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- In Focus: Climate action by, and for, women
- Women, peace and security: Preventing war and sustaining peace
- In Focus: International Day of Rural Women
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- About
- What we do
- Where we are
- How we work
- Partnerships
-
News and events
- News
- Editorial series
-
In Focus
- CSW62
- International Women’s Day
- Women and the SDGs
- International Day of Women and Girls in Science
- Leave No One Behind - End Violence against Women and Girls
- In Focus: Climate action by, and for, women
- Women, peace and security: Preventing war and sustaining peace
- In Focus: International Day of Rural Women
- International Day of the Girl Child
- 72nd session of the General Assembly
- World Humanitarian Day
- International Youth Day
- Empowering women to conserve our oceans
- Indigenous women’s rights and activism
- CSW61
- Women refugees and migrants
- Women and sport
- CSW60
- Financing: Why it matters for women and girls
- Engaging Men
- SIDS Conference
- MDG Momentum
- Strengthening Women’s Access to Justice
- Events
- Media contacts
- Digital library
Four indigenous women who are claiming their space
As more than 1,000 indigenous representatives come together in New York for the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, we’re highlighting some of the groundbreaking women activists from indigenous communities around the world. Learn more
“Women have the solutions”
Wekoweu (Akole) Tsuhah, from Nagaland, India, works to advance rural women’s rights through organizing, awareness raising, capacity building, and networking with local governments. Learn more
A garden for all—women and youth rebuild safe and inclusive spaces in Gaza
After the only public garden in Al-Shoka, a conflict affected neighbourhood in Gaza, three women architects and a group of young people worked to restore the space. Learn more
“Women need to be in the corridors of power and politics”
Blessing Ihuaku Duru, of Alliances for Africa, describes their work to promote gender justice, participation of women in leadership and in peace, security and conflict resolution in the south-east region of Nigeria. Learn more

Highlights
In Focus: UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW62)
The 62nd session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (12 – 23 March) will focus on the theme, “Challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and the empowerment of rural women and girls”. Learn more about rural women’s lives, their priorities and accomplishments in our editorial package. More
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In Focus: International Women’s Day
The theme for International Women’s Day, 8 March, is “Time is Now: Rural and urban activists transforming women’s lives”. Join us to celebrate the activists working to claim women’s rights everywhere and to empower women in all settings, rural and urban. Get news, live webcasts, stories and interactive experiences here. More
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In Focus: Women and the SDGs
Gender equality is a right. Fulfilling this right is the best chance we have in meeting some of the most pressing challenges of our time—from economic crisis and lack of health care, to climate change, violence against women and escalating conflicts. Check out new data, stories, videos and more illustrating how and why gender equality matters across all the Sustainable Development Goals. More
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Timeline: Women of the world, unite!
A single moment can spark a revolution, collective actions can transform laws, creative expression can change attitudes and an invention can alter the course of history. It’s these threads that weave together to propel the women’s movement — even in the face of obstacles. Discover how some of these strands, big and small, have shaped your lives, and the rights and lives of women and girls worldwide. More
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Gender parity in the UN system
UN Women is committed to supporting the UN system to reach gender parity, based on its mandate to lead, promote and coordinate efforts to advance the full realization of women’s rights and opportunities. More
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Latest news
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20/04/2018In the words of Nandini Chami: "The conversation on ICTs needs to move beyond just accessibility"
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19/04/2018UN Women statement to the 17th Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
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19/04/2018From where I stand: “What we need is free education for girls”
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18/04/2018Expert’s take: Curbing the tide of violent extremism needs women’s voices and inclusion
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18/04/2018Statement: UN Women in Egypt congratulates the National Council for Women on the approval of the new law regulating the council
Expert's take

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. More
“We need to close the digital gap”

In her remarks at the event ‘All on Board – Closing the Digital Gap for Women and Girls in Developing Countries’ in Brussels, Belgium, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka highlighted the importance of women's access to, control over and full use of technology. More

Featured video
CSW62: Delivering a roadmap for the rights of rural women and girls
Coming on the heels of unprecedented global activism and public outcry to end gender injustice and discrimination worldwide, the 62nd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women reached a robust agreement to empower and support rural women and girls.


UN Women Watch
Teacher works overtime to give Rohingya girls a chance to learn
Alinesa fled Myanmar with her family 26 years ago and found safety in the south-eastern Bangladeshi coastal district of Cox's Bazar. She grew up there in Kutupalong refugee settlement, taking advantage of educational opportunities she was denied back home. More
Empowering Caribbean women through migration
To fully understand the Caribbean region, one must look at migration and its effects. This region has experienced - and is still experiencing - several migratory movements which have contributed to the configuration of Caribbean societies. The feminization of migration, the emigration of skilled professionals to developed countries and intra-regional... More
International Women's Day 2018: Interview with Sister Catharina
Sister Catharina is popularly known as "Sister Gender" or "Sister of Gender Equality" for her continuous promotion of gender equality in Lampung Province, Indonesia. Sister Catharina, who is a part of Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, has been a women's rights activist since 1997, supporting in particular women who are victims and survivors... More
IOM Director General William Lacy Swing Statement, International Women's Day
Women and girls represent a significant proportion of people on the move worldwide, all of whom carry with them a heart full of hope, a mind filled with ideas, and a diverse range of migration experiences. IOM, the UN Migration Agency, stands with each and every one of them on International Women’s Day 2018 and embraces the official United Nations theme: Time... More
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay Statement, International Women’s Day
Every year on 8 March, the international community celebrates International Women’s Day. It is an occasion to give particular resonance, worldwide, to the struggle to achieve equality between men and women, and to launch initiatives that will raise awareness and help to change mindsets. More
The rise of a girl hero
KATHMANDU, Nepal - In her home district in far-western Nepal, 19-year-old Sangita BK needs no introduction. She is well-known as an activist against child marriage. In the last three years, she has - on her own - stopped at least a dozen child marriages. More
UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem Statement, International Women’s Day
The economic inequalities plaguing much of the world today are reinforced by many other forms of inequality, including inequalities in sexual and reproductive health. More than 200 million women-many of them poor and living in rural and remote parts of the world-lack access to voluntary family planning methods. More
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Statement, International Women’s Day
On this International Women's Day, we imagine a world where every woman and girl has access to quality and affordable health care, a world in which women and girls can freely exercise their sexual and reproductive health rights, and one where all women and girls are treated and respected as equals. More
UNODC Executive Director Yury Fedotov Statement, International Women’s Day
International Women's Day is a day to celebrate the towering achievements and immense strengths of women and girls everywhere. But it is also a day to reflect on continuing challenges and to agree on joint action to further advance gender equality and the empowerment of women. More
Borderline: Ambassadors from Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia open event marking International Women's Week 2018
The stories of women who trade small goods across borders in Malawi, Tanzania and Zambia, often by unofficial routes to avoid cumbersome and costly customs crossings, came to life in Geneva at an UNCTAD photography exhibit and video screening, called “Borderline”, marking International Women’s Week, 5–9 March 2018. More
UN Secretary-General António Guterres Statement, International Women's Day
The activism and advocacy of generations of women has borne fruit. There are more girls in school than ever before; more women are doing paid work and in senior roles in the private sector, academia, politics and in international organizations, including the United Nations. More
Changemakers
This year, International Women’s Day comes at a time of global agitation for women’s rights, equality and justice. This is a moment that screams for transformation and celebrates the activists and changemakers among us. The #TimeisNow for less talk and more action. Meet some of the women, among millions, who are changing the world. More