During 24–27 May 2022, Deputy Executive Director of UN Women Åsa Regnér made her first official visit to Albania and Georgia. The purpose of the Georgia visit was to become acquainted with and deepen the long-term cooperation that connects UN Women with the country’s legislative and executive branches in a variety of directions. The Albania visit focused on the country’s progress towards achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment and the promotion of gender equality as a key factor in advancing EU integration.

From cities to rural communities and camp settings, families in Lebanon are reshaping traditional patriarchal roles and advocating for gender equality. We take a glance at the lives of three couples who share their experiences of participatory and equal relations in all aspects of their lives including household decision-making, childcare, and domestic responsibilities.

Dewi Tjakrawinata is the co-founder of YAPESDI (Yayasan Peduli Sindroma Down Indonesia, or Down Syndrome Care Foundation Indonesia), a Jakarta-based non-profit organization that empowers youths with intellectual disabilities to become self-advocates. To mark 16 Days of Activism, UN Women’s Access to Justice team spoke to Dewi about ending impunity for sexual violence against women with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities.

Jyotsna Siddharth, actor, writer and activist from India, spoke at a side event during the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, co-organized by UN Women and the National Alliance of Women’s Organisation in India. In this interview, Ms. Siddharth talks about India’s anti-caste and young feminist movement.

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) is the world’s largest yearly meeting of world leaders. It’s an action-packed week of deliberations, speeches, side events and even celebrity sightings. Ahead of the 76th UNGA session (14 – 28 September 2021), we take a look at the history of gender equality and the General Assembly.

Sport mobilizes the global community and speaks to youth. It unites across national barriers and cultural differences. It teaches women and girls the values of teamwork, self-reliance and resilience; has a multiplier effect on their health, education and leadership development; contributes to self-esteem; builds social connections; and challenges harmful gender norms. To celebrate women in sport, here are just a few inspirational women breaking down gender barriers all around the world.

On International Widows’ Day, 23 June, take a look at some of the issues affecting widows around the world and what must be done to safeguard and advance their rights.

In the context of COVID-19 where gender inequalities have been exacerbated through a disproportional negative impact on millions of women and girls, HeForShe Champions convened at the virtual HeForShe Summit today to release their tried and tested methods that aim to accelerate positive progress.

In a statement on the first anniversary of the death of George Floyd, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said: "We unite today across the world through a day of anti-racism solidarity and celebrate the rekindling of the global racial justice movement".

In marking this International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia and every day, we emphasize that at UN Women we work for you; we stand with you, and in respect for, honour and celebration of the diversity and resilience of LGBTIQ+ peoples globally.

In her remarks at the Special Session “From Beijing to Durban: addressing racism to leave no woman or girl behind”, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka called for anti-racist states and anti-racist institutions to address the intersecting issues of race and gender, two areas where the discrimination is both intense and highly normalized.

In her remarks at the Brussels V Conference on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region”, UN Women Deputy Executive Director Åsa Regnér said: "With increased and better coordinated resources earmarked for women and girls, we can collectively do more, and our overall impact will increase".

Condemn racism and discrimination wherever they occur: act to create racial justice and a gender-equal, inclusive world

This year’s International Women’s Day (8 March) comes as the world continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and its staggering impacts on women – from being pushed into poverty, to loss of jobs as the informal economy shrinks, to an alarming spike in domestic violence and the unpaid care burden— and will highlight the pressing need for the 2021 Generation Equality Forum.

Across all sectors, communities and societies, women have key contributions to make to leadership. From politics and corporations to sports and STEM, diverse leadership benefits everyone. Leaders need to represent the people they serve to best understand their wants and needs.

In an op-ed during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, UN Women Deputy Executive Director Asa Regner writes: "What this year has shown us is that there are no obstacles too great for traffickers to overcome, so we must reduce the demand at its source."

A.H. Monjurul Kabir is the UN Coordination Adviser on Gender Equality and Disability Inclusion. He leads UN Women’s Global Task Team on Disability Inclusion and Intersectionality. In 2019, 55 UN Women offices (in addition to our work through the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women) supported women and girls with disabilities across all areas of work through the provision of normative guidance, integrated policy advice, knowledge management, operational support and capacity development. In this interview, Mr. Kabir talks about the impact of COVID-19 on women and girls with disabilities and the need for an intersectional approach.

Kevin Blanchard is the Director of DRR Dynamics, a UK based research organisation focused on ensuring the inclusion and empowerment of marginalized groups in disaster risk reduction. He has over 14 years’ experience in developing inclusive disaster risk reduction and humanitarian policy for national governments, international agencies and non-governmental organizations. Mr. Blanchard is working with UN Women as a consultant in inclusive disaster risk reduction policy.

UN Women, the United Nations body dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women, has joined the Advisory Council of the Centre for Sport and Human Rights.

In her remarks to the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, 75th session, UN Women Deputy Executive Director Asa Regner emphasized how the COVID-19 pandemic has upended the lives of all nations and peoples, and disproportionately affected women and girls everywhere who bear the brunt of the massive health, social and economic impact of the pandemic.