Stories
- Women’s movements (30)
- Leadership and political participation (26)
- Political empowerment (18)
- Citizen engagement (9)
- Electoral systems and processes (9)
- Decision-making (7)
- Parliamentary development (6)
- Gender equality and women’s empowerment (6)
- Constitutions and legal reform (6)
- Civil society participation (6)
- Executive Director (3)
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Press release: To accelerate gender equality, UN Women launches a Call to Action to parliamentarians
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.
Women rising: Women’s activism that has shaped the world as you know it
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.
Across Latin America, women fight back against violence in politics
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Currently, Latin America is leading globally in local and parliamentary positions held by women. But the journey to political participation is fraught with rising violence and intimidation against women in politics. In the age of #MeToo, we bring you the voices of Latin American women who are raising their voices and running for office, against all odds.
Monday, April 30, 2018
Remarks by Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka at the African Women Leaders Network: Second Women Leaders Forum for Africa’s Transformation in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Monday, April 23, 2018
The “Second Women Leaders Forum for Africa’s Transformation” of the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) will run from 24 to 26 April at the African Union (AU) Headquarters in Addis Ababa, under the theme, “Women Working Together for the Africa We Want: From Commitment to Action”.
Local women’s networks drive gender equality in rural Serbia
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
In rural Serbia, where the political and economic landscape is primarily dominated by men and few women participate in decision-making, local Women Councilors Networks set up with support from UN Women are challenging the status quo.
Editorial spotlight: International Day of Democracy 2017
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Democracy, sustainable peace and conflict prevention cannot be achieved if women—half of the population—are left behind. This year's International Day of Democracy (15 September) theme, “Democracy and Conflict Prevention”, calls for “strong leadership to support democracy, strengthen civil society, empower women and uphold the rule of law”.
Liberia elections: Making 2017 count for women
Monday, August 7, 2017
In October 2017, Liberians will head to the polls to vote, as President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female Head of State, completes her second and final term tenure this year. Women constitute half of the over two million people who have registered to vote, according to Liberia’s National Elections Commission (NEC). UN Women is working with Liberian civil society organizations, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, the NEC and the media to boost...
In Kenya, women gear up for county elections
Monday, July 24, 2017
UN Women is working with community elders to break the cultural barriers to women’s political participation. For the upcoming general elections on 8 August, hopes are running high among women candidates. A total of nine women are competing for Governors, 115 as members of the National Assembly, 25 as senators’ and 261 as members of the County Assemblies.
Press Release: New platform launched to galvanize and boost women’s leadership of Africa
Friday, June 2, 2017
UN Women, the African Union Commission, and the Permanent Mission of Germany today launched the African Women Leaders Network, a ground-breaking initiative that seeks to enhance the leadership of women in the transformation of Africa with a focus on governance, peace and stability.
Women’s political participation gains momentum in Moldova
Monday, September 26, 2016
As of 2015, Moldova ranked 64 in terms of women’s representation in the Parliament, with women holding only 22 per cent of seats in the lower house. UN Women-UNDP collaboration with the government and the Parliament contributed towards the adoption of a new law on 14 April, 2016, which for the first time, introduced gender quotas for party list candidates and cabinet nominees. Law No. 71 says that women and men must each make up a minimum of 40 per cent of every political party’s candidates and of cabinet nominees, and amends 15 other national laws.
Tunisia moves closer to achieving gender equality in politics
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Tunisia’s Parliament has approved an amendment ensuring that women have greater representation in local politics. This amendment, which applies to both municipal and regional elections, includes a proposal for “horizontal and vertical” gender parity in Article 49 of the electoral law.
Calming tensions and spurring women to vote in Haiti
Thursday, May 12, 2016
Nadege Beauvil reflects on her work with local grass-roots women's organization on projects to spur women to vote in Haiti.
Local budgets in Albania respond to community feedback
Thursday, May 5, 2016
A UN Women-led campaign results in Albania’s first-ever community budget consultations and brings immediate benefits to those in need.
"In Brazil, women will be at the forefront of ending racism" — Executive Director
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Speech by UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka at the March of Black Women in Brazil on 18 November.
Women claim their space in Tanzania’s elections
Friday, October 23, 2015
A dozen of the women candidates trained by UN Women and partners speak about the challenges they’ve faced in the lead-up to this weekend’s presidential, parliamentary and local elections and how the training has motivated them.
Women’s groups galvanize for Financing for Development Conference
Friday, July 10, 2015
In Addis Ababa, ahead of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD), UN Women Deputy Executive Director, Lakshmi Puri, addressed opening remarks at the Women’s Forum on Financing for Gender Equality in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 10 July.
Ebola outbreak takes its toll on women
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Women are on the front lines of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, with female nurses representing the majority of the medical personnel who have died from the virus.
Strengthening Voices for Democracy
Friday, September 13, 2013
For International Day of Democracy, we spotlight UN Women’s work to strengthen women’s voices, leadership and political participation.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
UN Women mourns the loss of award-winning human rights defender and an internationally renowned activist for gender equality and ending violence against women and girls, Sunila Abeysekera. She passed away in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 9 September 2013, after a long fight with cancer.