Unifem

Haiti: UN scaling up efforts to ensure shelter needs ahead of rainy season

The main priority for post-quake Haiti remains emergency shelter, the top United Nations relief ..

Victims of violence against women must be supported, perpetrators punished – Ban

Violence against women devastates individuals and societies alike, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon..

Strong Recommendations to the Business Community to Advance Women's Empowerment and Inclusion

UNIFEM and UN Global Compact to launch Women’s Empowerment Principles – Equality Means Busin..

UN expert calls for culturally sensitive reforms for indigenous people in Australia

Despite recent advancements in tackling the human rights of indigenous people in Australia, an i..

International Women’s Day Message from Executive Director UNIFEM

The year 2010 is a milestone year for women’s rights and gender equality — marking the 15th anni..

Role models, along with laws and policies, vital for empowering women – Ban

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today repeated his call for ending all forms of discrimination aga..

UN establishes expert group on role of women in peace and security

The United Nations has appointed a group of independent experts to advise on ways to better prot..

UN sets up human rights group to look into situation of Haiti’s disabled

A working group comprising United Nations experts has been created to look into the situation of..

Impunity for domestic violence, ‘honour killings’ cannot continue – UN official

So-called ‘honour killings’ are an extreme symptom of discrimination against women, which – incl..

Launch of the Global Virtual Knowledge Centre to End Violence against Women and Girls

UNIFEM has launched a Global Virtual Knowledge Centre to End Violence against Women and Girls (h..

Women’s empowerment lifts obstacles to achieving development goals, Ban says

More than a decade after world leaders agreed to eliminate all forms of discrimination against w..

Accelerating Efforts to Advance the Rights of Adolescent Girls – A UN Joint Statement

Presented at a Reception by the UN Interagency Task Force on Adolescent Girls during the 54th se..

Afghan and Haitian Women Leaders Say Investing in Women Crucial to Rebuilding Their Nations: Urge US

Women are key to rebuilding Afghanistan and Haiti and putting both nations on the path to secure..

Death toll from massive Chilean earthquake tops 720, reports UN health agency

The death toll from the strongest earthquake to strike Chile in more than 50 years officially st..

UNIFEM’s Say NO - UNiTE Platform Registers More than 180,000 Actions on Ending Violence Against Wome

The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) today announced that it has recorded 183,..

Change of Speakers Announcement

Unfortunately, Dr. Aderolili will be unable to attend this year's International Women’s Day Even..

UNIFEM Australia has joined forces with Heat to mark International Women's Day

This year, UNFIEM Australia has joined forces with Heat to mark International Women's Day. ..

Deputy UN chief cites need to move from commitment to action on gender equality

While there have been advances over the past 15 years to advance gender equality and the empower..

Global economic crisis exposed human rights violations, says top UN official

The top United Nations human rights official said today that the economic and financial crises h..

UN rights experts urge Uganda to redouble efforts to shelve anti-homosexuality bill

Two independent United Nations experts today urged the leaders and Government of Uganda to preve..

UN rights experts urge Uganda to redouble efforts to shelve anti-homosexuality bill

Two independent United Nations experts today urged the leaders and Government of Uganda to preve..

UN chief monitoring developmensts in aftermath of massive earthquake in Chile

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said he is keeping a close eye on the situation in the Pacif..

African officials at UN-backed meeting seek to protect migrating children

With cross-border movement of unaccompanied minors reaching into the thousands, senior officials..

Myanmar: Ban disappointed by denial of Aung San Suu Kyi’s release

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced disappointment that the continued appeal against her ..

One third of Yemen’s 23 million people struggle to find food, UN reports

One out of every three people in Yemen is struggling to gain access to food, making it one of the co..

Security Council extends UN mission in Timor-Leste for another year

The Security Council today extend for another year the mandate of the United Nations mission wor..

Engaging Philanthropy to Promote Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment

UNIFEM co-sponsored an event hosted by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) o..

Handicraft women in Laos benefit from greater economic security

Women working in the handicraft industry, particularly in the village of Pakthaep near Vientiane..

Over 60,000 Haitians vaccinated as part of ongoing UN-backed campaign

More than 60,000 people in earthquake-devastated Haiti have been vaccinated against diphtheria, ..

Timor-Leste has made ‘remarkable progress’ but faces daunting challenges – UN

Timor-Leste has made “remarkable progress” since the violence that disrupted it in 2006, but the..

UN envoy on children and armed conflict kicks off visit to Afghanistan

A senior United Nations official today began a visit to Afghanistan to look into the situation o..

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet to Call for Attention to Women’s Needs in Haiti

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet will travel to Haiti on 20 February to meet with Haitian aut..

Haiti’s humanitarian situation improving but challenges remain – UN relief official

More and more survivors of Haiti’s earthquake are receiving vital assistance but it is clear tha..

Equality is the Path – Responding Today and Building the Future in Haiti

At 4:53 one month ago, Haiti was irrevocably changed. The earthquake of 12 January 2010 has beco..

UN urges media in Liberia to highlight lack of punishment for sexual violence

The United Nations is urging media practitioners in Liberia to play a major role in creating pub..

Widespread gender gap in land rights spotlighted by new online UN database

A new online database produced by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) shi..

Ban unveils new high-level advisory group to spur action on climate change

The leaders of the United Kingdom and Ethiopia will head up a new high-level group launched by S..

Girls less likely than boys to be freed from DR Congo’s ranks of child soldiers – UN

Despite efforts to end the use of child soldiers in the war-torn east of the Democratic Republic..

UN Special Envoy Bill Clinton Meets with Haitian Women

The humanitarian response in Haiti must take account of the needs and responsibilities of women ..

UN expert hopes to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi in upcoming trip

A United Nations independent human rights expert today voiced hope that he will be able to hold ..

Curbing sexual violence in conflict is ‘mission irresistible’ for new UN envoy

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s newly appointed Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Con..

Gender Equity in Local Development Strengthened in Rwanda

A Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of the Gender Equitable Local Development (G..

Haiti: UN helps pregnant women as risk to babies rises after quake

The United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) is providing medical kits to thousands of expectant ..

Time for Governments to Account for their Actions on Gender Equality

Fifteen years after the signature of the Beijing Platform for Action, women representing Europea..

UN officials urge redoubled efforts to end female genital mutilation

While there has been progress in reducing the incidence of female genital mutilation or cutting ..

UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman Applauds US Congressional Support to Combat Violence agains

Washington, DC — In a decisive move to combat violence against women globally, the International..

UNIFEM Australia Announces Platinum Partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers

UNIFEM Australia announced today that PricewaterhouseCoopers (“PwC”) will become a Platinum Spon..

Outgoing Chilean President to Work with UNIFEM to Advocate for Haitian Women’s Needs

In a remarkable step to spotlight global attention on the differentiated needs of women after a ..

With Haiti’s quake relief efforts going more smoothly, UN looks to longer-term goals

As immediate efforts to provide food and other aid to hundreds of thousands of Haitian quake vic..

Women must play active role in Haiti’s recovery – UN experts

Women must be given a key role in all aspects of the emergency relief effort in earthquake-ravaged H..

UN chief launches campaign in Africa to eradicate male violence against women

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on the support of African leaders to give new impetus to ..

UN food agency begins major scale up of aid to earthquake victims in Haiti

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today began ramping up its operations in Haiti by open..

New UN envoy assesses progress made by Timorese police force

On her first district visits since assuming the top United Nations post in Timor-Leste, Ameerah ..

Peace Is Impossible When Half the Population Is Excluded from Negotiations, Say Afghanistan’s Women

In the lead-up to the 28 January London Conference on Afghanistan hosted by the UK Government, A..

Reaction from Afghan Women Civil Society Leaders to the Communiqué of the London Conference on Afgha

The following statement was prepared and released by the Afghan Women’s Network following the Lo..

Statement Read on Behalf of Afghan Women to the London Conference on Afghanistan

As the only Afghan woman scheduled to address the plenary, I must spend a moment to focus on wom..

Afghan Women’s Leaders’ Priorities for Stabilization: Statement and Recommendations

In the lead-up to the 28 January London Conference on Afghanistan, Afghan women human rights def..

On the Ground: Women Struggle to Survive in Haiti

UNIFEM is working in Haiti to expand the provision of emergency services for women in the aftermath ..

Haitian quake disaster offers reconstruction opportunities, Ban says

As relief efforts continue in the wake of the devastating quake which struck Haiti last week, Se..

Haiti: UN-backed quake relief operations expand beyond devastated capital

United Nations-supported relief efforts to reach the countless victims of Haiti’s devastating earthq..

Uganda: ‘Anti-Homosexuality Bill’ threatens fight against HIV, UN expert warns

The so-called ‘Anti-Homosexuality Bill’ under consideration by the Ugandan Parliament not only viola..

UNIFEM Mourns the Deaths of Women’s Rights Activists in Haiti

It is with tremendous sadness that UNIFEM learned about the deaths of several women leaders from..

Online Discussion on Women in Power and Decision Making

UNIFEM is pleased to announce a month-long online discussion (http://www.unifem.org/forums/gover..

UNIFEM Seeks Funding to Provide Shelter and Services for Women in Haiti

In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the United Nations Development Fund for..

Ban calls for more peacekeepers to be sent to quake-devastated Haiti

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for an additional 3,500 United Nations troops and pol..

Secretary-General touches down in quake-devastated Haiti

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has arrived in Haiti, which was struck by a catastrophic earthquake on..

Ban mourns deaths of top UN officials in Haiti quake

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today paid tribute to the top United Nations officials who perished in..

Help those in need in Haiti

It is now estimated that over 50,000 people could have died as a result of Wednesday's earthquake in..

UN report paints grim picture of conditions of world’s indigenous peoples

The world’s 370 million indigenous peoples suffer from disproportionately, often exponentially, ..

UNIFEM Executive Director on the Earthquake in Haiti

We are saddened at the loss of lives and destruction caused by the devastating earthquake that h..

Celebrities set off for Kilimanjaro to spotlight water crisis, raise funds – UN

Actors, rappers and environmentalists are scaling Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania to spotlight the glo..

Fund for Gender Equality Announces More Than US$9 million in Grants to Advance Women’s Economic and

The new UNIFEM-managed Fund for Gender Equality announced its initial allocation of more than US$9 m..

Nicole Kidman helps break ground on UN-backed centre to end violence against women

UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman is set to help break ground today on a new centre located i..

2009 the most successful year so far for the UN Trust Fund to End Violence

The United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women reached 76 countries and territories in ..

UNIFEM National Committee Inaugurated in Norway

As a fitting start to the New Year, the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) announced..

Ethiopian and UN officials devise plan to boost maternal and newborn health

United Nations agencies and Ethiopian health officials have developed a comprehensive two-year w..

UNIFEM, Thailand’s Ministry of Justice and Thai Airways Launch In-Flight Fundraising Drive

UNIFEM, Thailand’s Ministry of Justice and Thai Airways International have jointly launched an i..

United action on global scale needed to clinch new climate pact, says Ban

Acknowledging that the climate change deal reached over the weekend in Copenhagen was not ideal ..

Palestinian Prime Minister and UN Agencies Join Forces to Combat Violence against Women

Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, representing the Palestinian Authority, and the UN Resident Coordin..

New and Renewing Member's Prize Announced

Everyone who becomes a UNIFEM Australia Member or renews their UNIFEM Australia Membership in the mo..

New climate change deal in sight, Ban says as Copenhagen talks near end

With only 24 hours to go before the scheduled end of the historic United Nations climate change ..

Ban calls for accelerated action in home stretch of Copenhagen climate talks

Arriving in Copenhagen, Denmark, today to inject fresh energy into climate change talks, Secreta..

Green campaigner Wangari Maathai to become UN Messenger of Peace

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate and green advocate Wangari Maathai will become a United Nations M..

It’s now or never in bid to curb climate change, Ban warns

At the start of the most critical week in global efforts to forge a new deal to curb climate cha..

Gender Trainings in Remote Districts of Timor-Leste

With support from UNIFEM, the office of the Secretary of State for the Promotion of Equality (SE..

New Report on Promising Practices to Confront Violence against Women and Girls and the Spread of HIV

UNIFEM and ActionAid are proud to release a new report that profiles innovative approaches to ad..

Raising Awareness in Rural Communities in Pakistan

UNIFEM supported eight non-governmental organizations across Pakistan in carrying out activities..

Future of humanity hinges on Copenhagen climate conference, Ban says

The outcome of the historic United Nations climate change conference under way in Copenhagen wil..

UNIFEM Executive Director on Gender and Climate Change

The UN Climate Change Conference has opened with an unprecedented sense of urgency to act on cli..

Men and Boys in Central Africa Encouraged to Act against Gender-Based Violence

UNIFEM offices across the Central Africa region have organized and participated in events relate..

Ugandan Parliament Speaker Signs on to Say NO

In a public expression of political will, Speaker of the Ugandan Parliament Hon. Edward Ssekandi..

Women still suffer discrimination 30 years after global treaty banned it – UN chief

Thirty years after an international treaty banning discrimination against women came into force,..

Women are major agents for progress in climate change, development goals – Ban

Women, among the first victims of climate change and enduring social ills, must also be seen as ..

Spanish Ministry of Equality Recognizes UNIFEM’s Efforts to End Gender-Based Violence

The Spanish Ministry of Equality recognized UNIFEM’s work on ending gender-based violence worldw..

Austrian Parliament to Sign on to Say NO–UNiTE

Interview with Austrian President of Parliament Barbara Prammer On December 10, the Interna..

Ban launches new Network of Men Leaders to combat violence against women

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today marked the 10th anniversary of the International Day for the..

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Calls for Immediate Action to End Violence against Women

Marking the 10th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Wo..

Violence against Kyrgyz woman rising despite legal restraints, UN expert says

Despite the encouraging commitments by the Kyrgyz Government, women and girls are increasingly v..

Women’s empowerment in Africa targeted at UN-backed conference

A week-long United Nations-backed conference on achieving the equality and empowerment of women in A..

At UN food summit, Ban lays out steps to save billions from hunger

A three-day United Nations summit on world food security opened in Rome today, with Secretary-Genera..

Maternal mortality in Eastern Europe, Central Asia halved but still high – UN report

The number of women in Eastern Europe and Central Asia dying from complications in childbirth an..

UN forum on women celebrates progress in Asia-Pacific, notes challenges

Nearly 15 years after the landmark United Nations conference on women, countries in Asia and the Pac..

Global Media Monitoring Project Scrutinizes the Representation of Gender in the News

Gender equality in the news media came under scrutiny by the Global Media Monitoring Project (GM..

Health care for women still far below need and expectation, UN report finds

Many of the world’s countries continue to fail to meet the health-care needs of women at key sta..

UNIFEM Launches Global Action Platform to End Violence against Women

United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) today launched the global advocacy initiative Say..

Ban congratulates US leader for lifting entry restriction based on HIV status

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today congratulated United States President Barack Obama for announcin..

Spain Contributes 31.5 Million Euros to UNIFEM in 2009

The Government of Spain will contribute 31.5 million Euros to UNIFEM this year, as part of its e..

UNICEF and Zambia say ‘just stop it’ to gender-based violence

A new campaign in Zambia backed by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) calls for an end to g..

Iceland beats Australia as the top country for gender equality

The World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2009 (http://www.weforum.org/pdf/gendergap/repor..

UNIFEM Opens Liaison Office in Sakai City, Japan

UNIFEM opened a liaison office in Sakai City, Japan, on 29 October. The office will represent UN..

Women business executives have key role in ensuring better world – Ban

Women business executives have a major role to play in helping help to achieve a green economy, safe..

UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman and UN Trust Fund Grantee Testify at U.S. House Committee

Support call for International Violence Against Women Act (I-VAWA) Date: 21 October 2009 U..

Testimony of Mallika Dutt on “International Violence Against Women: Stories and Solutions”

Mallika Dutt, Executive Director and Founder, Breakthrough: Building Human Rights Culture Date:..

Additional funding helps UN agency feed Timorese school children

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today welcomed additional support that will enable..

Report Launched on Afghanistan’s First Class of Women Parliamentarians

UNIFEM and the Heinrich Böll Foundation (http://www.boell-afghanistan.org/) launched a research repo..

Ban urges investment in women and girls, particularly during economic crisis

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged countries not to waver in their commitments to women and gir..

UN report calls for widespread reforms to make the most out of migration

Migration benefits the people who move, their host communities and those that stay behind, the Unite..

UN Security Council Requests the Appointment of a Special Representative to Address Sexual Violence

In a meeting chaired by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on September 30, the United Nations Se..

UN Secretary-General Calls for Women’ s Equal Participation in Addressing the Challenges of Climate

In a message (http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=4101#) to an event titled ‘Peace and Securit..

Seal the Deal in Copenhagen

In December the UN Climate Change Conference will be held in Copenhagen. We urge all Govern..

Clinton Global Initiative selects UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women as Commitment to Actio

The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women (http://www.unifem.org/gender_issues/violence_agains..

Treaty linking women’s rights and development still vital after 15 years

The targets of a landmark global action plan, adopted 15 years ago, linking reproductive health, wom..