UN Women - Headquarters

Op-ed: For a better world for all

At 100 days since the abduction of 276 girls in Nigeria and during the first-ever Girl Summit, the Executive Directors of UN Women and UNFPA reiterate that we must keep demanding action to bring back our girls. Learn more »

Market vendors in Suva, Fiji, say no to violence against women.

Stop violence against women in the informal economy

Wear orange on #OrangeDay (25 July) and say NO to violence against women and girls working in the informal economy by raising awareness through social media. Learn more »

Stepping up the Pace

UN Women will ensure women’s voices and leadership feature prominently in the global HIV response at the 20th International AIDS conference from 20-25 July, 2014. Learn more »

Women leaders of all ages at the Democracy Day celebrations in 2011. The celebration was organized by UN Women and the Institute of Social Studies to recognize the work of elected women representatives around India. The Constitution of India mandates the reservation of 1/3 seats for women in local bodies. Many states now also have 50 percent reservation for women.

In Focus: Women in power and decision-making

This month, we take a closer look at how women create change through holding political office, acting as advocates and making decisions in public and private spheres of life
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Highlights

Beijing+20 – The Beijing Platform for Action turns 20

Imagine a world where gender equality is a reality for every woman and girl. Join us! More

Op-ed: Gender equality for the environment: An unfinished agenda

In this opinion piece, on the heels of the first-ever United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya last month, UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri says women work closely with natural resources — and need to be closely involved in managing them. More
Our expert's take: Why do women remain invisible, in spite of their presence?

Venge Nyirongo is a Policy Specialist on Sustainable Development with UN Women's Economic Empowerment Section. He writes about the gender dimension of hunger and women's critical, yet often unrecognized, role in food security." More
Emma Watson named new UN Women Goodwill Ambassador.

Best known for her role in the ‘Harry Potter’ film series, Emma Watson will work to empower young women and serve as an advocate for UN Women’s HeForShe campaign. More
Women in Power and Decision-making

As part of UN Women's Beijing+20 campaign, we focus on Women in Power and Decision-making, one of the 12 critical areas of concern of the Beijing Platform for Action. We spotlight women leaders and decision-makers who are ushering change for their societies. More
Women and the environment

As part of UN Women's Beijing+20 campaign, we focus on one of the 12 critical areas of concern of the Beijing Platform for Action, and how women can and do make a difference in environmental decisions. More
UN Women's #HeForShe campaign

HeForShe is a new gender equality branding campaign, in which men all over the world are being encouraged to speak out against the inequalities faced by women and girls. Check it out! More

Latest News

24/07/2014
Op-ed: For a Better World for All
23/07/2014
Our expert's take: Why do women remain invisible, in spite of their presence?
21/07/2014
Gender equality for the environment: An unfinished agenda
17/07/2014
Amplifying the voices of women living with HIV: UN Women at the 2014 International AIDS Conference
16/07/2014
‘Ready for the lists’, say Uruguayan women

More news »

In the words of...

Michelle Bachelet was sworn-in for a second term as President of Chile in March 2014. Previously, she was the first Executive Director of UN Women, from its inception in 2010 until March 2013.

Read her column »

Watch her video message »

Women of achievement

Growing up in the rural parish of Manchester, Jamaica, Commander Wemyss-Gorman says there was very little interaction with the military. Today, 22 years later, she is the Commanding Officer of Jamaica’s Coast Guard, the first woman to attain the prestigious position in the island state, as well as the entire Caribbean region.

Executive Director calls for peace in Gaza

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. (Photo: Marco Grob.)

In a statement, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka expressed alarm over the high number of Palestinian women and children who have lost their lives or have been injured in the current escalation of violence in the crisis relating to Gaza. She calls on all sides to immediately halt the violence and allow full humanitarian access, stressing that a political solution is imperative to allow for long-term peace and development that benefits all. More

Featured Video

Thailand: Fighting Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is a tragic feature of millions of women’s lives. But in Thailand, new efforts are underway to better protect women from violence at the hands of their partners by training police cadets in investigating domestic violence. Produced by UNTV for UN Women, this piece follows one young woman cadet as she gets her first close-up look at a case of abuse.

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Beijing+20 on Twitter

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Featured Publication

Annual Report 2013-2014
The Annual Report documents UN Women’s work to foster women’s empowerment and gender equality around the world. It highlights some of the organization’s initiatives during the year and provides summary financial statements, a list of new programmes and projects, and contact information. More »
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UN Women Watch

Giving hope to victims of human trafficking

Ahead of the first ever World Day against Trafficking in Persons (30 July), we hear the harrowing experiences of human trafficking survivors, as well as their stories of hope thanks to the work of grassroots organizations helping the victims of this despicable trade. Managed by UNODC, the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Victims of Human Trafficking... more

Women shepherds in Somaliland determined to change their odds

Water is a central concern year round in Somaliland, a self-declared autonomous state in northern Somalia. Over a third of households in Somaliland's urban areas do not have access to clean drinking water and the proportion is far higher in rural areas, the UN says. more

New UN data shows need for urgent action to end female genital mutilation, child marriage

New data released today by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) shows the need for urgent action to end female genital mutilation and child marriage – two practices that affect millions of girls across the globe. more

Woman Alone: The fight for survival by Syria's refugee women

There are nearly 150,000 Syrian refugee women who are single-handedly providing for their families. Read their extraordinary stories of loss and resilience. more

Fish drying method changes lives in Burundi

An FAO project to equip small fishing communities with the tools and know-how to dry fish on simple raised racks instead of on the sand has changed lives along the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Burundi. Women had always dried catches of small sardine-like silver lake fish called ndagala on the ground, where they were easy pickings for animals and vulnerable... more

Jordan: High Commissioner Visits a Struggling Syrian Family

A new UNHCR report reveals that over 145,000 Syrian refugee families in Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Iraq are headed by women alone. UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres paid a visit to Awah, who is raising her children on her own in Amman. more

UN Millennium Goals 'scorecard' spotlights successes, gaps and path towards 'the future we want'

With the 2015 deadline for achieving the landmark Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) less that 550 days away, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today launched the final push towards the United Nations targets – many of which have been met or are within reach – and urged a strong, ambitious successor blueprint "that will leave no one behind." more

Right to education still not a reality for many women and girls

Despite international consensus on the need for the elimination of discrimination against women in the field of education, an estimated 35 million girls are still unable to attain the education they require, according to the UN Human Rights chief. more

Featured Content

Op-ed: For a better world for all

Stop violence against women in the informal economy

Stepping up the Pace

In Focus: Women in power and decision-making

Highlights

Op-ed: Gender equality for the environment: An unfinished agenda

Our expert's take: Why do women remain invisible, in spite of their presence?

Emma Watson named new UN Women Goodwill Ambassador.

Women in Power and Decision-making

Women and the environment

UN Women's #HeForShe campaign

Latest News

In the words of...

Women of achievement

Executive Director calls for peace in Gaza

Featured Video

Thailand: Fighting Domestic Violence

Beijing+20 on Twitter

Featured Publication

UN Women Watch

Giving hope to victims of human trafficking

Women shepherds in Somaliland determined to change their odds

New UN data shows need for urgent action to end female genital mutilation, child marriage

Woman Alone: The fight for survival by Syria's refugee women

Fish drying method changes lives in Burundi

Jordan: High Commissioner Visits a Struggling Syrian Family

UN Millennium Goals 'scorecard' spotlights successes, gaps and path towards 'the future we want'

Right to education still not a reality for many women and girls

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