Governance, Leadership and Political Participation

With some electoral gains in Iraq, women candidates work towards change

Amid violence-fraught local and regional elections, in which 14 candidates were killed, 300 women contenders were trained by UN Women and the Iraq Foundation. Many emerged successful and thanks to a quota law, women will probably hold 26 per cent of seats on local councils across Iraq.

Posted in Arab States, Governance, Leadership and Political Participation, News, Peace and Security, Stories from the Field | Tagged candidates, elections, female representation, Iraq, murdered, quota law, training, UN, UN Women | Comments Off

We are integral to sustainable peace, recovery and development, say Malian women

At a conference for international donors in Brussels on 15 May, Malian women will present their recommendations, calling for more effective contributions to economic development and for women to play a greater role in conflict resolution and rebuilding of their country.

Posted in Africa, Economic Empowerment, Ending Violence against Women, Governance, Leadership and Political Participation, Human Rights, National Planning and Budgeting, News, Peace and Security | Tagged Brussels, conference, donor, Lakshmi Puri, Mali, Sahel, UN, UN Women | Comments Off

Zimbabweans say yes to new Constitution strong on gender equality and women’s rights

With general elections approaching, Zimbabwean women hope to see women’s representation grow in Parliament, which is also mandated by the new Constitution approved by referendum in March.

Posted in Africa, Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, Governance, Leadership and Political Participation, Human Rights, News, Stories from the Field | Tagged Constitution, elections, equality, gender, Parliament, rights, UN, UN Women, women, Zimbabwe | Comments Off

Lakshmi Puri highlights the need for concerted action to provide sustainable, life-saving energy solutions

Acting Head and Assistant Secretary-General of UN Women Lakshmi Puri takes part in high-level meetings in Washington D.C. from 18-21 April, aimed at stepping up cooperation between the UN and the World Bank. On Friday she will discuss UN Women’s efforts to increase access to modern energy sources for women’s health facilities and services.

Posted in Economic Empowerment, Education, Governance, Leadership and Political Participation, Media Advisories, News, Sustainable Development | Comments Off

Women peace advocates put forth key recommendations for Sahel region

UN Women calls for greater participation of women to achieve peace in Sahel and urge world leaders to protect and advance women’s rights

Posted in Africa, Economic Empowerment, Ending Violence against Women, Governance, Leadership and Political Participation, News, Peace and Security | Tagged Africa, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Catherine Ashton, Chad, ECOWAS, Lakshmi Puri, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, peace, Romano Prodi, Sahel, Senegal, UN, UN Women | Comments Off

Sahel Conference says women’s full participation essential to conflict resolution and economic recovery

Press release on the Sahel Conference: Some 40 women from the Sahel met today to underline the crucial contributions women from the region are making to economic recovery, political stability and conflict prevention, and to explore ways to enhance their role in these areas.

Posted in Africa, Economic Empowerment, Exclude from Frontpage, Governance, Leadership and Political Participation, Peace and Security, Press Releases | Tagged conflict resolution, economic recovery, Lakshmi Puri, Sahel, UN, UN Women | Comments Off

Speech by Lakshmi Puri at the High-level Conference on Women’s Leadership in the Sahel

Speech by Lakshmi Puri, Acting Head of UN Women, at the High-level Conference on Women’s Leadership in the Sahel, 9 April 2013, Brussels, Belgium

Posted in Africa, Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri, Economic Empowerment, Ending Violence against Women, Governance, Leadership and Political Participation, Human Rights, Peace and Security, Speeches and Statements | Tagged African Union, Brussels, crises, crisis, decision-making, human rights, peacebuilding, Prodi, Sahel, UN, UN Women, United Nations | Comments Off

Women elected to one-fifth of seats during Kenyan elections

After Kenya’s recent national elections on 4 March, an unprecedented 87 of the 416 seats in the National Assembly and Senate will be held by women. As a new Constitutional requirement to ensure one-third representation, another 52 women will be nominated by 2015.

Posted in Africa, Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, Governance, Leadership and Political Participation, News, Peace and Security, Stories from the Field | Comments Off

As elections approach, school kids cast their vote against violence in Kenya

On the eve of Kenya’s Presidential elections on 4 March, schools and communities are raising awareness to prevent both electoral and domestic violence. Using theatre, art and an essay-writing competition, kids are tackling how to identify and report incidents of violence.

Posted in Africa, Education, Ending Violence against Women, Governance, Leadership and Political Participation, News, Stories from the Field, Youth | Comments Off

The century of inclusion and women’s full participation: Kapuscinski lecture by Michelle Bachelet

Kapuscinski Lecture: Michelle Bachelet United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women : “The century of inclusion and women’s full participation”. Dublin, Ireland. 21 February, 2013.

Posted in Europe and Central Asia, Executive Director Michelle Bachelet, Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, Governance, Leadership and Political Participation, Speeches and Statements | Comments Off