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- Executive Director (992)
- UN Women administration (390)
- Ending violence against women and girls (221)
- Gender equality and women’s empowerment (215)
- Economic empowerment (146)
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- Leadership and political participation (102)
- 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (102)
- Commission on the Status of Women (73)
- Intergovernmental processes (66)
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Friday, September 17, 2021
"UN Women's role in promoting the empowerment of women and girls and ensuring that their rights are safeguarded has never been so critical as it is in this moment. The solidarity and commitment that you brought to this session will be essential in ensuring that UN Women can carry out its essential mandate on the road ahead," said Acting Executive Director Pramila Patten.
Secretary-General appoints Sima Sami Bahous of Jordan as Executive Director of UN Women
Monday, September 13, 2021
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, following consultations with Member States and the Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women), announced today the appointment of Sima Sami Bahous of Jordan as Executive Director of UN Women.
Thursday, September 9, 2021
“Women have a right to peaceful protest and to a life free of violence. In taking control of Afghanistan the Taliban authorities assume a duty to respect and protect these rights,” Pramila Patten said.
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.
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
In a statement calling for women's inclusion in the upcoming governance entity of Afghanistan, UN Women acting Executive Director Pramila Patten says: "The immediate inclusion of women in the governance structure of the new leadership in Afghanistan will be the ultimate litmus test for the Taliban".
UN Women bids farewell to Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Thursday, August 19, 2021
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka completed her second and last term as United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women on 17 August 2021 after eight years at the helm of the organization.
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Under-Secretary-General Pramila Patten as officer-in-charge of UN Women, effective 18 August 2021.
Op-ed: Achieving equality for women: COVID-19 and beyond
Wednesday, July 7, 2021
The pandemic is negatively impacting women more than men, by exacerbating already entrenched inequalities. We need bold, transformative action to dismantle the barriers to women’s progress if we are to achieve SDG 5 by the end of the decade.
Friday, July 2, 2021
In her remarks at the closing ceremony of the Generation Equality Forum in Paris, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said: "I have seen the world jump together and shake the world of patriarchy. It has not all collapsed, but it is in bad shape, and I think that we can only get better from here."
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
In her remarks to the UN Women Executive Board annual session, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said: "UN Women will continue to fight for organizational and cultural change that ends sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment until it is achieved for all."
Monday, June 21, 2021
In her opening remarks to the UN Women Executive Board annual session 2021, UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka looks back on eight years of progress for UN Women.
Monday, June 21, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has strained health systems, widened socio-economic gaps, and shifted strategic, political, and funding priorities, all of which disproportionately affect women and girls, particularly those who are most marginalized. The doubled risk of death for men from COVID-19 has not only created more widows; the pandemic has in many cases magnified the impact of the challenges they face, for example when confronted by extreme poverty from being disinherited from land and property with no alternative source of support.
Statement: Set women at the heart of recovery decisions and processes
Monday, June 14, 2021
Statement by Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka on the outcome of the summit of G7 nations.
Op-ed: World leaders must put women at centre of COVID-19 recovery
Friday, June 11, 2021
In an op-ed for the World Economic Forum blog, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka writes: "We cannot build back better after COVID-19 without gender equality. Specifically, we must place women at the center of our economic recovery. Now is the moment for leaders to publicly commit to that work – by supporting the care economy, and equal wages and access to opportunities."
Op-ed: Establishing Generation Equality
Tuesday, June 8, 2021
In an op-ed ahead of the G7 UK Cornwall Summit, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka writes: "We look to governments and to all those who control power, resources and influence to become the champions of what we call ‘Generation Equality’, shaping a future together that dismantles the barriers to women’s progress through working across generations and sectors on priority issues."
Statement: Women and girls must be at the heart of the fight for climate justice
Thursday, June 3, 2021
Statement by Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka for World Environment Day, 5 June 2021
Tuesday, May 25, 2021
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".
Statement: This is the time to ramp up, not decrease funding for women and girls
Monday, May 3, 2021
"The ravages of COVID-19 on the lives and livelihoods of women and girls are being seen in every country, from higher job losses, shrinking work hours and greater care burdens, to increased levels of all forms of violence against women, with the development gains of decades reversed in multiple areas. This regression is an urgent driver to further ramp up investment in gender equality and women’s empowerment. Our partners’ continued committed engagement and support are therefore more critical than ever to the work of ensuring no woman or girl is left behind," says UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
In her speech at the Elsie Initiative Fund: High-Level Virtual Launch of the Second Programming Round, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said: "The pace of change in women’s representation in national militaries globally remains too slow. So, now we know that progress is possible because we have seen in it one part of our work, I think this should inspire us and fire us to also push further in all other areas that are still lagging behind."
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
Today, and every day, we recognize that digital power must be in the hands of girls. We have a unique window and momentum now to secure bold commitments that will ensure girls are connected and empowered to create the brighter futures the world needs.