Stories
- Peace and security (394)
- Peacebuilding (108)
- Executive Director (106)
- Ending violence against women and girls (103)
- Conflict, war (87)
- Peace processes (82)
- Leadership and political participation (65)
- UN Security Council resolution 1325 (59)
- Economic empowerment (59)
- UN Women administration (54)
- Sexual violence in conflict (52)
- Show more
In Colombia, peace is a journey
Friday, October 18, 2019
The conflict in Colombia has left deep scars, and lasting peace is more of a journey than a destination. The one thing that remains constant in this journey is the power and perseverance of women forging peace against all odds, defending human rights every day. Through projects funded by the Government of Sweden and Norway, UN Women has accompanied Colombian women in this journey.
My take, your take: Women’s rights in Kosovo, then and now
Friday, October 18, 2019
In this new intergenerational series for Generation Equality campaign, young people take the lead to shape the conversations. Marigona Shabiu, 26-year-old, a human rights activist from Kosovo is talking with Igballe Rogova, 58 years, whose women’s rights activism spans three decades.
Women, peace and security experts call for women’s meaningful participation in peace processes
Monday, September 30, 2019
On 25 September, at an event of the Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network during the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly, ministers, heads of regional organizations, focal points on women, peace and security and civil society representatives called for urgent action to secure women’s equal and meaningful participation in peace processes.
From where I stand: “Young women's inclusion in peacebuilding will create sustainable peace”
Thursday, August 8, 2019
At 32, Susan Sebit is an accomplished lawyer and advocate from South Sudan. She works to protect women and children from violence and to ensure the implementation of existing women, peace and security global frameworks.
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Dorcas Amakobe is the Executive Director of “Moving the Goalposts”, a sport for development organization based Kilifi, a coastal town in Kenya. As part of a UN Women programme funded by the Government of Japan on enhancing women’s active participation in prevention of violent extremism in Kenya, the organization ran a project that provided livelihood skills training and helped build financial independence of young women engaged in its sport programme to build their resilience.
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.
Monday, July 8, 2019
UN Women welcomes the conviction of Bosco Ntaganda by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on 8 July 2019 for crimes committed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2002 and 2003. The former rebel leader was found guilty on 13 counts of war crimes and 5 counts of crimes against humanity, including rape, sexual slavery, displacement of civilians, and enlisting and conscripting child soldiers under the age of 15 and using them to participate actively in hostilities.
Statement: Peace Hut Women of Liberia wins 2019 UN Population Award
Thursday, June 20, 2019
Statement by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women, to honour the National Peace Hut Women of Liberia selected as 2019 UN Population Award laureates
From where I stand: “I lived in terror every day”
Friday, June 14, 2019
Bage Jidda spent three years as a hostage of Boko Haram. Inspite of all her suffering, today she is the sole provider for her family, in Mora, the Far North Region of Cameroon. She embodies resilience, her optimism is infectious. Empowering women like Jidda is at the heart of building resilience among communities torn apart by the Boko Haram crisis.
Thursday, June 13, 2019
In a joint message for the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict (19 June), Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women and Nina Suomalainen, Executive Director of Justice Rapid Response, stress the importance of preventing sexual violence by addressing its root causes, including gender inequality.
Take five: “Impunity is not acceptable”
Tuesday, June 11, 2019
Drita Hajdari is a prosecutor for the Special Prosecution Office of Kosovo, where she investigates and prosecutes war crimes. Today, police investigators and special prosecutors, like Ms. Hajdari, are working on an increasing number of cases, with a victim-centred approach. UN Women, through the Gender-Sensitive Transitional Justice project, funded by the European Union, has facilitated mentoring support from international criminal law experts to prosecutors and investigators in Kosovo.
Executive Boards of UN Women, UNDP, UNFPA, UNOPS, UNICEF and WFP jointly visit Colombia
Monday, June 3, 2019
From 11-18 May, members of the Executive Board of UN Women visited Colombia for the first time to observe UN Women’s programmes and policy work in the country and assess how they contribute toward the implementation of national development priorities.
In the words of Oksana Potapova: “We need radical transformation”
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
Oksana Potapova, 35, is a Ukrainian peace activist, community theatre practitioner and a feminist. She is the co-founder of ‘Theatre for Dialogue’, an organization that uses community-based theatre to work with conflict-affected communities. UN Women Ukraine works in partnership with Theatre for Dialogue to raise women’s awareness of their rights. Ms. Potapova spoke to UN Women about her work and her reflections on the upcoming 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
Statement by UN Women Executive Director for the International Day of UN Peacekeepers
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
In her statement for International Day of UN Peacekeepers, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka highlights the important role women peacekeepers play in tackling critical issues, such as helping to make the peacekeeping force approachable to women in the community, interacting with women in societies where they are prohibited from speaking to men, and addressing the specific needs of female ex-combatants as they reintegrate into civilian life.
From where I stand: “I believe times have changed and my community needs adapt to this change”
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Ibrahim Hamawa, is the Lamido— traditional leader— of Zamay Kanton, a village in the Far North Region of Cameroon. The 63-year-old leader has already appointed the first-ever woman as a Lawal (Chief) and encouraging more women to take up decision-making roles within the traditional council. If women from other countries can make good leaders, why shouldn’t they in his community, he challenges.
A place of peace, reconciliation and growth
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
In 2014, one year after the region was freed from the extremists, a small hut was built in Gao, surrounded by larger buildings and barely visible from the street. Anyone who passes through the driveway and enters the hut in the middle of the dusty courtyard has a specific goal: Dialogue, exchange and cohesion. Welcome to the Women Peace Hut.
Specialized investigation into sexual violence in conflict is essential for justice, experts say
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
On the sidelines of the UN Security Council open debate on sexual violence in conflict, experts came together to discuss what it takes to achieve justice for conflict-related sexual and gender-based crimes, through investigation and documentation.
From where I stand: “That is what we all want: a peaceful life.”
Tuesday, April 30, 2019
Narimbai leads by example when teaching women in her community to lead peaceful lives while supporting their families through entrepreneurship. Photo: UN Women/Joser Dumbrique When I was a kid, I experienced a lot due to conflict. It was hard for me to move around to different places with my parents. We had to leave many of our belongings behind and when we moved, we had to start again, over and over. I was always afraid of my surroundings, and I could not study well. Even if I only...
From where I stand: “Just the act of wearing our traditional clothes is an expression of resistance”
Monday, April 22, 2019
Sonia Maribel Sontay Herrera is an indigenous woman and human rights defender from Guatemala. Her vision is for Guatemala to respect the rights of indigenous women and hear their voices.
Thursday, April 18, 2019
On 11 April 2019, the conference room at the Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management pulsated with energy, as 40 youth activists from around the world debated challenges and solutions to ensure young women’s meaningful participation in peacebuilding processes in their countries and regions.