Violence against Women
This fundamental violation of women’s rights remains widespread. Women need strong laws, backed by implementation and services for protection and prevention.
Peace & Security
Women bear the brunt of modern conflicts. Specific threats to them must be stopped, and women must be at the centre of peace talks and post-conflict reconstruction.
Leadership & Participation
The percentage of women in political and other leadership roles is too small. Quotas and new skills can expand space for women to realize their leadership potential.
National Planning & Budgeting
Gender equality should be a stated objective of plans to provide public services, backed by specific implementation actions and sufficient funding.
Economic Empowerment
Women lag far behind men in access to land, credit and decent jobs. The multiple barriers that prevent women from seizing economic opportunities must be abolished.
Millennium Development Goals
The MDGs provide a basic roadmap for development. Gender equality is the third goal, but it is also integral to achieving all eight MDGs.
Focus Areas
UN Women is the UN organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide.
What's new
Lakshmi Puri, Acting Head of UN Women will undertake a week-long official visit to Malaysia, Japan and the Republic of Korea. During the visit, she will underline the need to prioritize investments in gender equality and women’s empowerment and promote women’s participation in all spheres of society.
UN Women's top official praised the first Saudi and Pakistani women to climb the worlds' highest mountain, as well as the first female amputee to reach the summit. Calling them an inspiration for women everywhere, Lakshmi Puri commended their drive to overcome obstacles as a symbol of rising equality and women's empowerment.
To discuss how gains in gender equality and women’s empowerment can be protected in hard economic times, UN Women held a Twitter chat on the impact of austerity measures for women and girls on Thursday, 23 May 2013. A storify summary is available here.
In a joint press statement, UNAMA and UN Women representatives in Afghanistan call on the Afghan Government and Parliament to enforce a landmark law enacted by presidential decree in 2009. It has yet to gain parliamentary approval and challenges persist in its enforcement.
There are now 71 artists from all over Latin America and the Caribbean who have formed a regional network to support the UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign, using their artistry to raise awareness. We highlight their efforts on this World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.
As the World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development is observed, we highlight the designs of Cristina Pineda whose new collection was inspired by UN Women’s efforts on sustainable development and ending violence against women and girls.
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