Press release: Twenty-five years after Beijing Declaration, the world “cannot afford” so few women in power

Date: Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Women’s representation in political decision-making continues to increase but at a dragging pace, with three-quarters of parliamentary seats still held by men, according to new data presented in the 2020 edition of the IPU UN Women map of Women in Politics. The data’s publication coincides with the 25-year review of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, which remains the world’s most comprehensive agenda for gender equality.

My Take, Your Take: Fighting for justice and gender equality in Liberia

Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2020

In this intergenerational series for the Generation Equality campaign, young people take the lead to shape the conversations. Gwendolyn Myers, a 29-year-old peace activist from Liberia, talks with a veteran activist, Abla Gadegbeku William, 59, who has fought for the rights of women and children for more than two decades.

My Take, Your Take: Ushering in a new generation of women leaders in Central African Republic

Date: Monday, February 24, 2020

In this new intergenerational series for Generation Equality campaign, young people take the lead to shape the conversations. Marguerite Ramadan, Social Affairs Advisor Prime Minister’s Office in in the Central African Republic and Chairperson of the longest standing women’s organization (the Organisation of Central African Women), talks about women’s leadership with Pamela Audrey Derom, who was recently elected to the National Youth Council.

Women leaders galvanize for UN Women’s Generation Equality campaign

Date: Friday, September 27, 2019

At a high-level event during the 74th UN General Assembly, UN Women and the Council of Women World Leaders came together to lend their voices and power to the Generation Equality campaign.

Editorial spotlight: Climate action with women

Date: Friday, September 13, 2019

As the United Nations prepares for the 2019 Climate Action Summit, the world we live in continues to be devastated by catastrophic storms, severe water crisis, drought, and record levels of emissions. Promoting women’s leadership in climate action is at the heart of UN Women’s efforts around the world.

UN Women Executive Director urges G7 leaders to commit to gender equality and join the Biarritz Partnership

Date: Tuesday, August 27, 2019

At the G7 Summit in France on 25 August, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, together with Nobel Prize Laureates Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege, presented the report of the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council to G7 leaders in Biarritz.

Inclusive peace in Afghanistan means ‘women at the centre’, urges UN deputy chief in Kabul

Date: 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.

Take Five: “Elected Women Representatives are key agents for transformational economic, environmental and social change in India”

Date: Thursday, July 18, 2019

Rahul Bhatnagar serves as the Secretary for the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, a branch of the Indian Government responsible for the ongoing process of decentralization and local governance. UN Women works with the Government of India and local organizations to promote women’s leadership and participation in governance at all levels. In this interview, Mr. Bhatnagar elaborates on the importance of elected women representatives in the Panchayati Raj (local governance) institutions and their role in advancing primary education, health, agricultural developments, and women and child development.

Press release: To accelerate gender equality, UN Women launches a Call to Action to parliamentarians

Date: Thursday, June 27, 2019

In the lead up to the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (Beijing+25) and UN Women’s ground-breaking campaign commemorating the anniversary, “Generation Equality: Realizing women’s rights for an equal future”, UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, today called upon global parliamentarians to build on the experiences and best practices from Member States on how to achieve a gender equal world via legislation and parliamentary work.

Op-ed: Unequal under the law

Date: Monday, June 24, 2019

Too many countries enshrine different legal rights for men and women. Why is this, and how can we rid legal systems of this long-standing prejudice?

Remarks by Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, at the G7 ministerial meeting on gender equality and women’s empowerment in Paris, France

Date: Monday, May 13, 2019

In her remarks at the G7 ministerial meeting on gender equality and women’s empowerment, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka highlighted legislation as an important instrument for change that is systemic and irreversible.

UN Women Executive Director attends the G7 Equality Ministers meeting in France

Date: Monday, May 13, 2019

UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka participated in the second meeting of the G7 Gender Advisory Council and met G7 Gender Equality Ministers on 9-10 May in Paris, France.

Guinea adopts Law on Parity, securing equal representation of women on electoral lists

Date: Friday, May 10, 2019

The Republic of Guinea adopted on 2 May, a Law on Parity that says women must make fifty per cent of the candidate lists for elective positions.

A teacher in Moldova learns to lead, changing her community for the better and inspiring others

Date: Wednesday, April 3, 2019

A local teacher in a remote village in Moldova helped improve the lives of her students and now has her sights set on local leadership, after participating in the UN Women supported "INSPIR-O!" (Inspire it) Mentorship Programme.

UN Women and partners launch new initiative to repeal discriminatory laws worldwide

Date: Wednesday, March 20, 2019

A high-level event on the margins of the 63rd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women on 20 March, launched the “Equality in Law for Women and Girls by 2030: A Multistakeholder Strategy for Accelerated Action”. The strategy, developed by UN Women, the African Union, Commonwealth, Inter-Parliamentary Union, Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, Secretaría General Ibero-Americana, and many other UN and NGO partners, seeks to fast-track the repeal or revision of discriminatory laws in 100 countries by 2023.

New global report calls for urgent measures to close justice gap for women

Date: Friday, March 15, 2019

The High-level Group on Justice for Women (HLG), comprising of justice, human rights and gender experts from different parts of the world, launched a pathbreaking global report on Justice for Women on 13 March, at a side event on the margins of the 63rd session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women in New York.

Political power of women suffering ‘serious regression’, General Assembly President warns

Date: Tuesday, March 12, 2019

There has been a “serious regression” in the political power of women across the world in recent years, UN General Assembly President María Fernanda Espinosa told delegates to the annual summit of women activists at UN Headquarters in New York on Tuesday.

Press release: One in five ministers is a woman, according to new IPU/UN Women Map

Date: Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Women’s representation in political decision-making continues to rise slowly, with slight improvements since 2017, according to the data presented in the 2019 edition of the biennial IPU-UN Women map of Women in Politics. The map was launched at a press conference during the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 63) at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

United Nations and Georgetown to Celebrate Congressional Women Leaders in Foreign Policy

Date: Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Washington, DC–UN Women, the United Nations Foundation, and the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security will celebrate Congressional women leaders in foreign policy at a reception this evening.

Passage of the Bangsamoro Organic Law promises new hope for women in Southern Philippines

Date: Monday, March 4, 2019

Following decades of struggle for peace in southern Philippines, the Bangsamoro Organic Law was ratified in July 2018. The law creates a new political entity to replace the existing autonomous region, which is home to 13 ethno-linguistic groups in Mindanao.