UN Women

Recently, UN Women celebrated its 15th anniversary, marking a significant milestone in its journey to promote gender equality and empower women worldwide.

About UN Women

UN Women is the United Nations (UN) entity dedicated to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women. It was established in July 2010 by the UN General Assembly as part of a broader UN reform agenda.

Main Roles and Objectives of UN Women

1. Supporting Inter-Governmental Bodies:

   • UN Women works to assist bodies like the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in developing policies, global standards, and norms for gender equality.

2. Providing Technical and Financial Support:

   • It offers technical and financial assistance to member states, particularly those that request support to implement gender equality standards.

3. Promoting Accountability:

   • UN Women leads the coordination of the UN system’s work on gender equality and ensures accountability through regular monitoring of progress at the global, national, and regional levels.

4. Partnering with Civil Society:

   • UN Women fosters partnerships with governments and civil society organizations to promote the inclusion of gender equality in all sectors of life.

5. Advancing the SDGs:

   • It actively supports the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those focused on women’s empowerment, and ensures women’s equal participation in economic, political, and social spheres.

6. Country-Level Work:

   • Within countries that seek assistance, UN Women helps governments and non-governmental partners create policies, laws, and services to promote women’s rights and advance equality.

Key Initiatives and Support

1. Grant-Making Funds:

   • UN Women manages two primary funds to support innovative programs that drive gender equality:

     • The Fund for Gender Equality

     • The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women

2. Commission on the Status of Women (CSW):

   • CSW is a global policy-making body that is dedicated to advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women. It is a functional commission of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and plays a central role in policy formulation on women’s rights issues.

3. Women’s Rights Information:

   • UN Women provides regular updates to the General Assembly, ECOSOC, and the Security Council on matters concerning women’s rights.

4. Tracking Violence Against Women:

   • It maintains the UN Secretary-General’s database to track actions taken by UN member states and organizations to address and end violence against women.

Conclusion

UN Women's 15th anniversary marks a critical moment to reflect on its significant achievements in advancing gender equality and empowering women globally. With its work across governments, civil society, and international bodies, UN Women continues to play a pivotal role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and women’s rights worldwide.