In the words of Mereng Bessela: “I am a fighter and I do everything I need to”

Date: Monday, January 21, 2019

Mereng Alima Bessela, age 50, is a successful entrepreneur from Ntui, in the Central Region of Cameroon. She is a cocoa farmer, which is traditionally farmed by men, has her own restaurant business and a fish farm. Like thousands of women in the region, Madame Bessala has no lack of acumen, but needs access to skills, markets and finance. More

Press release: UN Women highlights women’s role in the energy of the future during EXPO 2017

Date: Friday, June 9, 2017

UN Women will showcase its best solutions on women’s role to boost the world’s access to energy, while at the same time fighting climate change, at this year’s EXPO in Astana, Kazakhstan, from 10 June to 10 September 2017. More

In Serbia, women survivors of domestic violence find hope in the “Good Garden”

Date: Wednesday, April 19, 2017

The “Good Garden” is a social enterprise for growing organic vegetables, and also a training centre for organic production for women survivors of domestic violence who wish to get involved in this sustainable farming method. More

In El Salvador, rural women plant seeds of independence

Date: Monday, February 27, 2017

In El Salvador, where land ownership still remains a barrier for women, a rural women’s cooperative paves the way for income, access to public services and legal support. A child care facility run by the women enable them to work outside their homes. More

From where I stand: “I became the first fisherwoman in my community”

Date: Friday, February 24, 2017

Yayi Bayam Diouf became the first woman to fish in her small rural fishing village in Senegal. Paving the way for other women, she now runs a training centre for women where they can learn entrepreneurship skills and access support. More

Op-ed: Women powering a clean future

Date: Wednesday, November 23, 2016

There is a clear link between energy access and women’s economic empowerment and well-being More

Media Advisory: At COP22, UN Women to spotlight central role of women in climate response

Date: Tuesday, November 8, 2016

Following the historic Paris Agreement, as the first Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 22) convenes in Marrakech from 7-18 November, the meeting provides a unique opportunity to ensure policy direction towards implementation of gender-responsive climate actions at all levels. The Paris Agreement, signed by 197 Parties (ratified by 94 to date) commits to promote gender equality obligations when addressing climate change. More

Indigenous women in Peru combat climate change and boost economy

Date: Tuesday, August 9, 2016

To combat the impact of climate change, the indigenous women of Laramate in Peru have turned to ancestral farming techniques with support from UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality. In addition to healthier crops and improved incomes for the community, the programme has boosted indigenous women’s participation in public spaces and decision-making. More

From where I stand: Souhad Azennoud

Date: Thursday, June 2, 2016

Ahead of World Environment Day on 5 June, we highlight Souhad Azennoud, who is one of more than 200 women to benefit from a project supporting female seed merchants for sustainable development in Morocco. More

New flagship programme on energy launched at COP 21

Date: Tuesday, December 8, 2015

On 8 December, the UNFCCC-designated ‘Gender Day’ at COP 21, in coordination with the Government of Morocco and in the presence of Ségolène Royal, Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy of France, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka participated at the opening session of Gender Day at the Morocco Pavilion, entitled “Women: Active and Engaged in the Fight against Climate Change”. More

Senegalese rural women strive for the sustainable use of sea resources

Date: Monday, September 21, 2015

UN Women and WFP introduce modern processing technologies to support women in Kafountine committed to repurposing and adding value to fresh fish that would otherwise go to waste. More

UN Women supports Greening the Blue

Date: Thursday, February 27, 2014

UN Women is proud to join 52 other UN agencies in its support of Greening the Blue, a movement to reduce the UN system’s environmental footprint. More

Press release: Women corporate leaders urge businesses to act on climate change

Date: Thursday, September 19, 2013

Speaking at a special event organized in conjunction with the United Nations Global Compact Leaders Summit on 19 September, a group of influential women corporate leaders highlighted women as agents of change and the value of investing in women’s empowerment – from the factory floor to the boardroom – in order to maximize impact on key sustainability issues. More

Statement by Lakshmi Puri at the Sustainable Energy for All: Launch of the Energy and Women’s Health High Impact Opportunity

Date: Friday, April 19, 2013

Statement by Lakshmi Puri Acting Head of UN Women at the Sustainable Energy for All: Launch of the Energy and Women’s Health High Impact Opportunity, Panel Discussion on Energy and Women’s Health: The Way Forward, 19 April 2013, Washington, D.C. More

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

Date: Thursday, April 18, 2013

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. More

At Rio+20, diverse women leaders bring ground realities to the forefront

Date: Wednesday, June 20, 2012

The Women Leaders' Forum, a discussion between civil society, government and public sector representatives with UN heads of agencies, has broadened the dialogue on gender equality and sustainability at Rio +20, the United Nations Conference on Sustainability. More

Fast-forwarding Women’s Leadership in the Green Economy

Date: Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Speaking at a leadership roundtable organized by the Earth Network and UN Foundation, UN Women's Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri has stressed that empowering women, as producers and consumers, will dramatically propel the growth of a green economy. More

Affordable World Security: Choice points for America and the World

Date: Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Remarks of UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet at the Panel on Affordable Security: Financial and Economic Realities,27 March 2012, Washington, D.C. More

Eastern Europe and Central Asia should transition toward sustainable development now or pay more in the future, says UN report

Date: Friday, March 23, 2012

Istanbul, Turkey, 23 March 2012—Eastern Europe and Central Asia need to remove fossil fuel subsidies, invest in ‘green' jobs, and establish social protection floors to ensure a sustainable future, according to the findings of a UN report launched today in Istanbul, Turkey. More

Speech by Ms. Lakshmi Puri, Deputy Executive Director UN Women, on the Zero Draft of the Rio+20 Outcome Document

Date: Friday, January 27, 2012

Speech by Ms. Lakshmi Puri Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director UN Women at the initial consultations on the Zero Draft of the Rio+20 Outcome Document, New York, 25 January 2012. More