Stories
Tuesday, September 7, 2021
“Women’s political participation is a fundamental prerequisite for gender equality and genuine democracy. Women’s participation in all walks of life is essential for an inclusive, strong, and prosperous society in Afghanistan, both to meet the many challenges the country faces today and to succeed tomorrow. It is therefore critical that political decision-making processes are participatory, responsive, equitable, and inclusive,” stated Pramila Patten.
Friday, March 12, 2021
UN Women aligns with the statements made by the UN Secretary-General in strongly condemning the violent crackdown and the use of lethal force against peaceful protestors over the past month in Myanmar and expresses its deep concern over the targeted and disproportionate violence against women being recorded in this situation.
Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Mr Toily Kurbanov (Russian Federation) took up his appointment as the Deputy Executive Coordinator, Management Services, of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme in August 2016. Mr Kurbanov spoke to UN Women during his official mission to Kenya and South Sudan about the importance of volunteerism and UNV’s contributions in addressing women’s issues. UNV is working together with UN Women and Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) in organizing workshops on gender-responsive peacebuilding in conflicted-afflicted areas.
In Kenya, women gear up for county elections
Monday, July 24, 2017
UN Women is working with community elders to break the cultural barriers to women’s political participation. For the upcoming general elections on 8 August, hopes are running high among women candidates. A total of nine women are competing for Governors, 115 as members of the National Assembly, 25 as senators’ and 261 as members of the County Assemblies.
From where I stand: “I made history by becoming the youngest City Council member”
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Abla Al Hajaia on winning elections as a young woman and her work with the community
Women gain political representation and leadership in rural China
Thursday, September 15, 2016
Working at the grassroots level, a programme in the world’s most populous country successfully trained young women to run in local elections, and dismantled negative perceptions and discriminatory rules that hindered women’s political participation.
Calming tensions and spurring women to vote in Haiti
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Nadege Beauvil reflects on her work with local grass-roots women's organization on projects to spur women to vote in Haiti.
Women’s Situation Room to contribute to the electoral process in Uganda
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
The official opening of the Uganda Women’s Situation Room was held on 15 February 2016 at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala. The Women’s Situation Room is an early warning and rapid response mechanism against violence arising before, during and after elections.
Chasing hard-hitting women’s stories in Tanzania
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Stephanie Raison writes about a day in her life as the Communications and Advocacy Officer for UN Women in United Republic of Tanzania.
Women claim their space in Tanzania’s elections
Friday, October 23, 2015
A dozen of the women candidates trained by UN Women and partners speak about the challenges they’ve faced in the lead-up to this weekend’s presidential, parliamentary and local elections and how the training has motivated them.
In India, UN Women Executive Director hears from rural tech gurus
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Music, dance and more than 500 rural women greeted UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka as she entered the Town Hall of Shihore, a village block in the western state of Gujarat, on her second day in India. An “information fair” bringing together local women and their elected leaders, was the backdrop of the event, where community members shared their experiences of using technology to catalyse change.
Strengthening Voices for Democracy
Friday, September 13, 2013
For International Day of Democracy, we spotlight UN Women’s work to strengthen women’s voices, leadership and political participation.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
UN Women mourns the loss of award-winning human rights defender and an internationally renowned activist for gender equality and ending violence against women and girls, Sunila Abeysekera. She passed away in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 9 September 2013, after a long fight with cancer.
Sharp increase of women voters in Pakistan’s recent elections
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Songs, TV commercials and dramas, coupled with voter education and community awareness-raising encouraged an historic 15 million Pakistani women to vote in Pakistan’s recent general elections.
Malian women press for peaceful, fair elections
Thursday, July 25, 2013
On the eve of Mali's historic presidential elections on 28 July 2013, UN Women is supporting a platform for information and debate about women’s issues.
With some electoral gains in Iraq, women candidates work towards change
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Amid violence-fraught local and regional elections, in which 14 candidates were killed, 300 women contenders were trained by UN Women and the Iraq Foundation. Many emerged successful and thanks to a quota law, women will probably hold 26 per cent of seats on local councils across Iraq.
Zimbabweans say yes to new Constitution strong on gender equality and women's rights
Friday, April 19, 2013
With general elections approaching, Zimbabwean women hope to see women’s representation grow in Parliament, which is also mandated by the new Constitution approved by referendum in March.
Aty Cuña: Indigenous women’s assemblies tackling cases of violence and rights violations
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
On the Brazil-Paraguay border, women leaders of the indigenous Guarani-Kaiowa and Ayoreo communities are organizing themselves to protect their rights and their dynamic women’s assemblies are preventing and documenting violence against women cases. A third gathering will be held 6 March in Sombrerito, Paraguay.
Women’s collectives foster access to justice in India
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Through special women’s courts and justice committees, women’s collectives in eastern India have forged an increasingly respected system to access justice, which also addresses cases of violence against women. They resolve disputes through both formal and informal channels, while providing emotional support and counselling.
Broadening engagement with civil society, 14 UN Women Advisory Groups established in 2012
Monday, February 4, 2013
From the time of its inception, UN Women has acknowledged that an institutional forum to allow for dynamic engagement with civil society is necessary. To facilitate regular consultations, the creation of Civil Society Advisory Groups (CSAGs), at a global, regional and national level has been pivotal.