It is well known that violent conflict disproportionately affects women and girls and intensifies pre-existing gender inequalities and discrimination. Women are also active agents of peace in armed conflict, yet their role as key players and change agents of peace has been largely unrecognized.泭 was the first resolution that acknowledged the contributions women and girls make to conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution and peacebuilding and highlighted the importance of their equal and full participation. Since then, the Security Council meets every year on the anniversary of its adoption, 31 October.
Women and Gender Equality
Imagine a world where all people have equal rights and opportunities. Women and girls are not afraid of walking home late at night, and men and boys are not trapped in oppressive masculinities. In this world, gender equality is the norm. Men and women get paid equally for work of equal value and share the care work at home. This is Generation Equality.泭UN Womenscampaign marks the 25thanniversary of the, the most visionary agenda for womens rights and empowerment everywhere.
Ten years ago, the UN Security Council the mandate of theSpecial Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. Conflict-related sexual violence is no longer seen as an inevitable byproduct of war, but rather a crime that is preventable and punishable under International Law.泭It is also essential to recognize and tackle gender inequality as the root cause and driver of sexual violence, in times of war and peace and to provide multidimensional services for survivors.
Rural women have unique knowledge, skills and experiences that are critical to promoting sustainable practices and combating the ill-effects of climate change.泭Economically empowered rural women, like those in Brazil, Kyrgyzstan, Mali, Nepal and Niger mentioned in this article, are key to the success of families, communities and national economies. Through their labour, they are maintaining and improving their childrens education, household health, food security and nutrition, and are thus indispensable in the attainment of theSustainable Development Goals (SDGs).泭
This year isthe 40th anniversary of the, an international treaty on the human rights of women. The agreement provides an international standard for protecting and promoting womens political, civil, cultural, economic, and social rights. As of October 2019, have ratified it.泭A consisting of 23 independent experts on womens rights from around the world monitors the implementation of the Convention. They will convene in Geneva from 21 October until 8 November to assess progress and consider the reports submitted by the State parties.
Books on feminism and womens experience reflect how diverse womens experiences around the world truly are.
One out of everythree women, who are employed, works in agriculture.泭In rural areas women collect biomass fuels, manually process foodstuffs, and pump water- 80% of households without piped water rely on women for water collection.泭 These are just some examples of their critical survivalrolein rural areas. That is why the UN commemorates theevery 15 October. The 2019 theme is , calling for actionto support rural women in responding to climate change through agricultural production, food security, and natural resources management.
Explore this InfoStory to find out why gender balance at all levels of business is better for companies and economies as a whole.
Since 2012, 11 October has been marked as the International Day of the Girl Child.泭The day aims to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face, while promoting girls'empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights. Nearly 25years ago, the 4th World Conference on Women culminated in the adoption of the ;the most comprehensive policy agenda for the empowerment of women. This year, under the theme "GirlForce: Unscripted and Unstoppable,"wecelebrate achievements by, with, and for girls.泭
Investing in girls education andkeeping girls in schoolis the critical first step in opening up opportunities for women in the Sahel.
"How do we get more women in politics?" asksGlobalSustainable Development Goal Advocate,AlaaMurabit. Asa UN High-Level Commissioner on Health Employment and Economic Growth, she hasseen first-hand how our experiences and opportunities in childhood shape our future realities and potential:"If, from a young age, a girl or woman does not feel she has power over her own body, it can be a challenge for her to believe that she should run for public office." She also calls fortransforming 'our cultural assumptions about what traits define leadership.'
Not Waiting for Handouts: 5 Stories of Resilience From One of the Worlds Largest Refugee Camps
In Burkina Faso, a new type of school is transforming the habits and mentalities of married men and future husbands.
UN Women - Afghanistan
In rural Kyrgyzstan, Coding Caravan encourages girls leadership and entrepreneurship