In the words of Elena Kochoska: "Women bear a double burden because of their gender and disability”

Date: 11 July 2017

Elena Kochoska is a vocal advocate for persons with disabilities in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and works at the local organization, Polio Plus, Movement Against Disability. She participated in training and mentoring sessions on gender-responsive budgeting (GRB)—analyzing a budget to ensure women’s needs are met—organized by UN Women’s regional programme on GRB, supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Austrian Development Agency. Thereafter, she prepared a report that did a cost-benefit analysis showing the benefits of including children with disabilities in mainstream education. More

Feminism in Times of War and Peace

Date: 10 July 2017

In June 2016, the Government of Colombia signed the first historic cease-fire agreement with the FARC insurgency group. While this first peace accord was rejected in a referendum, a second agreement was ratified by the Colombian Congress in November of the same year, bringing an end to 52 years of armed conflict. Colombian women peacebuilders played a pivotal role in building consensus and bringing to light the needs and vulnerabilities of women and girls throughout the peace process. More

Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri highlights women’s entrepreneurship and decent work at the SHE-ERA Conference in China

Date: 10 July 2017

UN Women Deputy Executive Director Ms. Lakshmi Puri starts today a visit to China to participate in the "SHE·ERA: 2017 Global Conference on Women and Entrepreneurship", organized by the Alibaba Group in Hangzhou. From 10 – 11 July, the conference is convening women leaders in politics, business, fashion, and many other areas to share their experiences. This year’s conference will focus on the themes of “Altruism, Inclusiveness, Dreams,” and will highlight how women entrepreneurs can help achieve sustainable and inclusive growth and development. More

Press Release: UN Women and the European Union launch a new initiative to focus on ending violence against women in the Western Balkans and Turkey

Date: 10 July 2017

UN Women and the EU will aim to reform policies in line with international standards, transfrom dicriminatory social norms and empower women and girls subjected to violence. More

Editorial spotlight: High-level Political Forum

Date: 06 July 2017

The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), the main UN platform for review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), is meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York from 10 – 19 July. More

Press Release: Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka appointed to a second term as Executive Director of UN Women

Date: 05 July 2017

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres re-appointed Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka for a second term as Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women) for a period of four years. More

High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment calls for ending gender discrimination to ensure the full potential of Africa’s youth at African Union Summit

Date: 30 June 2017

The United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel (HLP) on Women’s Economic Empowerment was represented at the  4 th  African Union (AU) High Level Panel on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, 29-30 June,  in Addis Ababa, by HLP member Mr. Amadou Mahtar Ba, Founder and Executive Chairman of AllAfrica Global Media.  More

Speech: “We commit ourselves to working diligently”—Executive Director

Date: 29 June 2017

Closing remarks by Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, at the Annual Session of the UN Women Executive Board More

In Benin, small savings and loans groups drive rural women’s empowerment

Date: 28 June 2017

Across rural Africa, women farmers are benefiting from Savings and Loans Groups to grow their businesses. Some 40 per cent of the UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality grantees in Africa are now using this methodology, leading to better nutrition, business development and sustainable land management outcomes. The Miguéze’ programme, for example, has impacted 2,780 people, and women are emerging as leaders and role models. More

Speech: “Together with our partners…we will continue to deliver for women and girls”—Executive Director

Date: 27 June 2017

Opening statement by UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka at the 2017 Annual Session of the Executive Board More

From where I stand: “We thought gender was only for educated people”

Date: 26 June 2017

Modesta Mujawariya is a co-founder of a small farmer’s cooperative in Rwanda. Although she had twelve plots of land, she didn’t know the exact size of her land and how to estimate yields. The Buy from Women platform connected her to markets and information through mobile technology. One of her biggest surprises was learning about how gender equality matters in agriculture. More

UN Women to present new Strategic Plan and its work in Somalia at the Annual Session of the Executive Board

Date: 21 June 2017

The UN Women Executive Board will convene for this year’s Annual Session on the 27 and 28 June at United Nations headquarters in New York. More

Statement: Widows’ rights to independent life and livelihood after loss

Date: 21 June 2017

UN Women statement for International Widows' Day, 23 June More

Press Release: In Cannes, UN Women Executive Director calls on members of global industry to eliminate gender stereotypes in advertising

Date: 20 June 2017

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women and Under- Secretary-General of the United Nations, is joining industry leaders at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity this week. She will call on the industry to strengthen their commitment to gender equality and collectively eliminate gender stereotypes in advertising. More

Press Release: Equals in Tech Awards

Date: 20 June 2017

Nominations are now being accepted for international ‘Equals in Tech’ Awards, an initiative of ITU and UN Women, recognizing ICT initiatives empowering women and girls. Awards promote and support gender equality in the ICT field More

Expert’s take: A decade of efforts to combat sexual violence in conflict—Where are we now?

Date: 19 June 2017

Pablo Castillo Díaz is a Policy Specialist at UN Women, focusing on efforts to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence in conflict, post-conflict, and emergency settings. More

Editorial spotlight: World Refugee Day

Date: 19 June 2017

Every year on 20 June we commemorate the strength, courage and perseverance of refugees around the world. Half of the 19.6 million refugees worldwide are women, with specific needs and vulnerabilities that are rarely at the forefront of humanitarian action. More

Finding a new normal in the Za’atari refugee camp

Date: 19 June 2017

Of Syrian and Jordanian descent, Hadeel Al-Zoubi, 40 years old, is the UN Women Senior Camp Assistant at the Za’atari Refugee Camp in Jordan. She joined UN Women in 2013 because she felt compelled to help people caught in the Syrian refugee crisis. More

In Tanzania, refugee women find safety and embrace new lives

Date: 16 June 2017

In three Women’s Centres supported by UN Women in Tanzania, women refugees find safe spaces to network, learn new skills and recover from the trauma of war and sexual violence. Many have picked up new trades and advocate for their own rights. Some have found new family and new lives. More

Statement: We must bring women’s voices, knowledge and leadership to the heart of humanitarian action

Date: 16 June 2017

Statement for World Refugee Day, 20 June, by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and United Nations Population Fund Acting Executive Director Natalia Kanem More