In conflict and crises around the world, women and girls from the frontlines are almost always hardest hit, yet against all odds, are ushering change. Supported by and partners, women around the world are standing up and transforming their lives, their communities, and the world. Because when womens voices are heard, development thrives, economies grow, and peace prevails.
Women and Gender Equality
A gender equal world is a more accessible, more free, and more peaceful world, said Pashtana Dorani. It is a fascinating world, where men and women have equal pay; a world where girls and boys are not told which colour is for which or told they cannot play sports or do anything. The efforts of women human rights defenders like Dorani continue to be indispensable for the rights of women and girls. supports the courageous women demanding an end to discrimination and advocating for legal reforms to ensure their rights and justice.
Inas is now a volunteer at a -supported safe space in Jabilya, in the Gaza Strip, where she was helped to leave an abusive marriage and get medical treatment for her cancer.
Around the world, women musicians are producing art in the face of the challenges they face in society, whether related to conflict, human rights, climate change, inequality, or simply because of their gender. is a new UN podcast, where ten inspiring women musicians from diverse cultural backgrounds talk to us about their challenges as women in a male-dominated industry, overcoming barriers, and what drives them to continue creating music. !
Gender-based violence is one of the worlds most pervasive human rights violations. Every woman in every part of the world deserves to live without fear, threats and violence. is taking action to prevent, respond to and address gender-based violence (GBV) in more than 150 countries.
At a roundtable discussion on , Secretary-General Ant籀nio Guterres made a rallying call to partners to summon the political will and recommit to women as key agents of peace. In the presence of four women leaders from Mali, Central African Republic, Darfur and Cyprus, the Secretary-General heard about the progress and remaining challenges in a number of key areas including womens participation in peace processes and conflict resolution, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women and ensuring womens voices as voters and candidates in elections.
In conflicts and crises, women and girls are almost always hit hardest. During the COVID-19 pandemic, women were nearly twice as likely as men to lose their jobs, and theres been an increase in . The climate emergency is another example of how women and girls face greater hardship in times of crisis. Yet, around the world women are Meet 16 of the millions of changemakers, partners and advocates who tirelessly fight to make a difference from the frontlines of crises.
Violence against women and girls remains the most pervasive human rights violation in the world, affecting more than 1 in 3 womena figure that has remained largely unchanged over the last decade. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (Nov 25) launches , a 16-day campaign that encourages us all to show solidarity with feminist movements and advocates around the world. Whether youre a seasoned activist or just getting started, here are you can act now to end violence against women and girls.
In the midst of interlinked crises around the world threatening progress on womens rights and pushing women out of the paid economy, Goodwill Ambassador Anne Hathaway called on leaders of the global business community to put women at the heart of economic growth and recovery. UN Women has observed that care that is appreciated and properly valued in all its forms is a critical missing link in unlocking the full potential of women in the economy and in society. Watch the video to find out more.
Many women lack control over their reproductive lives. in 64 countries, about 8 per cent of women cannot choose contraception and nearly a quarter lack the power to deny sex.
As 71 million people in the developing world in just three months as a direct consequence of global food and energy price surges, tackles barriers facing rural women.
The Peace Agreement in Colombia, signed in 2016 between the government and the guerilla FARC-EP, put an end to the longest war in Latin America. A short documentary offers an intimate look at the personal story and daily life of Marinelly Hern獺ndez, a former guerrilla fighter, including her challenges and achievements as peacebuilder, woman, mother, and leader of her community. supports the reintegration of former FARC-EP female guerrilla fighters with actions that promote their citizenship, political leadership, and economic empowerment to reinforce their role as peacebuilders.
On the International Day of the Girl, a project promoting girls education in low-income communities in Cambodia, and a Tanzanian mentoring initiative helping girls at risk of dropout through crucial school transitions have both been awarded this years . The two laureates, selected by the international jury of the Prize are Room to Read Cambodias Girls Education Programme and the Girls' Livelihood and Mentorship Initiative (GLAMI) from Tanzania. Each laureate will receive an endowment of US$ 50,000 to advance its work.
partner Yemeni Women Union (YWU) acted on a rumour about an 8-year-old girl getting married, by getting a district lawyer to appoint a legal consultant to investigate Imans case. Many girls arent rescued the way Iman was. More than 650 million women and girls around the world today were married or in informal unions before age 18. Child marriage is a human rights violation driven by poverty and gender inequality, among other factors. Girls entering child marriages or early unions tend to drop out of school. Without an education, economic independence is near impossible.
Global food and energy markets are feeling the strain of the war. According to the latest , the current disruption to the food and energy markets has only intensified gender disparities, causing rates of food insecurity, malnutrition, and energy poverty. The ensuing cost-of-living crisis has acutely threatened womens livelihoods, health, and well-being. Empowering rural women means fighting poverty. This International Day of Rural Women (15 Oct) lets claim rural areas with equal opportunities for all.