Stories
- Ending violence against women and girls (18)
- Peace and security (10)
- Leadership and political participation (8)
- Economic empowerment (7)
- UN Women administration (6)
- Executive Director (5)
- Deputy Executive Director, Policy and Programme (4)
- Education (4)
- 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (4)
- Human rights (3)
- Anti-violence interventions (3)
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Tuesday, February 9, 2021
When ventilators were becoming scarce due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Somaya Faruqi, 17, led Afghanistan’s Girl’s Robotics Team as they developed a prototype ventilator to support their country’s health care system.
Thursday, November 5, 2020
Zarqa Yaftali, renowned activist and researcher from Afghanistan, addressed the UN Security Council during the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of its landmark resolution 1325, which set a new framework for women’s leadership and inclusion in all aspects of peace.
Monday, October 19, 2020
Dr. Habiba Sarabi, a trailblazing leader in Afghanistan, is one of only four women negotiating peace with the Taliban as part of the ongoing intra-Afghan talks. Trained as a hematologist, she became a peace activist, politician and reformer in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. She has served as Minister of Women’s Affairs and in 2005 became the first Afghan woman to serve as a governor. She continues to be instrumental in promoting women’s rights and peacebuilding at a crucial turning point for her nation.
I am Generation Equality: Demecia Yat continues her search for justice
Friday, November 1, 2019
This interview features Demecia Yat, one of 15 women survivors of conflict-related sexual violence in Guatemala. From 2011 – 2016, they fought for justice at a national high court. The groundbreaking case resulted in the conviction of two former military officers of crimes against humanity and granted 18 reparation measures to the women survivors and their communities.
Inclusive peace in Afghanistan means ‘women at the centre’, urges UN deputy chief in Kabul
Sunday, July 21, 2019
The UN deputy chief issued an impassioned plea on Sunday for Afghans to reconcile with the past and put “women at the centre” of all efforts to forge a durable peace, and a truly inclusive political process where women’s voices are truly heard.
#HearMeToo: Afghan women, the faces of change
Friday, November 9, 2018
The Women’s Protection Centre is part of a network of 11 shelters in nine provinces across Afghanistan. They have offered refuge to more than 1,600 survivors of gender-based violence this year, along with a combination of medical, legal and psychosocial services, and skills training so that women can restart their lives. Family Guidance Centres in five provinces offer mediation support, where lawyers, social workers and others engage with women who remain in their communities without facing any imminent risks.
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Justice Anisa Rasooli was recently appointed as the first woman to sit on the Supreme Court of Afghanistan. She has been a powerful advocate for bringing more women into judicial positions, including as a leader of the Afghan Women Judges Association.
In the words of Halima Askari: “Our victory is our unity”
Friday, November 2, 2018
Halima Askari became the first woman head of the Provincial Council in Afghanistan’s conservative Wardak province in 2017. She is part of a new generation of women leaders who, little by little, are pushing for the transformation of governance. She ran for national Parliament this year and is awaiting the results. Regardless of the election results, Askari is determined to continue serving her community and advocating for girls’ and women’s education. Having attended UN Women-supported leadership and management training, in a recent interview she talked about what it means to be a woman in politics in Afghanistan. UN Women’s political participation programme in Afghanistan was made possible by funding from the governments of Iceland, Sweden and Norway.
Monday, September 10, 2018
Nabila Musleh, Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Women Affairs, has worked to promote gender equality, women’s empowerment and human rights in Afghanistan for more than 10 years. From 11-16 August, Ms. Musleh joined 32 other senior government officials for a visit to Indonesia to learn about their gender-responsive budgeting experience.
In the words of Deeba Ayubi: “I am fighting a good fight and it's worth the sacrifice.”
Monday, May 21, 2018
Deeba Ayubi, 27, is a women’s rights activist and defense lawyer with UN Women’s partner organization, Women for Afghan Women (WAW), which protects and supports survivors of violence. Ayubi is passionate about helping women and girls achieve a life free from all forms of violence and dreams of becoming a judge.
UN Women Executive Director at the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan
Monday, October 3, 2016
UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka will be in Brussels, Belgium on 4-5 October, to participate at the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, putting the spotlight on the importance of the social and the economic empowerment of women to achieve lasting and inclusive development in the country.
Unlocking the potential of Afghan women
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
The path to economic empowerment for Afghan women remains riddled with discrimination, violence and unequal access to opportunities. The biggest hurdle in front of them are negative perceptions and stereotypes. A programme by UN Women provides skills training and internship opportunities to young women graduates to kick-start their careers.
Coverage: UN Women Executive Director in Afghanistan
Tuesday, July 26, 2016
From 18-21 July, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka met with high-level government officials, civil society organizations, partners, donors and women survivors of violence during her first official visit to Afghanistan. Women’s participation in peace and security processes, and ending violence against women were topics high on the agenda for discussions.
From where I stand: Khalida Popal
Monday, July 25, 2016
Khalida Popal made history by becoming the first female captain of the Afghan National Football team in 2007.
Starting a career saving lives during childbirth
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Rayhan Alem, 22-year-old native of Badakhsan Province in Afghanistan’s far northeast, has wanted to be a midwife since she was a teenager and a neighbor died giving birth. Now, she is preparing for her career by doing an internship at Ali Seena Hospital in Kabul, with the support of UN Women.
From where I stand: Atefe Mansoori
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Atefe Mansoori, 52, from Afghanistan, is Director of Abdullah Muslim Company, which processes and exports saffron. She is among 120 female entrepreneurs and businesswomen from across Afghanistan who gathered to share stories and learn from each other at a workshop organized by UN Women in Kabul in December 2015.
Press statement: UN condemns public lynching and burning of mentally ill woman
Friday, March 20, 2015
KABUL, 20 March 2015 – The United Nations condemns, in the strongest terms, the brutal killing and burning of a 27 year old mentally ill woman.
Op-ed: Afghan Women’s Voices in Elections: Changing the Game
Sunday, April 6, 2014
Opinion piece by the UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
“Like a Bird with Broken Wings”: new report from Afghanistan
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
UN Women Report chronicles stories of violence suffered by Afghan women through the decades of conflict.
Friday, December 6, 2013
A civil society panel organized by UN Women brought together voices of women and girls from different parts of the world and across a broad age spectrum to assess the relevance of the current UN Millennium Development Goals to their lives, identify glaring gaps and present their aspirations for the future development agenda.