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.

Women rising: Women’s activism that has shaped the world as you know it

Date: Friday, March 1, 2019

On International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating women activists around the world who have insisted on a better world and persisted in the face of adversity.

Ask a Senator: How does Bolivia have such a high representation of women in politics, and why is it important to include women’s voices in politics?

Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Women account for 53.1 per cent of Parliamentarians in the Plurinational State of Bolivia, the third-highest percentage globally. Adriana Salvatierra, a role model to many, became the fourth woman to be elected as the President of the Senate Chambers of Bolivia this year. The 29-year-old is also the youngest to hold this position in the country, and in Latin America.

In the words of Rajaa Altalli: “Women are leading efforts to push forward in Syria”

Date: Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Rajaa Altalli was 12 years old when her father was arrested by the Syrian government for being part of a political party. She thought she would never be involved in public life, but as the Syrian revolution erupted, she decided otherwise. Altalli is now a member of the Syrian Women’s Advisory Board (WAB), established by the UN Special Envoy for Syria to ensure that women’s perspectives and leadership is taken into account in the peace process.

Take five with Tchonko Becky Bissong: “With my voice, I can impact the masses”

Date: Tuesday, February 12, 2019

Tchonko Becky Bissong is a popular radio presenter with CRTV, Cameroon’s public radio and television broadcasting company. Over 20,000 Cameroonians tune in to her weekly programme ‘Calling the women’. In a recent conversation with UN Women, Ms. Tchonko talked about the situation of women’s political participation in Cameroon and the role that media can play in raising awareness. In the 2018 elections the representation of women in the Senate increased from 20 per cent to 26 per cent.

From where I stand: “Disability will not stop me from achieving my dreams.”

Date: Wednesday, February 6, 2019

The status of women’s political participation in Nigeria is low, with less than 6 per cent of political positions being held by women. Lois Auta, 38-year-old polio survivor from Abuja, is all about changing the status quo. Auta is a candidate in the upcoming elections for the House of Representatives and received capacity-building training from UN Women.

Women’s groups to monitor the local elections in Turkey from gender equality perspective

Date: Thursday, January 31, 2019

Ahead of the local elections in Turkey to be held in March, UN Women and the Women’s Coalition brought together more than 100 women from across the country to discuss the monitoring of the elections.