In the province of Azuay, more than 1,000 women now take part in budget proposals, while at the national level a new tool reveals gender-related spending has reached over USD 364 million, up from just 34 million in 2011.

Acting swiftly to address the protection of women and girls in the wake of the earthquake, UN Women coordinated safe resettlement and recovery activities for women, and visited temporary shelters, as well as areas where new ones will be set up, to provide technical assistance and recommendations to improve the safety of women and girls housed there.

Women Activists in Ecuador: Our stories, our work, our country, a video produced by UN Women’s Civil Society Section in collaboration with the UN Women country office in Ecuador, weaves together the stories of various members of the UN Women Civil Society Advisory Group in Ecuador. Through a personal lens, it takes look at their lives as women and as gender equality advocates.

Sexual harassment and other forms of sexual violence in public spaces are an everyday occurrence for women and girls around the world. This reality reduces women’s and girls’ freedom of movement and ability to participate in school, work and in public life. It limits their access to essential services, and enjoyment of cultural and recreational opportunities. It also negatively impacts their health and well-being.

From flash mobs to bicycle races, street marches to art exhibits, and even illuminating landmarks and buildings in orange light, people around the world banded together during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence by “oranging their neighbourhoods.”

On 25 October, marking Orange Day, cities around the world held activities to raise awareness and promote action to prevent and respond to sexual violence in public spaces.

As part of efforts to promote more accessible services for women and girls, UN Women has supported a special category of the UN Public Service Awards on “Promoting Gender-Responsive Delivery of Public Services.” Winners will be recognized 23 June at a ceremony in Bahrain.

As part of a new series highlighting UN Women partnerships with other UN entities, a look into our work with UN-Habitat to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in urban planning and sustainable development.

As leaders gathered at the World Urban Forum in Naples, UN Women spoke to the Mayor of Quito, one of the cities trying to become violence-free through the Safe Cities programme.

In response to an invitation from the President of the Republic of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Michelle Bachelet, will visit the country from the 13th -16th June.

Women play a central role in advancing sustainable development. Everyday women take decisions that impact sustainable development—be it the use of land, water, energy, or forests or through their contributions to their families and the economy. If they have equal access to resources and opportunities and are part of the decision-making processes, women can become drivers of sustainable development. In partnership with women, their communities, and grassroots organizations, UN Women supports many initiatives that promote sustainable development solutions.

It's the century of the tablets and androids. But nearly 50 percent of the world population live in rural areas, and they have very limited access to what the other half considers a basic necessity to work, learn or manage social relations: the computer.

On November 25, 2011, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the municipality of Quito in partnership with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and with support from UN Women, issued a call to solicit testimonies of women's lives through letters, asking also for letters on what would make a better world without violence or discrimination against women.

Freddy Calderón and Damián Valencia could have chosen an easier route. At 18 years of age, they could have followed the conventional path for young men their age in Ecuador: going to school, studying and going out with friends.