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Strengthening Voices for Democracy

From Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe, UN Women is working in more than 70 countries around the world to strengthen women's voices, leadership and political participation. 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 »

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. 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

Invitation to Beijing+20 campaign launch event

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

Post your profile pic in support of equality for all!

Participate in the global campaign to close the gender gap! Help us reach our goal of 20,000 supporters. Post your profile picture here to support gender equality. More

UN Women's #HeForShe campaign

HeForShe is a new 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

Rural villagers walk to and from a water well in Shatkhira, Bangladesh. 2010.

Gender and progress towards the MDGs

This year, as the 58th Commission on the Status of Women examined "Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls" as its priority theme, we took stock of progress and UN Women’s efforts towards each of the eight goals. More

In Focus: CSW58

From 10-21 March 2014, the 58th Commission on the Status of Women focused on the "Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls." More

Latest News

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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

Georgina Beyer paved a new path when she became the world’s first openly transsexual mayor in 1995, as well as the first openly transsexual Member of Parliament (MP) in 2000. A long-standing human rights advocate, her legacy includes a long and powerful list of legislative reform in New Zealand.

Sanja Juricic is a Bosnian enologist and entrepreneur

Sanja Juričić-Franić leads a winery in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A successful entrepreneur and enologist, she has had to combat prejudice and stereotypes in a male-dominated profession.

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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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

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

Cameroon: Alarming levels of malnutrition among refugee children and women from C.A.R.

YAOUNDE/DAKAR - In Cameroon, up to 1 out of 3 refugee children from Central African Republic suffer from malnutrition, a recent United Nations assessment found. more

Video: MDG 3 - Women's Empowerment

Women in Nepal are getting a chance to learn skills in areas such as traditional weaving. Now they are leaving the comfort of their homes to set up their own small businesses to lift themselves out of poverty. With the help of IFAD, the UN's International Fund for Agricultural Development, attitudes are changing across the nation as to what women can... more

Video: MDG 5 - Maternal Health

Child marriage not only violates the human rights of girls, but also gravely threatens their lives, education, and future prospects. When girls are married, they are expected to begin childbearing while still children themselves, with pregnancy-related complications being a major cause of death for adolescent girls in the developing world. In Mozambique,... more

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