One woman is killed every 10 minutes by their intimate partner or other family member. 

UN Women calls for increased gender-focused climate finance at COP29

PRESS RELEASE

20 NOVEMBER 2024

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media.team@unwomen.org

UN Women calls for increased gender-focused climate finance at COP29 

Urgent action and more resources are needed to address the impact of climate change on women and girls 

Baku/New York City  — As the UN climate summit COP29 commemorates Gender Day on 21 November, UN Women calls for leaders to make strong decisions on climate finance that respond to the specific needs of women and girls.  

Gender-responsive finance is crucial in climate action, as it ensures fair and just access to resources, opportunities, and decision-making for women, who often bear disproportionate impacts of climate change.  

“The climate crisis is not gender-neutral. Women and girls disproportionately bear the brunt of climate change, yet their voices remain largely underrepresented in climate decision-making,” said Jemimah Njuki, UN Women Chief of Women’s Economic Empowerment. “We need financing to go to addressing gender inequalities and to go to grassroots women’s organizations.” 

Climate change amplifies existing gender inequalities, threatening the rights, livelihoods, health, and well-being of women and girls. For instance, under a worst-case climate scenario, approximately 158 million more women and girls will be pushed into poverty—16 million more than men and boys.  

Climate change is also tied to increases in unpaid care and domestic work, which primarily falls on women. For example, in many low- and middle-income countries, women and girls are mainly responsible for collecting water and other materials for heating and cooking, tasks made more arduous by climate-induced resource scarcity. Such scarcity also magnifies risks of gender-based violence, including child, early, and forced marriage. Women environmental human rights defenders also face acute risks of violence and harassment. 

Women are on the front lines of climate resilience actions in communities around the world, leading efforts in sustainable agriculture, water management, and disaster response, yet they frequently lack access to the financial services necessary to scale up their contributions. In 2022, just 3 per cent of all official development assistance on climate had gender equality-related objectives. 

“Gender-responsive climate finance means to ensure that the quality of finance delivers on equity, including debt justice and uplifting those most impacted by climate shocks instead of leaving them vulnerable,” said Ayshka Najib, member of the Generation Equality Feminist Action for Climate Justice coalition. 

Women remain underrepresented in climate decision-making, with their voices and leadership often overlooked in global climate policies and forums. Only 6 out of 78 government leaders speaking in the opening high-level segment of COP29 (less than 8 per cent) mentioned the impact of climate change on women—four of whom were women.  

Finance flows and mechanisms must adequately support gender-responsive climate actions. By integrating a gender lens into climate finance, governments, organizations, and institutions can address systemic inequalities, unlock the untapped potential of women-led solutions, and enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of climate initiatives.  

Media contacts:

UN Women: media.team@unwomen.org

Press release: 1,000 Days of the Full-Scale War in Ukraine

PRESS RELEASE

18 NOVEMBER 2024

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1,000 days of the full-scale war: Ukrainian women drive humanitarian response and recovery amid growing security threats

Kyiv/New York, 18 November – As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its 1,000th day today, civilians, women, and girls in Ukraine are enduring deadly intensified attacks across major cities, amid an increasing humanitarian emergency and a feared energy crisis.

The war continues to have devastating consequences for civilians and families, profoundly disrupting their lives, livelihoods, and communities, and leaving countless individuals in urgent need of protection and humanitarian assistance. Over the past two months, tens of thousands of women and girls have been forced to flee frontline areas. They make up the majority of the 4.6 million internally displaced people in Ukraine and of those seeking refuge abroad. Of the 14.6 million people needing humanitarian assistance in 2024, 8 million are women and girls. Alarmingly, an estimated 2.5 million people—primarily women and girls—urgently require support for gender-based violence, including sexual violence. However, many cases go unreported due to pervasive stigma and limited access to healthcare and essential support services, which themselves are being destroyed.

Ukrainian women have been leading the response through their volunteer efforts, women’s rights organizations, and in government, while facing severe personal risks. 

“Women in Ukraine are leading the humanitarian response and planning the recovery. But their numbers in decision-making positions in government remain below global averages, and one in every two women do not work. Even as the Russian attacks worsen, there are opportunities to support women’s empowerment in political and economic life. Empowering women not only strengthens Ukraine’s response today but also paves the way for a more inclusive and resilient future,” said Sabine Freizer Gunes, UN Women Representative in Ukraine.

In the current crisis and nascent recovery, women-led initiatives and women’s rights organizations play vital roles, but face systemic underfunding. Women also aim to contribute to economic growth, and one in every two new business being registered now is being founded by a woman. Yet according to OECD DAC figures, less than 1 per cent of funding for recovery in Ukraine has been allocated to efforts to advance gender equality as the principal objective. Sixteen member states, the European Union, World Bank, several other IFIs, United Nations agencies, NGOs, and private sector companies have committed to address this underfunding through the Alliance for Gender Responsive and Inclusive Recovery launched in June by the Governments of Ukraine and Germany and facilitated by UN Women.

Ukrainian women-led civil society organizations were among the first to respond to the humanitarian crisis 1,000 days ago. Working with 54 organizations through the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund, UN Women and partners have reached over 100,000 women and girls, addressing local needs through different programs in war-affected communities. UN Women is also actively supporting the government and civil society to further advance laws and policies that support women’s empowerment. 

UN Women calls for an end to the war in Ukraine and to the attacks on civilians; and for support to the protection of women and girls, to women’s leadership, and the urgent need for peace as the foundation for ensuring the safety, dignity, and rights of all affected individuals, particularly women and girls. It further urges the international community to increase funding for the humanitarian response, including to women’s rights organizations, recognizing their indispensable role in meeting women and girls’ needs in this humanitarian crisis.

Media contacts:

For more information, please contact: 

UN Women: media.team@unwomen.org

Media Advisory: New femicide data from UN Women

MEDIA ADVISORY

14 NOVEMBER 2024

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media.team@unwomen.org

On International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, UN Women draws attention to femicides

New York City  — On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, 25th November 2024, UN Women and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) will launch the Femicides in 2023: Global Estimates of Female Intimate Partner/Family Member Homicides report with latest data on femicides, the intentional killing of women. Globally, a woman was killed every 10 minutes in 2023.

What to expect before the official launch of the report on 25th November 2024: 

1. Embargoed press release with key findings from the report. 

2. Embargoed copy of the full report upon request. 

3. Opportunities for embargoed interviews. 

4. A press conference on 25th November at 12.30 pm EST with representatives from UN Women and UNODC. This can be attended in person or on UN Web TV. 

2024 marks 25 years since the UN designated 25th November, the date of the murder of the Mirabal sisters, as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The President of the General Assembly will convene a full-day high-level event on 25th November, where the femicide report will be launched. This event will also provide an important platform to reflect on progress and share best practices in accelerating efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls as we approach the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025. The event can be watched live and on-demand in the six UN official languages on UN Web TV.  

During the 16 Days of Activism, from 25th November to 10th December, the UN Secretary General’s UNiTE campaign will also draw attention to the alarming escalation of violence against women under the theme, “Every 10 Minutes, a woman is killed. #NoExcuse. UNiTE to End Violence against Women”.

On X, follow UN Women and the online conversation using the hashtags #NoExcuse and #16days.

Media contacts: 

UN Women’s media team on media.team@unwomen.org 

UNODC’s media team on unodc-press@un.org 

Office of the President of the UN General Assembly, Dr. Mariam Shaikh, Adviser, Social and Digital Media/Media Relations, mariam.shaikh@un.org

For stories and more, check out the UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign, UN Women’s 16 Days of Activism: #NoExcuse page and facts and figures on violence against women. 

Media Advisory: UN Women at COP29 - Calling for a push on gender equality in climate action

MEDIA ADVISORY

13 NOVEMBER 2024

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media.team@unwomen.org

UN Women at COP29: Calling for a push on gender equality in climate action

New York City  —  At the United Nations Conferences of the Parties (COPs) 29 on climate change in Baku, Azerbaijan from 11 to 22 November 2024, UN Women will press on the need for gender-responsive just transitions away from dependence on fossil fuels, work to ensure that women and girls are included in climate adaptation and mitigation plans and programmes, and press for gender-responsive climate finance. 

COP29’s Gender Day will take place on 21 November, and feature a high-level event on gender equality, transparency, and accountability. 

Media opportunities:  

•  A Press Conference on “Gender Equality in Climate Action” will be held on November 21 at 11.30am (Baku time). Members of the media will hear from UN Women Spokesperson Dr Jemimah Njuki, Chief of the Women’s Economic Empowerment Section, and a member of civil society will discuss women’s needs, priorities and current gaps in climate action.
  Place: Baku Stadium
  Room name: Press Conference – Karabakh, Area D
  Available also on webcast (live and on-demand) through our Schedule of COP 29 events page and the UN Climate Change App.
   

• Interviews with UN Women Spokespersons or with activists on the area of gender and climate, either remotely or in person in Baku, can be arranged by reaching out to Janine Kandel on (Janine.kandel@unwomen.org) and Maria Sanchez Aponte (maria.sanchez@unwomen.org) 
   

• A Press release will be shared with the media on Gender Day, Nov 21.  

Background Information: 

Women and girls around the world are key actors in the push for a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment, making their voices heard and actions felt as activists, policymakers, and political leaders. 

UN Women is calling the Parties to:  

• respect, protect, and fulfill the human rights of women, girls, and gender-diverse people; 

• promote their voice, agency, leadership and participation; 

• address the risks of violence against women and girls caused by climate change,  

• with sufficient and targeted funding; 

• and prioritizing a just transition through the creation of decent jobs for women in the green, blue and care economies. 

For more information, please visit: 

Centring gender equality at 2024 conferences on biodiversity, climate change, and desertification | UN Women – Headquarters

 War on Women – Women Killed in Armed Conflict Double in 2023

PRESS RELEASE

22 OCTOBER 2024

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

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Arabic | English | Español | Français

War on Women – Women Killed in Armed Conflicts Double in 2023

UN paints dire picture of women in war: Despite rising conflict less than 10 per cent of negotiators in peace processes in 2023 were women.

New York, 22 October—The effects of war and conflict on women and girls are worsening. In 2023, the proportion of women killed in armed conflicts doubled compared to 2022. Four out of every ten people who died as a result of conflict in 2023 were women. UN-verified cases of conflict-related sexual violence increased by 50 per cent.

These increases in deaths during war and in violence against women are taking place against a backdrop of increasing blatant disregard of international law designed to protect women and children during war. For example, women in war zones are also increasingly suffering from restricted access to healthcare. Every day, 500 women and girls in conflict-affected countries die from complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. By the end of 2023, 180 women were giving birth every day in war-torn Gaza—most without necessities or medical care.

This is the dire picture painted by the latest annual report by UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Women, Peace, and Security, led by UN Women. The report comes 24 years after the adoption of Security Council resolution 1325, which called for all parties to conflicts to ensure the safety of women and girls, and for women’s full involvement in peace processes.

“Women continue to pay the price of the wars of men,” said UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous. “This is happening in the context of a larger war on women. The deliberate targeting of women’s rights is not unique to conflict-affected countries but is even more lethal in those settings. We are witnessing the weaponization of gender equality on many fronts, if we do not stand up and demand change, the consequences will be felt for decades, and peace will remain elusive” she added.

Despite commitments to ensure women’s full and meaningful participation in peace and security matters made over many years, political and military power and decision-making around conflicts continue to be overwhelmingly dominated by men. Women made up only 9.6 per cent of negotiators in peace processes in 2023, even though studies show that when women are involved, peace agreements last longer and are better implemented.

In Yemen, for example, women-led negotiations resulted in safe access to a water source for civilians. In Sudan, 49 women-led organizations are pushing for a more inclusive peace process. These efforts are largely unsupported or unrecognized in formal peace negotiations.

One of the key challenges in realizing women, peace and security commitments identified in the report is the severe lack of funding.  In 2023, global military expenditures reached a record $2.44 trillion. In contrast, funding for organizations and movements supporting women's rights continues to fall short, averaging just 0.3 per cent of total aid annually—especially in conflict-affected areas. Investments in gender-based violence prevention and response make up less than one per cent of all humanitarian spending.

In 2025, the world will reach a series of anniversaries of significant global actions that were intended to promote gender equality and human rights for everybody, most notably the 30th commemoration of the Beijing Platform for Action, the most visionary blueprint on women’s rights ever adopted by 189 countries. The report concludes that only through bold political action and increased funding, will women’s equal and meaningful participation in peace and security become a reality: a reality that is essential for achieving lasting peace for all.

Media Contacts: media.team@unwomen.org

Ines Esteban Gonzalez: ines.esteban.gonzalez@unwomen.org

Maria Sanchez Aponte: maria.sanchez@unwomen.org

Fareena Alam: fareena.alam@unwomen.org

Sudan humanitarian crisis has catastrophic impact for women and girls, with two-fold increase of gender-based violence 

PRESS RELEASE

27 September 2024

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media.team@unwomen.org

Sudan humanitarian crisis has catastrophic impact for women and girls, with two-fold increase of gender-based violence

New UN Women report highlights the disproportionate impacts of the escalating conflict for Sudanese women and girls, including the 5.8 million who are internally displaced

Nairobi/New York/Geneva — The conflict in Sudan has resulted in the largest internal displacement crisis in the world since the Syrian civil war in 2011. The conflict has had catastrophic impacts on women and girls, according to a Gender Alert published today by UN Women.  

The number of people in need of gender-based violence related services has increased by 100 percent since the beginning of the crisis, up to 6.7 million by December 2023, and this figure is estimated to be even higher today. While men and boys are also victims of gender-based violence, most of these cases involve women and girls. The ongoing violence, particularly in Khartoum, Darfur, and Kordofan, has exacerbated the risks faced by women and girls, with rising reports of conflict-related sexual violence, sexual exploitation, and abuse. The nearly 5.8 million internally displaced women and girls are particularly vulnerable, with many cases of abuse going unreported due to a lack of adequate support and fears of stigma and retribution.

Sudan is facing the worst levels of acute food insecurity ever recorded in the country.  With 64 per cent of female-headed households experiencing food insecurity compared to 48 per cent of male-headed households in ten states, women and girls are eating least and last. Access to health care services is another challenge: 1.63 million women of reproductive age are without adequate services. Among them, over 160,000 are pregnant, and an estimated 54,000 childbirths are expected in the next three months.

Women and girls also continue to be disproportionately impacted by the lack of safe, easily accessible, and affordable water, sanitation, and hygiene. At least 80 per cent of the internally displaced women are unable to secure clean water due to affordability, safety concerns, and distance. The education crisis in Sudan is another devastating result of the conflict. Over 2.5 million girls, representing 74 per cent of school-aged girls, are currently out of school, increasing their risk of being subjected to harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation. 

“Women and girls in Sudan are facing unimaginable challenges, yet their strength and resilience continue to inspire us. We cannot let Sudan become a forgotten crisis. Now, more than ever, the international community must rally together to support women in Sudan, ensuring they have the resources and protection they need to survive and rebuild their lives,” said Hodan Addou, acting Regional Director for UN Women’s East and Southern Africa office. 

Action must be taken urgently to ensure the physical protection of women and girls as well as secure access to food, safe water, and sexual and reproductive health services. UN Women is supporting community-based initiatives, in partnership with women-led organizations, building resilience and ensuring access to critical humanitarian services for women, men, girls, and boys affected by the crisis. UN Women urges the international community, donors, and humanitarian partners to prioritize the protection and empowerment of Sudanese women and girls, including through the increase of funding for local women-led organizations, which received only 1.63 per cent of the Sudan Humanitarian Fund’s financial resources in 2023.

UN Women stands with the people of Sudan during this deteriorating humanitarian crisis and calls for an immediate halt to the war and a return to the negotiating table for peace dialogues.

For more information, please read the full publication: 

https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/09/gender-alert-women-and-girls-of-sudan-fortitude-amid-the-flame-of-war

HeForShe marks ten years announcing new Champions 

PRESS RELEASE

24 SEPTEMBER 2024

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HeForShe marks ten years with a movement of 2 million gender equality advocates, welcomes new Champions 

New York City  — Since 2014, HeForShe has bolstered a global movement, engaging more than 2 million men and individuals of all genders in championing gender equality. This unique initiative, led by UN Women, has driven 3 billion conversations on topics ranging from closing the pay gap to combating violence against women, reaching more than 36 million people in 2023 alone, including those in crisis-affected areas. In 2023 alone, HeForShe has engaged more than 300,000 employees across multiple member organizations, putting gender equality at the center of the conversations at workplaces, with at least USD 5.7 million in direct investments towards gender equality. 

To ensure the HeForShe movement continues pushing for gender equality over the next ten years, UN Women is announcing the addition of four new global leaders who have committed to making advancements within their respective sectors. They are Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain; Hugh Evans, CEO and Co-Founder of Global Citizen; Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank; and Michelle Terry, CEO of Movember.

“UN Women is pleased to announce four visionary leaders as new HeForShe Champions.  When men and women alike stand together for gender equality, we move towards a just and equal world for all”, said UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous.

The new HeForShe Champions will join a growing and diverse cohort of leaders dedicated to transforming their institutions and setting new benchmarks for equality, ensuring that women and girls have equal opportunities in social, economic, and political spheres worldwide. 

Each of these Champions has committed to making gender equality an institutional priority, with bold targets and a commitment to annual monitoring and accountability. The new HeForShe Alliance Members’ respective commitments are as follows:

H.E. Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain:

The Government of Spain commits to promote gender rotation in the presidency of the United Nations General Assembly and equal access to decision-making positions, including at the multilateral level; to continue supporting and strengthening the work of UN Women by increasing its funding; to promote gender parity and equality in Spain, the EU, and globally through the Parity Law, among other instruments; to promote global care systems; and to ensure a feminist approach in all policies, including those that are part of the triple transition: social, digital, and ecological. 

“In some places, we are witnessing a steady erosion of the rights that feminist movements fought for with so much effort over the years. We are therefore obliged to raise our voice and remind the world that gender equality is a human rights issue, based on social justice, and that it concerns us all.”

Hugh Evans, CEO and Co-Founder of Global Citizen:

Global Citizen and HeForShe commit to using their respective platforms and advocacy to showcase and speak about girls’ and women’s empowerment and advancing gender equality in partnership under the HeForShe Alliance. This includes featuring HeForShe initiatives and messages at Global Citizen events, campaigns, and activations, while also showcasing Global Citizen’s gender-focused efforts through the HeForShe Alliance. By joining forces, HeForShe and Global Citizen will broaden their reach and influence, driving greater public awareness and advocacy for gender equality across multiple sectors.

“It's not possible to end extreme poverty without putting the health and economic rights of women and girls front and centercross all aspects of society — in the home, the boardroom, governments, classrooms — we need to equalize the playing field and ensure women and girls have the equity and agency to lead. I'm excited to join forces with the HeForShe movement and continue to amplify this call to action, for the benefit of us all.”

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank:

The African Development Bank commits to mainstreaming gender considerations across all its investment projects and operations. This includes incorporating gender-responsive indicators into project monitoring and evaluation frameworks to track progress in enhancing women's financial inclusion. By embedding gender criteria in its processes, the Bank has the potential to lead the financial sector in promoting gender equality, setting a new standard for development finance institutions globally.

“Africa can only reach its full development potential by exponentially increasing opportunities for women.  Advancing gender and empowering women are central to the African Development Bank Group's work across the continent. I sincerely thank UN Women and HeForShe for this recognition. Becoming a HeForShe Champion reflects my personal, as well as the Bank's, unwavering commitment to promoting gender equality and to delivering increased access to finance for Africa's women entrepreneurs. I am resolute in my conviction that when Africa's women win — Africa wins.”

Michelle Terry, CEO of Movember:

Movember and HeForShe will collaborate to advance research on the intersections of men’s health and gender equality, focusing particularly on promoting healthy masculinities. This partnership will involve sharing research findings with HeForShe partners and developing guidelines for effective communication around healthy masculinities. This partnership will equip organizations with the tools to foster positive masculinity, benefiting the broader field of gender equality by addressing harmful gender norms.

“At Movember, we believe that achieving gender equality requires all of us to be part of the solution. Our goal is to elevate the voices and experiences of boys and men, engaging them as integral parts of the solution to gender inequality. We know that when men are healthier – both mentally and physically – it benefits everyone and is essential to achieving true gender equality. By promoting healthier expressions of masculinity, we aim to foster more respectful behaviors and create healthier, safer communities for all. We are proud to join the HeForShe Alliance and stand alongside those who are driving positive change and challenging outdated norms — together, we can build a world where everyone, regardless of gender, has the opportunity to thrive.”

You can read the full HeForShe Impact Report 2024 here.  

Media contacts:

For more information, please contact: 

UN Women: media.team@unwomen.org

UN Women at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly 

Media Advisory

5 SEPTEMBER 2024 

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media.team@unwomen.org

UN Women at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly

New York City — The 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79) marks a crucial opportunity to put gender equality at the center of the global discussions towards Sustainable Development. 

UNGA79 will take place from 10th to 30th September 2024, under the theme, "Leaving no one behind: acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations”.  

Heads of State and Government will explore solutions to intertwined global challenges at the Summit of the Future, to advance peace, security, and sustainable development. World leaders are expected to adopt the Pact for the Future, which will include a Global Digital Compact where the importance of gender equality will be front and center.  

As the 30th anniversary of the visionary Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action approaches, UN Women will convene partners at UNGA 79 to strengthen and deliver on the commitments made to advance equal rights for women and girls.  

UN Women will also present The Gender Snapshot 2024 report, with the latest data on gender equality across all SDGs.  

Key events  

As some details are still being confirmed and there may be last-minute changes on location/timing for the events we advise you to look at the online version of this media advisory, which we will update regularly. 

Media Launch of Gender Snapshot 2024 

When: Monday, 16 September 2024, 12.30 pm 

Where: UN headquarters’ press room, New York, and UN Web TV  

UN Women and UN DESA will launch the 2024 edition of Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot to the media. This year’s report points out the latest trends and challenges on the achievement of gender equality across all the Sustainable Development Goals. It also points out the urgency of accelerating progress on gender equality to achieve the SDGs. UN accredited media are welcome to attend the briefing in person, or online, and the video will also be available post-launch on UN Web TV. The official launch event for Members States and other stakeholders will take place on September 21 at 6 pm, by invitation only. 
 

Inclusion = Income: The Business Case for Progressive Advertising 

When: Tuesday, 17 September 2024, 8.30 am to 10 am 

The Business Case for Inclusive Advertising is an industry-first, global study which proves that inclusive advertising content drives both shot and long-term sales. The study, to be launched at this event, was conducted by Oxford University’s Saïd Business School academics Dr Felipe Thomaz and Prof Andrew Stephen and is based on data from Unstereotype Alliance members Bayer Consumer Healthcare, Diageo, Geena Davis Institute, Kantar, Mars, Mondelez International, and Unilever. Please visit Unstereotype Alliance's website to see the report findings.
 

Pay of the Future: Achieving Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value 

When: Wednesday, 18 September 2024, 5.30 pm to 7.30 pm 

To celebrate International Equal Pay Day, this high-level event and reception seeks to energize and accelerate collective action around policies, initiatives and tools that are reducing the gender pay gap. The event will highlight multi-stakeholder and whole-of-society approaches that are effecting change, in line with the reinvigoration of multilateralism seen at the Summit of the Future. The reception will provide an open, inclusive and informal space to engage and encourage discussion, giving participants the opportunity to strengthen avenues of exchange, collaboration and mutual support and action around achieving equal pay for work of equal value. 
 

Beijing+30:  Towards a Gender Equal World 

When: Saturday, 21 September 2024, 2.30 pm to 3.45 pm 

As we come closer to the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025, UN Women is taking stock on the implementation so far of this blueprint on women’s rights. The event will bring together governments, civil society organisations and youth groups, the UN system, the private sector, philanthropy and all other multi-stakeholder actors, to share, inspire commit, and act. It will be co-hosted by Mexico, Kenya, and Denmark and others. Registration for in-person attendance: For those who do not have a valid UN ground pass to enter the UN premises, registration for a special event pass is open until 6 September 2024 through this link. The event will take place in Conference Room 2, UN Headquarters, New York.
 

Advocacy, Coalition Building and Transformative Feminist Action (ACT) to End Violence Against Women Programme Launch 

When: Tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, 24 September 2024  

The EU and UN Women will launch the Advocacy, Coalition Building and Transformative Feminist Action (ACT) to End Violence Against Women Programme, a new groundbreaking initiative designed to strengthen global and regional advocacy, coalition building, and transformative feminist action to end violence against women and girls. The launch event will emphasize the critical role of women’s rights movements in ending violence against women and girls, call for increased and sustainable funding for these efforts, address the rising challenges posed by anti-rights movements, and discuss strategies to combat technology-facilitated violence against women human rights defenders. Find out more about ACT here.
 

Annual meeting of the UNGA Platform of Women Leaders 

When: Tuesday, 24 September 2024, 1.15 pm to 2.30 pm 

More than ever, women’s leadership is critical to addressing existing and emerging crises. It has been proven that women’s participation and leadership in political processes fosters inclusive decision-making and amplifies diverse voices ultimately leading to a more sustainable and resilient world for us and future generations to come. The Platform of Women Leaders event will explore the importance of women’s equal participation in decision-making in ensuring peace, socio-economic opportunities, sustainable development and human dignity. The meeting will also offer an opportunity for women leaders to amplify their messages on issues of global concern.
 

Generation Equality during the Summit of the Future: mobilizing, catalyzing and accelerating multi-stakeholder partnerships 

Three years into implementation and following the 2023 Midpoint, Generation Equality’s engagement will center on the launch of the 2024 Accountability Report on 19 September and substantive dialogues – held in-person and online between 22 September and 3 October 2024 – leveraging the latest evidence and data to chart a way forward for Generation Equality by connecting and amplifying voices from across the Generation Equality stakeholders across the globe. Please see the report findings here.
 

10th Anniversary of the HeForShe Initiative 

When: Tuesday, 24 September 2024, 7 pm to 9 pm 

The HeForShe Summit will take place in conjunction with the high-level week of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79) which will centralize the discussions around multilateral solutions for a better tomorrow, namely the Summit of the Future. The HeForShe Summit will aim to contribute to this context through positive role modeling for masculinities supporting gender equality across all SDGs as a key accelerator for the achievement of a shared vision by 2030. The Summit will also serve as a pivotal moment leading up to the global review of gender equality progress, culminating in the Beijing+30 review in 2025. The event will be a private, in-person Gala Dinner, featuring speakers like Goodwill Ambassador Anne Hathaway, President of Spain H.E. Mr. Pedro Sanchez, CEO and Founder of Global Citizen, Hugh Evans as well as prominent private sector leaders. A public event video will be released afterward. By invitation only. Find out more about the HeForShe Initiative here.
 

Further to the flagship side events, UN Women will also co-organize 12-15 side events that align with the Beijing Platform’s critical areas and mobilize constituencies looking ahead to Beijing+30. 

Media contacts:

For more information, please contact: 

UN Women: media.team@unwomen.org

UN report urges immediate global action to close critical gender gaps 

PRESS RELEASE

UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 

16 SEPTEMBER 2024

11AM ET

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 media.team@unwomen.org 

 English | Español | Français 

UN report urges immediate global action to close critical gender gaps

Investing in women and girls and ending discrimination are key to fulfilling the promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

[New York] — The latest edition of Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2024, launched today by UN Women and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, reveals that progress has been made worldwide on gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment. Women hold one in every four parliamentary seats, a significant rise from a decade ago. The share of women and girls living in extreme poverty has finally dipped below 10 per cent following steep increases during the COVID-19 pandemic years. Up to 56 legal reforms have been enacted worldwide that seek to close the gender gap since the first Gender Snapshot.

However, the data presented in the report shows that none of the indicators and sub-indicators of Sustainable Development Goal 5—the goal for gender equality—are being met. At current rates, gender parity in parliaments remains a distant dream, potentially not achievable until 2063. It will still take a staggering 137 years to lift all women and girls out of poverty. And about 1 in 4 girls continue to be married as children.

As world leaders prepare for the Summit of the Future on September 22-23, they are urged to forge new international consensus to close the gender gap, achieve gender equality, and advance the empowerment and rights of all women and girls – a distant but achievable goal.

"Today’s report reveals the undeniable truth: progress is achievable, but is not fast enough,” said Sima Bahous, UN Women Executive Director. “We need to keep pushing forward for gender equality to fulfill the commitment made by world leaders in the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing almost 30 years ago and the 2030 Agenda. Let us unite to continue dismantling the barriers women and girls face and forge a future where gender equality is not just an aspiration but a reality.”

The report stresses the astonishing cost of gender inequality. For example, the annual global cost of countries failing to adequately educate their young populations is over USD 10 trillion. Low- and middle-income countries can lose another USD 500 billion in the next five years by not closing the digital gender gap.

"The costs of inaction on gender equality are immense, and the rewards of achieving it are far too great to ignore. We can only achieve the 2030 Agenda with the full and equal participation of women and girls in every part of society,” said Li Junhua, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.

The report includes a set of recommendations to eliminate gender inequality across all the 17 Sustainable Development Goals such as legal reform, highlighting that countries with domestic violence legislation have lower rates of intimate partner violence – 9.5 per cent compared to 16.1 per cent for those without.

The report calls for decisive action at the Summit of the Future taking place 22-23 September, and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 2025; to increase investments and end discrimination against women and girls; and to fulfill the promise of the 2030 Agenda.

For more information on the report: 

https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2024/09/progress-on-the-sustainable-development-goals-the-gender-snapshot-2024

New York City — The 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) delivered today robust commitments by UN Member States to strengthen financing and institutions to eradicate women’s and girls’ poverty.  

Globally, 10.3 per cent of women live in extreme poverty today, according to the report presented by the UN Secretary-General to the Commission, and progress towards ending poverty needs to be 26 times faster to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. 

The outcome document (or Agreed Conclusions) recognizes that women and girls living in poverty become ‘shock absorbers’ in times of crisis, and that further efforts are needed to increase resources to address women’s and girls’ poverty.  

Acknowledging that the international financial architecture is not fit for a crisis-prone world, the Commission called for reforms to enable countries to mobilize and invest resources in gender equality. These measures include debt relief and progressive taxation, and ensuring that public resources are allocated to address the needs and rights of women and girls. 

The Agreed Conclusions also recommend mobilizing financial resources from public and private sources, strengthening the international financial architecture, ensuring a gender lens in national budgeting processes, and preventing regressive taxation that disproportionately impacts women and girls with low or no income. 

The outcome document also notes that official development assistance must be increased to address women’s and girls’ poverty. The share of total aid with gender equality as a policy objective decreased for the first time in a decade from 45 in 2019 to 43 per cent in 2020, per the latest data of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). 

The Commission also called for the implementation of gender-responsive economic and social policies, including increased women’s representation, leadership and participation in economic institutions, enforcing core labour standards to ensure equal pay for work of equal value, and implementing policies to support women-owned businesses. 

Engaging and financing women’s organizations is another key recommendation. Robust, flexible and multi-year financing for locally led feminist movements and women’s rights organizations is critical to address poverty, as proven by existing mechanisms such as the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women and the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund. 

The Agreed Conclusions also call to strengthen national capacities to collect and use disaggregated data on multidimensional poverty, and to adopt new development strategies towards sustainable economies. These include strengthening inclusive and gender-responsive social protection systems and scaling up investment in the care economy to reduce women’s time and income poverty and expand their employment opportunities. 

During the session, the Commission also adopted a resolution on HIV-AIDS led by the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), which calls to increase investment in gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls in the HIV-AIDS response. 

The two-week session is the largest UN gathering on gender equality. CSW68 brought together world leaders – including two Heads of State, three vice-presidents and over 100 Ministers – and 4,800 representatives of civil-society organizations, marking the second-highest attendance in CSW records. 

On the sidelines of CSW68, approximately 270 side events were organized by UN Member States, intergovernmental organizations and UN entities; and more than 760 parallel events were organized by civil society and youth-led organizations as part of the NGO CSW68 Forum. 

The participation of young people, including adolescent girls, across the various sessions, including the Youth Forum, enabled youth delegates to exchange experiences, knowledge, lessons learned and good practices with an emphasis on the multiple dimensions of inequality which exacerbate how young women and girls experience poverty. The sessions, particularly the Youth Interactive Dialogue, demonstrated the importance of continuing with the practice of integrating critical youth perspectives in the official sessions of the CSW. 

Attention is now turning to next year’s 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action. The 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) will take place from 10 to 21 March 2025 in New York.

1 in every 10 women in the world lives in extreme poverty

PRESS RELEASE

07 MARCH 2024

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1 in every 10 women in the world lives in extreme poverty

New York — On International Women’s Day, UN Women calls for the world to “Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress” as the best way to accelerate economic growth and build more prosperous, equitable societies.

This is particularly urgent when war and crisis are eroding the achievements of decades of investments in gender equality. From the Middle East to Haiti, Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, women pay the biggest price for conflicts that are not of their making. The need for peace has never been more urgent.

Climate change is accelerating persistent poverty gaps. As competition for scarce resources intensifies, livelihoods are threatened, societies become more polarized, and women bear an increasingly heavy burden: 

• 1 in every 10 women in the world lives in extreme poverty.

• The number of women and girls living in conflict-affected areas doubled since 2017, now, more than 614 million women and girls live in conflict-affected areas. In conflict areas, women are 7.7 times more likely to live in extreme poverty. 

• Climate change is set to leave 236 million more women and girls hungry by 2030, twice as many as men (131 million). 

• At prime working age, only 61 per cent of women are in the labour force versus 90 per cent of men.

We cannot continue to miss out on the gender-equality dividend. More than 100 million women and girls could be lifted out of poverty if governments prioritized education and family planning, fair and equal wages, and expanded social benefits.

Almost 300 million jobs could be created by 2035 through investments in care services, such as provision of daycare and elderly care. And closing gender employment gaps could boost gross domestic product per capita by 20 per cent across all regions.

The current reality is far from this.  Programmes dedicated to gender equality represent only 4 per cent of official development assistance. An additional USD 360 billion in developing countries is needed per year to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment. This is less than one fifth of the USD 2.2 trillion spent globally on military expenditure in 2022, for example.

The areas needing investment are clear and understood. First and foremost there must be an investment in peace. Beyond this, the investments needed include: laws and policies that advance the rights of women and girls; transformation of social norms that pose barriers to gender equality; guaranteeing women’s access to land, property, health care, education, and decent work; and financing women’s groups networks at all levels.

UN Women is also calling on Member States at the Commission on the Status of Women, starting in New York on 11 March 2024, to back up their commitments on gender equality with resources.  The world’s leaders have this opportunity to develop concrete and progressive agreed conclusions that reflect the crucial need for financing gender equality, women’s empowerment, and women´s organizations. They must seize it for the sake of equality, our planet, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Media contacts:

For more information, please contact UN Women: media.team@unwomen.org

UN Women Statement on Sudan: A year of suffering for Sudanese women and girls

PRESS STATEMENT

07 MARCH 2024

A year of suffering for Sudanese women and girls  

New York City  — Sudan’s current conflict, which marks its one year point this week, is having a devastating impact on the people of Sudan, particularly women and girls. The conflict has reversed the gains made toward democracy and stability, leaving the country in suffering and insecurity, while facing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. UN Women calls on the international community to ensure that the conflict in Sudan does not become a neglected crisis.

Sudanese women and girls are paying a heavy price for this violence, bearing the brunt of a humanitarian crisis that remains largely invisible to the world. Sudan is among the largest internal displacement crises in the world. 53 per cent of internally displaced are women and girls, and there is a growing risk that the violence will soon create the world’s largest hunger crisis. More than 7,000 new mothers could die in the coming months if their nutritional and health needs remain unmet. 

Over 6.7 million people are at risk of gender-based violence and reports of intimate partner violence, sexual exploitation and abuse, and trafficking in persons are widespread and increasing. Survivors report rarely able to access services or report to authorities. The economic impact of the conflict has further marginalized women, stripping them of livelihood opportunities and pushing many towards extreme measures and the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse as they seek to support their families.

Women and girls, often the first responders in crises, are not only victims of this violence but also pivotal to the survival and resilience of their communities. UN Women salutes the courage and bravery of Sudanese women and women’s rights organizations, who continue to advocate for peace and a return to democratic governance at different fora. Their participation in peace processes and humanitarian responses is not just beneficial but necessary for creating lasting peace and security. 

Immediate steps must be taken to ensure the protection of women and girls, support their economic empowerment, and include them in peace negotiations and decision-making. We urge international partners and donors to invest in local, women-led organizations and prioritize resources to address the gender dimensions of this crisis. 

UN Women stands with the people of Sudan during this difficult time and reiterates the Secretary-General's call for an immediate halt to the fighting and a return to dialogue. Respect for human rights and international law must prevail, with perpetrators of human rights violations held accountable. Only then can we hope to restore democracy and build a peaceful and secure future for all in Sudan.

For more information, please contact: media.team@unwomen.org

1 in every 10 women in the world lives in extreme poverty

PRESS RELEASE

07 MARCH 2024

New York — On International Women’s Day, UN Women calls for the world to “Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress” as the best way to accelerate economic growth and build more prosperous, equitable societies.

This is particularly urgent when war and crisis are eroding the achievements of decades of investments in gender equality. From the Middle East to Haiti, Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, women pay the biggest price for conflicts that are not of their making. The need for peace has never been more urgent.

Climate change is accelerating persistent poverty gaps. As competition for scarce resources intensifies, livelihoods are threatened, societies become more polarized, and women bear an increasingly heavy burden: 

• 1 in every 10 women in the world lives in extreme poverty.

• The number of women and girls living in conflict-affected areas doubled since 2017, now, more than 614 million women and girls live in conflict-affected areas. In conflict areas, women are 7.7 times more likely to live in extreme poverty. 

• Climate change is set to leave 236 million more women and girls hungry by 2030, twice as many as men (131 million). 

• At prime working age, only 61 per cent of women are in the labour force versus 90 per cent of men.

We cannot continue to miss out on the gender-equality dividend. More than 100 million women and girls could be lifted out of poverty if governments prioritized education and family planning, fair and equal wages, and expanded social benefits.

Almost 300 million jobs could be created by 2035 through investments in care services, such as provision of daycare and elderly care. And closing gender employment gaps could boost gross domestic product per capita by 20 per cent across all regions.

The current reality is far from this.  Programmes dedicated to gender equality represent only 4 per cent of official development assistance. An additional USD 360 billion in developing countries is needed per year to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment. This is less than one fifth of the USD 2.2 trillion spent globally on military expenditure in 2022, for example.

The areas needing investment are clear and understood. First and foremost there must be an investment in peace. Beyond this, the investments needed include: laws and policies that advance the rights of women and girls; transformation of social norms that pose barriers to gender equality; guaranteeing women’s access to land, property, health care, education, and decent work; and financing women’s groups networks at all levels.

UN Women is also calling on Member States at the Commission on the Status of Women, starting in New York on 11 March 2024, to back up their commitments on gender equality with resources.  The world’s leaders have this opportunity to develop concrete and progressive agreed conclusions that reflect the crucial need for financing gender equality, women’s empowerment, and women´s organizations. They must seize it for the sake of equality, our planet, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Media contacts:

For more information, please contact UN Women: media.team@unwomen.org

 On International Women’s Day, UN Women calls on investing in women as the best solution to face growing crises 

PRESS RELEASE

04 MARCH 2024

United Nations, New York — In a year where almost half of the population lives in a country undergoing an election, this International Women’s Day on March 8 is a crucial opportunity to define the future we want.

As conflict, climate change and polarizing societies are eroding decades of progress in gender equality, UN Women is calling on “Invest in women: Accelerate Progress” to realise the gender equality dividend for all.

Following International Women’s Day, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will address the issue of poverty hundreds of millions of women and girls are facing and solutions to accelerate the progress on gender equality. More information on CSW is available here.

Members of the media are invited to attend the following events:

International Women’s Day (IWD) official UN commemoration: “Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress”
8 March 2024, 10:00 – 11:30am ET
ECOSOC Chamber,  UN Headquarters

The event will bring together the UN system, Member States, civil society organisations, youth groups and others to emphasize the critical actions required to bridge gender gaps, highlight the urgent need for strategic investment in gender equality and women’s empowerment, and showcase and celebrate key successes and best practices.  The opening remarks will be followed by a high-level panel discussion. The event will also feature   live musical performance by Broadway singers.

Expected participants include, amongst others (subject to change):

• António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General

• Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General

• Dennis Francis, President of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly 

• Antonio Manuel Revilla Lagdameo, Chair of the Bureau for the 68th session of the CSW

• Sima Bahous, UN Women Executive Director

• Diene Keita, UNFPA Deputy Executive Director 

• Cristina Duarte, UN Special Adviser on Africa 

• Anne Hathaway, UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, Actor and Activist

The event is open to UN Headquarters grounds pass holders and the UN accredited press corp. Registration is required for the in-person event, and it will be webcast on UN Web TV.


Ring the Bell for Gender Equality events at stock exchanges
From 4 March 2024, opening/closing bells 

For the 10th year, over 100 stock exchanges around the world are hosting bell ringing ceremonies around International Women’s Day (March 8), to raise awareness of the pivotal role the private sector can play in advancing gender equality. The initiative is convened by UN Women in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation, United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative, UN Global Compact and the World Federation of Exchanges. 

In these 10 years of collaboration, participating stock exchanges have also taken the opportunity to make public commitments to gender equality through signing the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), encouraging listed companies to advance women’s representation on boards; or developing sustainability-linked bonds with gender criteria or gender-focused bonds. 

UN Women Deputy Executive Director Kirsi Madi will participate in person at the closing bell at Nasdaq, New York, on 8 March. 

A list of Ring the Bell events around the world can be found here. For additional information contact weps[at]unwomen.org. 

CSW68 opening ceremony
11 March 2024, 10:00am – 1:00pm ET
General Assembly Hall, UN Headquarters

The official opening session of the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place in person in the General Assembly Hall at UN Headquarters in New York. The CSW68 priority theme, “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective”, represents a unique chance to address the gender-poverty gap and solutions, such as designing and delivering inclusive, gender-responsive economic policies. The event will be broadcast on UN Web TV.

More information about CSW68: https://www.unwomen.org/en/csw/csw68-2024


UN Secretary-General’s Town Hall with CSOs
13 March 2024, 10:00am – 11:15am ET

The active participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) is a critical element in the work of the Commission of the Status of Women. The virtual town hall will be the UN Secretary-General’s António Guterres annual consultation with women’s civil society. It will provide an opportunity for women’s and youth civil society organisations to engage with the UN Secretary-General on the session’s priority theme. UN Women Executy Director Sima Bahous will moderate the conversation.

The event will be web streamed live on UN Web TV.


Side event: Generation Equality: Driving feminist financing and accountability for women’s economic justice and eradicating women’s poverty
14 March 2024, 11:30am - 12:45pm ET
Conference Room 1, UN Headquarters

This event will explore innovative approaches for financing women’s economic justice and rights and for eradicating women’s poverty. It will highlight how Generation Equality’s multistakeholder model is driving concrete feminist financing and accountability strategies and policies for gender equality. An Accountability Report will be launched focusing on results from the Action Coalition on Economic Justice and Rights, pointing out progress made on this area.

To attend in person, please RSVP here or follow online on UNWeb TV.


CSW68 Youth Forum
15 March, 4:45 - 6:00pm ET, UN Headquarters
16 March, 9:00am - 4:00pm ET
17 March, 10:00am- 1:00pm ET

The in-person Youth Forum will host between 200 to 250 youth and adolescent participants, featuring a diverse and international assembly of young individuals, who will  critically examine the impacts of current socio-economic crises on women and girls and commit and provide their recommendations for strengthening accountability mechanism, and present a declaration of commitments for advocating gender-responsive reforms in public institutions.

As seating is limited, attendance is by invite only. For inquiries please contact: youth.engage[at]unwomen.org


Side event: Financing social protection and care systems for the fulfilment of human rights, gender equality and poverty reduction
18 March 2024, 3:00 – 4:15pm ET
Conference Room 6, UN Headquarters

The event will bring together speakers to discuss how social protection can be harnessed to realize human rights, promote gender equality and eradicate poverty, especially in the context of multiple crises and repeated shocks. It will highlight good practices, lessons learned and country examples on how we can accelerate progress to expand social protection over the life course towards realizing rights, strengthening resilience in the face of shocks, and alleviating poverty through links with employment and livelihoods.

This event is open to UN Ground Pass holders.


Side event: Multistakeholder Partnerships and Practices to Push Forward for Gender Equality, Human Rights and Democracy
20 March 2024, 3:00 – 4:15pm ET
Conference Room 4, UN Headquarters
This event will explore innovative approach.

UN Women is convening a high-level side event, in partnership with Member States, UN agencies and civil society partners to highlight how multistakeholder, issue-based coalitions at the country level, can accelerate and safeguard gender equality gains. This high-level side event will highlight good practices from countries. Examples will focus on intersectional, intergenerational and multistakeholder partnerships and issue-based coalitions that stakeholders across governments and civil society have developed to achieve change in their local and national contexts to uphold democracy and safeguard gender equality and women and girls’ rights.
This event is open to UN Ground Pass holders and participation is on a first come, first served basis.

 

For more information, editorial content, and assets on CSW68:

• Website: https://www.unwomen.org/en/csw

• Social media: Join the online conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #CSW68 and following @UN_Women.

• Photos: https://www.flickr.com/unwomen/

For interviews with senior UN Women officials, civil society representatives, and speakers at the events, please contact media.team@unwomen.org.

UN Women calls for bold investments to end violence against women in light of new report showing prevention is severely underfunded

PRESS RELEASE

22 NOVEMBER 2023

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Press Release: UN Women calls for bold investments to end violence against women in light of new report showing prevention is severely underfunded  

In 2022, countries around the world spent USD 204 billion in overseas development assistance—of that sizable sum, only one-fifth of one per cent was spent on preventing gender-based violence (GBV).  

New York — Ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November, a report “What Counts? The state of funding for the prevention of gender-based violence against women and girls” by UN Women partners the Equality Institute and the Accelerator for GBV Prevention, working together under the Collective Commitment of the Generation Equality Action Coalition on GBV reveals a concerning reality: gender-based violence, an issue of alarming proportions, garners only 0.2% of global aid and development funding.  

The report comes as the world kicks off the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, from 25 November to 10 December, under the global theme set by the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE campaign, “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls”. 

As the world marks the halfway point to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the urgency to end violence against women and girls has never been greater.  UN Women’s Gender Snapshot 2023 report reveals that 245 million women and girls continue to face physical and/or sexual violence from their intimate partners each year. A staggering 86 per cent of women and girls live in countries without robust legal protections against violence, or in countries where data are not available.

Additionally, the impacts of economic crises, conflicts, and climate change have heightened the vulnerability of women and girls to violence.  

“It is time to get serious and fund what we know works to stop violence against women and girls.   Invest in reforming and implementing laws and multisectoral policies.  Provide services to survivors.  Scale up evidence-based prevention interventions. With the will and contributions of all stakeholders and sectors, we can unlock financing, track budget allocations, and increase gender-responsive budgeting. We have the solutions and resources to end violence against women and girls in our lifetimes.  It is our choice,” said UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous at the official commemoration event for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in New York.

A strong and autonomous feminist movement is also a crucial part of the solution. Women’s rights organizations play a pivotal role in preventing violence, advocating for policy change, and holding governments accountable. However, as per the Action Coalition on GBV’s Accountability Report, they remain severely underfunded, and significant efforts are needed to increase financial support for women’s rights organizations working in this space. 

Also, launched today, a new research brief with estimates on gender-related killings of women and girls, produced jointly by UNODC and UN Women, shows that globally, nearly 89,000 women and girls were killed intentionally in 2022, the highest yearly number recorded in the past two decades, indicating that the number of female homicides is not decreasing. Most killings of women and girls are gender motivated. In 2022, 55 per cent of the intentional killings of women (around 48,800) were committed by intimate partners or other family members. This means that, on average, more than 133 women or girls were killed every day by someone in their own family.


16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AROUND THE WORLD 

Through the 16 Days of Activism campaign, UN Women will be calling for increased long-term, sustainable investments from states, private sector, foundations, and other donors to women’s rights organizations working to end violence against women and girls in all their diversity.

On November 22, the official commemoration event for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in New York will feature an opening address by the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and remarks by UN Women’s Executive Director, and will bring together voices of Member States, women’s civil society organizations, United Nations agencies, and Leaders and Commitment Makers of the Generation Equality Action Coalition on Gender-Based Violence. In line with this year’s theme, the event will highlight best practices of investment to prevent violence against women, gaps and challenges and the way forward.  

UN Women will be also leading a global social media campaign to speak up against gender-based violence using #NoExcuse and #16Days.

From a film festival in Rwanda, to a dialogue for young women in Sri Lanka, and film screenings in Egypt and Morocco, dozens of events organized during the 16 Days of Activism will aim to rally action to ensure a violence-free future for women and girls, symbolized by the colour orange.

As in previous years, iconic buildings around the world are expected to be lit in orange during the 16 Days of Activism, including the Grand Place City Hall Hôtel de Ville in Brussels, Belgium, the UN House in Dakar, Senegal, the Tbilisi TV tower in Tbilisi, Georgia, and other landmark buildings across Sweden, Pakistan and other countries. 

'We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire' - Inter-Agency Standing Committee Statement

STATEMENT

06 NOVEMBER 2023

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‘We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire’

Statement by principals of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee on the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory

New York City/Geneva/Rome  — For almost a month, the world has been watching the unfolding situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory in shock and horror at the spiralling numbers of lives lost and torn apart.

In Israel, some 1,400 people have been killed and thousands have been injured, according to the Israeli authorities. More than 200 people, including children, have been taken hostage. Rockets continue to traumatize families. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced. This is horrific.

However, the horrific killings of even more civilians in Gaza is an outrage, as is cutting off 

2.2 million Palestinians from food, water, medicine, electricity and fuel.

‘We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire’ – Statement by principals of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee on the situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory

In Gaza, according to the Ministry of Health, nearly 9,500 people have been killed, including 3,900 children and over 2,400 women. More than 23,000 injured people require immediate treatment within overstretched hospitals.

An entire population is besieged and under attack, denied access to the essentials for survival, bombed in their homes, shelters, hospitals and places of worship. This is unacceptable.

More than 100 attacks against health care have been reported.

Scores of aid workers have been killed since October 7 including 88 UNRWA colleagues – the highest number of United Nations fatalities ever recorded in a single conflict.

We renew our plea for the parties to respect all their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.

We renew our call for the immediate and unconditional release of all civilians held hostage.

Civilians and the infrastructure they rely on—including hospitals, shelters and schools—must be protected.

More aid—food, water, medicine and of course fuel—must enter Gaza safely, swiftly and at the scale needed, and must reach people in need, especially women and children, wherever they are.

We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. It’s been 30 days. Enough is enough. This must stop now.

Signatories:

• Mr. Martin Griffiths, Emergency Relief Coordinator and Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

• Ms. Sofia Sprechmann Sineiro, Secretary General, CARE International

• Ms. Jane Backhurst, Chair of ICVA Board (Christian Aid)

• Mr. Jamie Munn, Executive Director, International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA)

• Ms. Anne Goddard, Chief Executive Officer and President a.i., InterAction

• Ms. Amy E. Pope, Director General, International Organization for Migration (IOM)

• Ms. Tjada D’Oyen McKenna, Chief Executive Officer, Mercy Corps

• Mr. Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

• Ms. Janti Soeripto, President and Chief Executive Officer, Save the Children

• Ms. Paula Gaviria Betancur, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Internally Displaced Persons (SR on HR of IDPs)

• Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

• Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

• Mr. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

• Ms. Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director, United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat)

• Ms. Catherine Russell, Executive Director, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

• Ms. Sima Bahous, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director, UN Women

• Ms. Cindy McCain, Executive Director, World Food Programme (WFP)

• Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization (WHO)

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Women are increasingly at risk in conflict and underrepresented in peace processes, according to a UN report

PRESS RELEASE

25 OCTOBER 2023

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Women are increasingly at-risk in conflict and underrepresented in peace processes, according to a UN report

Women´s rights advocates and UN organizations brief the UN Security Council on the main issues and challenges on the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda

New York City  — More than 600 million women and girls lived in conflict-affected countries in 2022, a 50 per cent increase since 2017. Civilians around the world need greater humanitarian aid than ever before—but countries are instead increasing military spending, which topped USD 2.2 trillion in 2022. 

That is the picture painted by the new UN Secretary-General report on women, peace, and security, issued annually coinciding with the UN Security Council Open Debate taking place today in New York, titled “Women’s participation in international peace and security: from theory to practice”. United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres; UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous; President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric; Ambassador Glivânia Maria de Oliveira; as well as a civil society representative are the anticipated briefers. 

“These negative trends are setting back both gender equality and global peace. However, this dire picture is not inevitable. We can reverse it by investing in women’s organizations in crisis settings; increasing the meaningful participation of women in mediation and peace processes; promoting parity in political and electoral processes; and using accountability tools to strengthen the protection of women in conflict-affected countries”, said Ms. Sarah Hendriks, UN Women Deputy Executive Director ad interim.

The report puts a spotlight on the global security humanitarian situation, which has become more grim, with a disparate impact on women and girls.  In Afghanistan, for example, the Taliban have issued more than 50 edicts to suppress women’s and girls’ rights; and when fighting broke out earlier this year in Sudan, widespread sexual violence returned to Darfur, reminiscent of the conflict in the region two decades ago. Further, the report shares a picture of decline in several countries for women to participate in decision-making on peace and security.  Events of political violence targeting women increased by 50 percent in conflict-affected countries between 2020 and 2022.

A key recommendation presented in the report is for at least one-third of all participants in mediation and peace processes to be women, but the reality shows that women remain sidelined from the main negotiations. While women participated in 80 per cent of UN-led or co-led peace processes, their actual numbers remained low, at only about 16 per cent of total participants—a proportion that has decreased for two years in a row. Women were almost completely absent from many other peace processes and political talks on situations on the agenda of the Security Council, including in Ethiopia, Kosovo1, Sudan, Myanmar, and Libya. 

Additional recommendations from the report include:

• Investing $300 million in new funding pledges for women’s organizations in crisis settings over the next three years; 

• Setting ambitious targets for women’s direct participation on delegations and negotiating teams, and appointing women as lead mediators in peace processes;

• Reducing military expenditures and increasing funding to women’s peacebuilding efforts which have repeatedly shown to be effective and sustainable;

• Ensuring women human rights defenders can work safely in their home countries or relocate as necessary. 

The UN Secretary-General report on women, peace, and security is issued annually coinciding with the UN Security Council Open Debate on resolution 1325, which calls for all parties to conflicts to ensure the safety of women and girls, and for women’s full involvement in peace processes. 

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Women Peace and Security

MEDIA ADVISORY

23 OCTOBER 2023

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media.team@unwomen.org

Media advisory: Women Peace and Security

New York City  — On Wednesday, 25 October, the UN Security Council will convene its annual Open Debate on Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security, the landmark resolution that recognized the impact of conflict on women and girls and the importance of women’s leadership in peacebuilding and peacemaking.

As the international community marks the 23rd anniversary of the resolution, the participation of women in peace processes around the world remains low, despite the continuing disproportionate impact of conflict on women and girls. Today, more than 600 million women and girls lived in conflict-affected countries in 2022, a 50 per cent increase since 2017. Civilians around the world need greater humanitarian aid than ever before—but countries are instead increasing military spending, which topped USD 2.2 trillion in 2022.

In the context of the Open Debate, UN Women together with partners will host a number of events that will bring together women leaders, peacemakers, activists and women human rights defenders to advocate for conflict prevention and – resolution and for building and sustaining peace.

SELECTED EVENTS

UN Security Council Debate

When: Wednesday, 25 October 2023| 10 a.m. EDT

Where: United Nations Headquarters, Security Council Chamber, and online: UN Web TV.

The Security Council is scheduled to hold its annual open debate on WPS under the theme, “Women’s participation in international peace and security: from theory to practice”.

The Secretary-General’s report on Women, Peace and Security is expected to be launched ahead of the Security Council Debate. More information will be available here.

Peace Begins with Her | Inside Out Project |

When: Wednesday, 25 October 2023| 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. EDT

Where: United Nations Headquarters, New York - public entrance (46th street and 1 avenue).

An interactive event as part of the “Peace Begins with Her” campaign with the Inside Out Project, a public art initiative created by award-winning street artist JR. In front of the UNHQ public entrance (46th street and 1 avenue), 50 large-sized portraits of women peacekeepers and peacebuilders will be on display to highlight their courage and commitment. There will be a photo booth where the public can have their portraits taken to show solidarity for lasting peace and gender equality. 

More information on the event is available here and digital assets can be downloaded here. 

Invest-In-Women Global Summit: Interactive Civil Society Dialogues - Turning Commitment into Action

When: Thursday, 26 October 2023| 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. EDT

Where: United Nations Headquarters (registration needed), and online via UN Web TV and across WPHF social media channels.

The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) is holding its Invest-In-Women Global Summit on the sidelines of the UNSC Open Debate on Women Peace and Security to scale up financial commitments for women and their local civil society organizations on the front lines.

Documentary screening: When the Waters Flow as One: A women and peace security story.

When: Thursday, 26 October 2023| 6.30 p.m. EDT

Where: Cinema 123 by Angelica, 1001 3rd Ave, NY 10022. Free registrations here.

‘When the waters flow as one: A women and peace story’ was developed by UN Women in Colombia, thanks to the support of the Swedish Embassy and in coordination with the recently completed Truth Commission in Colombia.

Media contacts:

For more information, press requests or the full list of events, please contact: media.team@unwomen.org

UN Women

Kiri Jo Ginnerup| kiri.ginnerup@unwomen.org

Ines Esteban Gonzalez | ines.esteban.gonzalez@unwomen.org

Additional press contacts for Peace Begins with Her | Inside Out Project | 

UN Department of Peace Operations

Sophie Boudre | boudre@un.org | +1 917 691 5359

UN Department of Global Communications

Devi Palanivelu | palanivelu@un.org | +1 917 495 5424

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UN Women at UNGA78

MEDIA ADVISORY

14 SEPTEMBER 2023

MEDIA ENQUIRIES

media.team@unwomen.org

Media Advisory: UN Women at UNGA78

New York City  — The 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 78) will feature the High-Level General Debate from Tuesday, 19 September to Saturday, 23 September (and on Tuesday 26 September) – under the theme, “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all.”

The 78th Session represents a crucial milestone in the journey towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), since it marks the halfway point to their deadline. At the SDG Summit, leaders will review the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the 17 SDGs, providing high-level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions. The outcome will be a negotiated political declaration. 

In preparation for the SDG Summit, the Generation Equality Midpoint Moment, organized by UN Women and the Governments of Iceland and Tanzania, will be showcased as part of the SDG Acceleration Day on 17 September. Generation Equality is the world’s leading initiative to boost investment and implementation of gender equality. The event will bring together organizations from all corners of society to catalyze progress, push for change and take bold actions together.  

Through side-events, intergenerational and intergovernmental conversations, UN Women will call for urgent action towards gender equality.

Note to media: Events held on UN premises are open only to UN-accredited media. More information at: https://www.un.org/en/media/accreditation/unga.shtml 

Generation Equality Midpoint

When: Sunday, 17 September 2023, 10:00am – 2:45pm

Where: United Nations Headquarters, Trusteeship Council Chamber and online: https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1e/k1ek09vhph

The Midpoint will put a spotlight on accountability for gender equality and will launch a call to action to contribute to the UN Secretary-General’s vision for the 2030 Agenda: “Let’s be clear: no country can afford to see this fail.” An opportunity to mobilize new commitments and momentum, inspire investment and leadership for impact at scale, and demonstrate how Generation Equality’s multi-stakeholder methodology is driving concrete progress on gender equality. The Governments of Iceland and Tanzania will co-host the Midpoint Moment with UN Women, and stakeholders will be invited to commit and re-commit political, programmatic and financial support through the Generation Equality multistakeholder platform and methodology. 

Register here 

Spotlight Initiative 

When: Sunday, 17 September 2023, 3:00pm – 4:30pm 

Where: United Nations Headquarters, Trusteeship Council Chamber and online https://media.un.org/en/asset/k11/k11mkyuqzv 

Spotlight Initiative is a global United Nations initiative in partnership with the European Union and other partners aiming to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. The Spotlight Initiative event on 17 September will showcase its impressive results on ending violence against women and girls and as an accelerator for all the SDGs – proving that gender-based violence is not only preventable, but that we already have the tools we need to ensure every woman and girl lives a life free from violence. This high-level event will feature statements and conversations with Heads of States, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, actress and UN Global Advocate Cecilia Suárez; actress, filmmaker and philanthropist Natalie Portman; actress and UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador Ashley Judd; as well as leaders from the European Union, Governments, civil society, the private sector and other partners.  

Register here  

SDG Summit:

When:  18-19 September 2023. 

Where: United Nations Headquarters

The 2023 SDG Summit will mark the beginning of a new phase of accelerated progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals with high-level political guidance on transformative and accelerated actions leading up to 2030. Convened by the President of the General Assembly, the Summit will mark the half-way point to the deadline set for achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. It will be the centerpiece of the High-level Week of the General Assembly. It will respond to the impact of multiple and interlocking crises facing the world and is expected to reignite a sense of hope, optimism, and enthusiasm for the 2030 Agenda. UN Women and UN DESA recently released the “Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The gender snapshot 2023” providing a comprehensive analysis of gender equality progress across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

HeForShe Summit 

When: Thursday, 21 September 2023, 10:00am to 12:00pm 

Where: Gotham Hall (1356 Broadway, New York NY 10018) and online.

The HeForShe movement, one of UN Women’s flagship partnership initiatives, partners with men and boys to advance gender equality through transformative commitments and actions. The Summit is a gathering of HeForShe partners with representation at the highest level and acts as a progress reporting platform with the aim to inspire others to follow suit and take concrete action for gender equality. The event will feature HeForShe Champions including H.E. the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo; the CEO of HSBC, Michael M. Roberts; and the CEO of Movember, Michelle Terry as well as thought leaders from the Washington Post and Bloomberg. 

Register here 

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UN Women to launch flagship report “Turning promises into action: gender equality in the 2030 Agenda”

feb. 8, 2023

What:

Two and half years after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), UN Women looks at what it will really take to achieve the 2030 Agenda in its new flagship report, “Turning promises into action: Gender equality in the 2030 Agenda”. In a first-of-its-kind comprehensive assessment of global and regional trends in achieving the SDGs from a gender perspective, the report demonstrates through concrete data evidence and analysis the pervasive nature of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.

The report takes a look at all 17 SDGs and shows their impact on the lives of women and girls. It highlights how the different dimensions of well-being and deprivation are deeply intertwined: A girl who is born into a poor household and forced into early marriage, for example, is more likely to drop out of school, give birth at an early age, suffer complications during childbirth and experience violence—all SDGs targets—than a girl from a higher-income household who marries at a later age. It puts forth recommendations on how to tackle the existing structural inequalities and what is needed to move from promises to action.

Highlights from the report include:

• Data snapshots and case studies that take an in-depth look at the United States, Colombia, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa and Uruguay;

• Analysis beyond national averages to uncover the yawning gaps between women and girls who, even within the same country such as the United States, are living in worlds apart, because of their income status, race/ethnicity, or where they live;

• Wide-ranging, concrete recommendations to move SDG implementation, including the roll-out of integrated approaches that leverage policy synergies.

• The report looks at two specific areas; unpaid care work and ending violence against women, where urgent action is needed.

When and Where:

14 February at 12 p.m. EST

UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, will brief the press on the Report as the Guest at the United Nations noon briefing. Room S-0237 of the UN Secretariat, New York.

UN press accreditation is required to attend the noon briefing. Please find more information at:

http://www.un.org/en/media/accreditation/accreditation.shtml

 The briefing will also be webcast live on: http://webtv.un.org/media/

14 February, 1.30 – 3.30 p.m.

 The Report will be launched at the Japan Society (333 E 47th St, New York, NY 10017).

Speakers at the event include:

• Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women

• Shahra Razavi, Chief of the Research and Data Section of UN Women and report lead author.

• Fernando Filgueira, Senior Researcher at Centro Implementación de Políticas Públicas para la Igualdad y el Crecimiento (CIPPEC), Argentina, and Associate Researcher at Centro de Informaciones y Estudios del Uruguay (IESU)

• Adebayo Olukoshi, Regional Director for Africa and West Asia, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA)

• Gita Sen, Distinguished Professor & Director, Ramalingaswami Centre on Equity and Social Determinants of Health, Public Health Foundation of India, and Adjunct Professor, Global Health and Population, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University

• Nermeen Shaik, Producer and co-host of Democracy Now! (Moderator)

If you are interested in a copy of the embargoed report or would like to interview one of the authors of the report, please contact: media.team@unwomen.org.

To attend the event, please register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/launch-of-un-womens-sdg-monitoring-report-turning-promises-into-action-tickets-42767603052

Follow the online conversation on Twitter using the hashtags #PromisesToAction #GlobalGoals, and follow us @UN_Women.

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