs, gender equality, and development, at IT for Change, an NGO based in Bengaluru, India. She was part of the IT for Change team that developed a toolkit on mainstreaming gender in e-government ecosystems for policymakers in the …
From where I stand: “ICT empowers me to grow without limits”
For Reem El-Dabbagh, from Gaza, Palestine, there’s no better sector for women than ICTs, with its limitless potential for growth. She is currently developing a web application which will provide comprehensive online services for survivors of gender-based violence.
UN Women statement to the 17th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
UN Women extends its unwavering commitment to the rights of indigenous women of all ages who are here at the Forum as well as to those who are supporting them from behind.
From where I stand: “What we need is free education for girls”
Purity Soinato Oiyie is a Maasai girl from Kenya who escaped Female Genital Mutilation and child marriage. She spoke at the opening session of the 62nd UN Commission on the Status of Women, the UN’s largest gathering on gender equality and women’s rights. In her own words, she shares her …
Expert’s take: Curbing the tide of violent extremism needs women’s voices and inclusion
Hanny Cueva, Regional Advisor on Governance, Peace and Security at UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, discusses women’s role in preventing the spread of violent extremism in communities.
Statement: UN Women in Egypt congratulates the National Council for Women on the approval of the new law regulating the council
In line with the national efforts to advance the status of Egyptian women, UN Women in Egypt congratulated the President of the National Council for Women on the approval of the law passed by the Egyptian Parliament on 15 April concerning regulating the work of the council.
Four indigenous women who are claiming their space
Indigenous peoples live across 90 countries, represent 5,000 different communities and speak a majority of the worlds languages. They account for less than 6 per cent of the world’s population, but make up 15 per cent of the poorest worldwide. As more than 1,000 indigenous representatives come together in New …
Statement: Sexual violence leaves people behind: we must have accountability and change for women and girls
Statement by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, on the recent cases of sexual violence against women and girls in India, 17 April
Op-ed: Closing the gender gap in politics
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, calls on Commonwealth countries to make democracy more democratic by ensuring that women can participate freely, fairly and safely in elections and politics.
From where I stand: “We want to be heard, to be recognized, this land is ours”
As the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues opens today at the UN, focusing on the theme of “Indigenous peoples’ collective rights to lands, territories and resources”, here is what Alice Lesepen has to say. From the indigenous community of Rendille Community in Marsabit County, Kenya, Ms. Lesepen works with …
Speech: “The women, peace and security agenda is a powerful tool”—Executive Director
Remarks by Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka at the Launch Event of Finland’s 1325 National Action Plan in Helsinki, Finland on 13 April.
Speech: “We need to close the digital gap”—Executive Director
Remarks by Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, at the event ‘All on Board – Closing the Digital Gap for Women and Girls in Developing Countries’ in Brussels, Belgium
UN Women Executive Director to visit Nordic countries for annual consultations
UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka will visit Helsinki, Finland, on 12-13th April to discuss the status of gender equality globally, as well as Finland’s contribution to achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment worldwide—a top priority that Finland and UN Women share. Following this, the Executive Director will visit Sweden …