Media advisory: In a pandemic world, where does gender equality fit in?

Date: Thursday, September 10, 2020

UN Women at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly, 15–25 September 2020.

Gender assessments in Europe and Central Asia reveal pandemic’s devastating impact on women

Date: Tuesday, July 21, 2020

A survey to assess the gendered impacts of COVID-19 on women’s and men’s lives and livelihoods in ten countries/territories across Europe and Central Asia has revealed dire findings.

Inspirational Black women you should know

Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Here are just six incredible Black women who are standing against oppression and discrimination and leading the way towards a better future for all.

In Gaza, helping mothers reunite with children separated by the COVID-19 lockdown

Date: Monday, July 13, 2020

The COVID-19 lockdown in Palestine left many women with no legal backing to secure child visitation and custody rights. Former partners took advantage of the legal paralysis to prevent mothers from seeing their children or to stop sending alimony. A joint programme by UN Women, UNDP and UNICEF has trained lawyers and provided free legal aid for 371 Palestinian women.

Take five: “This year’s Pride is marked by a critical need to not just stand but act in solidarity in seeking racial justice and equality”

Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Sophie Browne (she/her; they/them) is UN Women’s recently appointed LGBTIQ+ Policy Specialist. In this newly created, dedicated post, Browne will work across the organization, globally, and with external partners to integrate an LGBTIQ+ lens to UN Women’s work. Browne has long worked on gender and social justice causes in research, policy, advocacy, law reform and programming capacities . Sophie is also on the board of UN-GLOBE, the system-wide staff body for LGBTIQ+ personnel, and...

UN Women and Rohingya women on the front line of COVID-19 response

Date: Wednesday, June 3, 2020

The world in lockdown has created a ‘profound shock to our societies and economies, and women are at the heart of care and response efforts underway[1]. Primarily as caregivers, women are not just sustaining families, but also serving as front-line responders, mainly in the health and service sector.

In Myanmar, women work to protect small businesses during COVID-19 pandemic

Date: Friday, May 22, 2020

UN Women has been working with other United Nations agencies, partners and the Government to raise public awareness about COVID-19. Initiatives by UN Women’s Sittwe office include providing information geared toward women, helping women get health and social protection services, and ensuring that virus control measures, such as quarantine centres, meet women’s needs and concerns

Ten things you can learn from women’s resilience that will help you stay strong in the time of COVID-19

Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2020

During these uncertain and difficult times, we turn to women leaders from around the world for inspiration. They have forged peace when ravaged by war; they have driven innovation despite all odds; and they persisted in the face of challenges and insisted on building a better future.

Take five: The COVID-19 challenges “are just too many to mention”

Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Pamela Grace P. Español-Solano is one of nine female doctors volunteering at a COVID-19 facility in southern Philippines.

“Women and girls are left behind in COVID-19 response” – warn women’s organizations in Europe and Central Asia

Date: Thursday, April 30, 2020

Women’s organizations across Eastern Europe and Central Asia urged governments and development partners to recognize the unique and vital needs of women and girls in pandemic response and recovery efforts. Activists warned the international community that the world risks a roll back in women’s rights if necessary efforts are not urgently undertaken.

From where I stand: “Policies and regulation can be updated day-to-day…we have to quickly and firmly handle the situation”

Date: Monday, April 20, 2020

Nicha Nitinavakarn is a police captain working in the Arrival Immigration Bureau at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand, where women make up most of the workforce. Her responsibilities include passport check, entry approval and problem-solving for all arrival issues. She is one of the many women who are part of the essential workforce as four billion people around the world are under stay-home orders to curb the spread of COVID-19

"Put women and girls at the centre of efforts to recover from COVID-19"—Statement by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres

Date: Thursday, April 9, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic affects everyone, everywhere. But it affects different groups of people differently, deepening existing inequalities. Today we are launching a report that shows how COVID-19 could reverse the limited progress that has been made on gender equality and women’s rights – and recommends ways to put women’s leadership and contributions at the heart of resilience and recovery.

Step it up G7: An extraordinary time requires extraordinary solidarity 

Date: Monday, April 6, 2020

As the COVID-19 pandemic intensifies and the implications on women become more clear, members of the 2018 and 2019 G7 Gender Equality Advisory Councils urgently called on G7 member states to take into account the gendered dimensions of the crisis and to prevent the deterioration of gender equality and women’s rights worldwide.

I am Generation Equality: Lee Mi-kyung, overseas aid administrator and women’s rights activist

Date: Friday, April 3, 2020

Lee Mi-kyung is President of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). She served five terms as Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea from 1996 to 2016, and was Standing Vice-Chairperson and Representative of Korea Women’s Association United from 1987 to 1996.

Take five: “We need to have a common vision and ideology to advocate for the rights of all women and girls with one voice”

Date: Monday, March 30, 2020

Getrude Mligo, 23, was born two years after the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. As a high school student in Songea region of Tanzania, the gender inequalities she saw in her community, especially child marriages that forced girls out of school, prompted her to look back to the 1995 blueprint and begin asking questions. In 2020, Mligo participated in a UN Women mentorship programme as part of UN Women’s Generation Equality campaign, in partnership with Plan International, which paired her with UN Women Representative in Tanzania, Hodan Addou. In this interview, Mligo shares what it means to be a champion for Generation Equality.

Closing remarks by Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka at the official commemoration of International Women’s Day in New York

Date: Friday, March 6, 2020

In her closing remarks at the UN's official commemoration for International Women's Day in New York, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said: "Together we will build the society that we want and together we will make the changes that we want to make. It is not yet time to rest. We have a lot of work to do".

Press release: Ahead of International Women´s Day, new UN Women report warns that progress towards gender equality is lagging and hard-fought gains are under threat

Date: Thursday, March 5, 2020

Aligned with 2020 theme, “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights”, the Report issues call to action to achieve gender equality and justice for this generation, 25 years after the Beijing Platform for Action.

Media advisory: International Women’s Day 2020 events

Date: Thursday, February 27, 2020

This year’s International Women’s Day (8 March) takes place in the context of the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, considered the most comprehensive roadmap on women’s rights. As the forthcoming UN Women report on women’s rights reveals, 25 years after the adoption of the Beijing Declaration, the emerging global consensus is that despite some progress in areas such as primary education and maternal heath, real change has been too slow for the majority of the world’s women and girls.

Statement for International Women’s Day by Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2020

In her statement for International Women's Day (8 March), UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka calls 2020 the year for gender equality and calls on everyone to tackle the persistent barriers against gender equality.

Twelve small actions with big impact for Generation Equality

Date: Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Change isn’t just about big headline moments, legal victories and international agreements: the way we talk, think, and act every day can create a ripple effect that benefits everyone. As we usher in the new decade and take stock of global progress on women’s rights, join us, as Generation Equality, in getting to gender equality through these simple everyday actions.