Tuesday, June 28, 2022
This new report presents a clarion opportunity to champion improved, gender-responsive social protections and to ensure meaningful participation of women to identify solutions to acute and chronic challenges that leave no one behind.NEW YORK - Countries with greater women’s leadership, universal social protection and care systems, and space for feminist organizations to participate in democratic decision-making are more effective at responding to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new global report released today by UN Women and the United Nations Development... Read more
This new report presents a clarion opportunity to champion improved, gender-responsive social protections and to ensure meaningful participation of women to identify solutions to acute and chronic challenges that leave no one behind.
NEW YORK -...
Friday, May 20, 2022
The inclusivity of women in politics and decision-making is steadily rising across Africa. This could be the last frontier for sustainable development in Africa.Africa has enormous potential to grow if it can take advantage of the untapped power that girls and women hold as societal and economic drivers. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that the lack of inclusion of women in the economy will cost Sub-Saharan Africa as much as US$110 billion in 2022, and $190 billion in 2023.[1]The COVID-19 pandemic, which deepened already existing inequalities, has further delayed the... Read more
The inclusivity of women in politics and decision-making is steadily rising across Africa. This could be the last frontier for sustainable development in Africa.
Africa has enormous potential to grow if it can take advantage of the untapped power...
Friday, March 11, 2022
On International Women’s Day, UNDP and UN Women launched the Gender Justice Platform to leverage their partnership on gender justice. Since 2020, UN Women and UNDP have joined together to enable access to justice for 42,000 individuals. In 14 conflict-affected contexts across Africa and the Middle East, UNDP and UN Women facilitated access to justice services and led advocacy initiatives to support women’s leadership.The launch of the Gender Justice Platform marks the extension of the scope of the partnership.“Through the Platform, UN Women and UNDP are officially and publicly joining our... Read more
On International Women’s Day, UNDP and UN Women launched the Gender Justice Platform to leverage their partnership on gender justice. Since 2020, UN Women and UNDP have joined together to enable access to justice for 42,000 individuals. In 14...
Tuesday, March 08, 2022
By Ashim SteinerThe world wants an end to the tremendous human suffering in Ukraine, with millions of Ukrainians displaced by the conflict. The situation jeopardizes the safety of all Ukrainians and, as with other conflicts in other parts of the world, puts women and girls in particular at increased risk of sexual and gender-based violence, especially those who are refugees or otherwise displaced from their homes. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has joined the UN-system wide response to support those affected by the conflict, both inside Ukraine and in the neighbouring... Read more
By Ashim Steiner
The world wants an end to the tremendous human suffering in Ukraine, with millions of Ukrainians displaced by the conflict. The situation jeopardizes the safety of all Ukrainians and, as with other conflicts in other parts of the...
Wednesday, January 06, 2021
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan -- A prominent group of women leaders representing the Central Asian states and the United Nations launched a new platform, the Central Asian Women Leaders’ Caucus, today to support women in the region to attain a more prominent political, economic and social role and enable them to increasingly influence the decision-making process on issues related to peace, stability and sustainable development in the region.The launch took place at the Dialogue of Women Leaders from Central Asian states, which is organized by the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for... Read more
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan -- A prominent group of women leaders representing the Central Asian states and the United Nations launched a new platform, the Central Asian Women Leaders’ Caucus, today to support women in the region to attain a more...
Friday, November 06, 2020
A few days ago, Chile held a historical plebiscite to decide whether the country should draft a new constitution, and through which mechanism; a fully elected constitutional convention, with gender parity, or a mixed convention integrated by current members of congress and elected citizens. This was the first national referendum since the ones that initiated the transition to democracy in 1988 and 1989.The election, originally scheduled for 26 April 2020 but postponed to due to the COVID-19 pandemic, was conducted in an orderly manner, with final results announced only a few hours after polls... Read more
A few days ago, Chile held a historical plebiscite to decide whether the country should draft a new constitution, and through which mechanism; a fully elected constitutional convention, with gender parity, or a mixed convention integrated by current...
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Identifying obstacles and focusing on long-term solutions to propose strategies for equal representationFormer minister Dasho Dorji Choden, the first female minister, addresses the challenges Bhutanese women politicians face before her fellow participants during the Bhutan Women Parliamentary Caucus orientation workshop held in Paro in November 2019.The number of women elected to Parliament in Bhutan increased from 8.3 per cent in the 2013 election to 15.2 per cent in 2018—the highest percentage of women in Parliament in the country’s history. International IDEA is building on this momentum... Read more
Identifying obstacles and focusing on long-term solutions to propose strategies for equal representation
Former minister Dasho Dorji Choden, the first female minister, addresses the challenges Bhutanese women politicians face before her fellow...
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
New York — UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors American actor Connie Britton, Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Nigerian musician Yemi Alade participated this week in thought-provoking conversations organized by the SDG Action Zone - an innovative space held during the United Nations General Assembly. The three advocates shared personal experiences and perspectives on the pandemic, focusing on the environment, women’s empowerment and the need to rebuild an economy that is green and equitable.The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of the people and the planet but... Read more
New York — UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors American actor Connie Britton, Danish actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Nigerian musician Yemi Alade participated this week in thought-provoking conversations organized by the SDG Action Zone - an innovative space...
Thursday, October 15, 2020
Most of the world’s nations are not doing enough to protect women and girls from the economic and social fallout being caused by the COVID-19 crisis, according to new data released today by UNDP and UN Women from the COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker.The tracker, which includes over 2,500 measures across 206 countries and territories, specifically analyses government measures with a gender lens in three areas: those that tackle violence against women and girls (VAWG), support unpaid care, and strengthen women’s economic security.The results signal that 42... Read more
Most of the world’s nations are not doing enough to protect women and girls from the economic and social fallout being caused by the COVID-19 crisis, according to new data released today by UNDP and UN Women from the COVID-19 Global Gender Response...
Tuesday, August 04, 2020
The United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine (UNDP) today signed a new Cooperation Agreement with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on a project boost women’s representation and participation in Ukraine’s decentralized local government territorial communities.Under the project, which has a budget of nearly $100,000, UNDP and Norway will work together to promote women’s political participation in local government in Ukraine, as well as strengthen the institutional capacity for gender-responsive decision-making in amalgamated territorial communities.Women’s equal participation... Read more
The United Nations Development Programme in Ukraine (UNDP) today signed a new Cooperation Agreement with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on a project boost women’s representation and participation in Ukraine’s decentralized local...
Wednesday, July 01, 2020
Twenty-five years after the landmark Beijing women’s conference, politics remains overwhelmingly the domain of men. Today, women are not even a quarter of all elected politicians in the world.At this rate, it will take a century to close the gender gap in politics and more than two centuries for women to attain economic equality.The global average for women’s representation in parliament has inched up from 11.2 to 24.9 percent in the last two decades. While this can be seen as progress, it is still far from the one-third threshold considered the minimum needed to... Read more
Twenty-five years after the landmark Beijing women’s conference, politics remains overwhelmingly the domain of men. Today, women are not even a quarter of all elected politicians in the world.
At this rate, it will take a century to close the gender...
Friday, June 26, 2020
Much has already changed for women since the protests: laws restricting freedom of dress, movement and work were repealed, and female genital mutilation was criminalized.The transitional constitution guarantees 40 per cent representation in the parliamentary body the Transitional Legislative Council, which translates to 120 seats. However, with a history of limited female participation in the country, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) launched a programme aimed at identifying Sudan’s future political leaders, and training potential candidates.Over a six-week period, UNDP officials visited... Read more
Much has already changed for women since the protests: laws restricting freedom of dress, movement and work were repealed, and female genital mutilation was criminalized.
The transitional constitution guarantees 40 per cent representation in the...
Thursday, June 25, 2020
In December 2017 Bloomberg made headlines when it published a report that suggested inclusive teams made better decisions up to 87 percent of the time. The report also noted that having more inclusive decision-making led to swifter decisions.Recent newspaper articles have remarked that the governments that have apparently dealt well with the COVID- 19 pandemic, such as New Zealand, Germany and Taiwan, are those that have women in key positions. A wider analysis will be needed in due course to decide if the mere presence of women makes a difference, but a 2019 World Economic... Read more
In December 2017 Bloomberg made headlines when it published a report that suggested inclusive teams made better decisions up to 87 percent of the time. The report also noted that having more inclusive decision-making led to swifter decisions.
Recent...
Monday, June 22, 2020
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office in Fiji has launched a new webinar series, to highlight and promote parliamentary innovation and response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.Since the global outbreak of COVID-19, some parliaments in Pacific island countries have proactively adapted their response to the crisis. For instance, the Congress of Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) became the first Pacific legislature to convene a virtual session. Samoa’s Legislative Assembly, the Congress of the FSM and the Fiji Parliament also initiated virtual committee... Read more
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Pacific Office in Fiji has launched a new webinar series, to highlight and promote parliamentary innovation and response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Since the global outbreak of COVID-19,...
Friday, March 27, 2020
The presence of women in parliaments across the Caucasus and Central Asia has risen in the last 25 years, albeit slowly: in most countries in the region, between 15 and 25 percent of their MPs are women.That is the conclusion of a newly released project by the United Nations Development Programme, Equal Future. Three countries in the region have laws mandating gender quotas for parliamentary elections: Armenia has a quota of 25 percent, and Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan each 30 percent. Nevertheless, all those countries’ proportion of women in the parliament still fall below their quota... Read more
The presence of women in parliaments across the Caucasus and Central Asia has risen in the last 25 years, albeit slowly: in most countries in the region, between 15 and 25 percent of their MPs are women.
That is the conclusion of a newly released...
Friday, March 06, 2020
Almost 90% of people are biased against women, according to a new index that highlights the “shocking” extent of the global backlash towards gender equality.Despite progress in closing the equality gap, 91% of men and 86% of women hold at least one bias against women in relation to politics, economics, education, violence or reproductive rights.The first gender social norm index analysed data from 75 countries that, collectively, are home to more than 80% of the global population. It found that almost half of people feel men are superior political leaders and more than 40% believe... Read more
Almost 90% of people are biased against women, according to a new index that highlights the “shocking” extent of the global backlash towards gender equality.
Despite progress in closing the equality gap, 91% of men and 86% of women hold at least one...
Friday, November 08, 2019
Following are UN Deputy Secretary‑General Amina Mohamed’s remarks to the Security Council on the joint mission with the African Union to the Horn of Africa:I would like to congratulate the United Kingdom on assuming the Presidency of the Security Council this month and thank South Africa for their successful Presidency during the month of October. Thank you for the invitation to brief the Security Council on my recent joint mission with the African Union to Ethiopia, Djibouti, Eritrea and Somalia.This is the fourth visit I have undertaken focused on women, peace and security and development,... Read more
Following are UN Deputy Secretary‑General Amina Mohamed’s remarks to the Security Council on the joint mission with the African Union to the Horn of Africa:
I would like to congratulate the United Kingdom on assuming the Presidency of the Security...
Friday, November 01, 2019
Pakistan ranks second lowest in the world for gender equality, placing at number 148 out of 149 countries. The nation ranked 146 in economic participation and opportunity and 97th in political empowerment. In an effort to work towards greater female empowerment in Pakistan, international humanitarian organizations are working with Pakistani women. Organizations UNDP and U.N. Women are creating initiatives to support greater political and economic equality.UNDP Supports High Altitude FarmingIn the Pakistan territory of Gilgit-Baltistan, harsh mountain terrain makes it difficult... Read more
Pakistan ranks second lowest in the world for gender equality, placing at number 148 out of 149 countries. The nation ranked 146 in economic participation and opportunity and 97th in political empowerment. In an effort to work towards greater female...
Friday, October 11, 2019
Policies from Rwanda, Estonia, Scotland, Nepal, South Africa, Europe, Los Angeles and Senegal are this year’s winners of the ‘Oscar for best policies’Eight inspiring and impactful laws and policies aimed at empowering young people to build a fair and sustainable future are being awarded the Future Policy Award 2019. Selected from among 67 nominated policies from 36 countries, this year’s winners of the 'Oscar for best policies' come from Rwanda, Estonia, Scotland (United Kingdom), Nepal, South Africa, Europe, Los Angeles (USA) and Senegal. They are being awarded on 16th October during... Read more
Policies from Rwanda, Estonia, Scotland, Nepal, South Africa, Europe, Los Angeles and Senegal are this year’s winners of the ‘Oscar for best policies’
Eight inspiring and impactful laws and policies aimed at empowering young people to build a fair...
Tuesday, October 08, 2019
The Network of Arab Women in Elections was launched Saturday in Tunis as part of a joint initiative involving the Arab Organisation for Electoral Management Bodies (ArabEMBs), the UNDP Regional Electoral Support Project and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).This network, which includes Arab electoral management bodies and civil society organisations, will represent according to officials a source of information about women’s participation in elections in member countries and in the region.It is intended to increase women’s... Read more
The Network of Arab Women in Elections was launched Saturday in Tunis as part of a joint initiative involving the Arab Organisation for Electoral Management Bodies (ArabEMBs), the UNDP Regional Electoral Support Project and the International...
Friday, August 30, 2019
Across the world, people are making efforts to increase the number of women in government in order to reduce gender disparities and help ensure that the voices and concerns of women are heard. UNDP has been working in Myanmar since 2016 after a 2015 report revealed that only 0.25 percent of local administrators were female. The UNDP is attempting to support the current female leaders in Myanmar as well figure out how to get more women across the nation involved in local government.Myanmar splits rural areas into village tracts and cities into wards. Each village tract and ward has... Read more
Across the world, people are making efforts to increase the number of women in government in order to reduce gender disparities and help ensure that the voices and concerns of women are heard. UNDP has been working in Myanmar since 2016 after a 2015...
Friday, March 29, 2019
Nadi, Fiji – The inaugural Pacific Women in Power Forum which ended on Wednesday, 27 March has confirmed the need for an ongoing Pacific regional network of women Members of Parliament, which aims to encourage more women to enter politics and support current women MPs.The two-day Forum attracted women MPs from seven Pacific island countries and featured panel discussions on issues relating to gender equality, economic empowerment of women, discussions on integrity in leadership and benefits of a gender sensitive parliament.With funding support from the Governments of Australia, New... Read more
Nadi, Fiji – The inaugural Pacific Women in Power Forum which ended on Wednesday, 27 March has confirmed the need for an ongoing Pacific regional network of women Members of Parliament, which aims to encourage more women to enter politics and...
Thursday, March 07, 2019
Women and girls are impatient for change, and it’s easy to understand why. Women still earn only 77 cents for every dollar men earn for the same work. At least 200 million women and girls alive today have undergone female genital mutilation. Women account for just 24 percent of parliamentarians. 35 percent of women globally have experienced physical and/or sexual violence. Clearly, we still have a long way to go, and we must be innovative in exploring new ways of working and thinking. Transformative innovations don’t have to be costly or flashy.... Read more
Women and girls are impatient for change, and it’s easy to understand why. Women still earn only 77 cents for every dollar men earn for the same work. At least 200 million women and girls alive today have undergone female genital mutilation. ...
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
A practical workshop on public speaking was conducted within the framework of the 8th Annual Conference on Women and Leadership convened between October 22 and 25 in Kuwait City.\The training is part of a 2-year project to accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality and women’s empowerment in Kuwait, implemented by the Women’s Research and Studies Center (WRSC) at Kuwait University, in partnership with the General Secretariat of the Supreme Council for Planning and Development, UNDP Kuwait and the UN Women Regional Office for the Arab States.... Read more
A practical workshop on public speaking was conducted within the framework of the 8th Annual Conference on Women and Leadership convened between October 22 and 25 in Kuwait City.\
The training is part of a 2-year project to accelerate the...
Tuesday, November 06, 2018
Daw Saw Yee and Daw Ohn Shwe have many things in common, but until recently their paths had not crossed. Both in their 50s, their communities elected the two women as village tract administrators in January 2018 during the third local elections to take place since Myanmar started its transition to democracy.This is the second time that Daw Ohn Shwe has been elected village tract administrator for the Muslim community of Kyaung Tike, in the township of Thandwe, where she is the only woman among 72 village tract and ward administrators. Daw Saw Yee, ward 3 administrator is, in like manner, the... Read more
Daw Saw Yee and Daw Ohn Shwe have many things in common, but until recently their paths had not crossed. Both in their 50s, their communities elected the two women as village tract administrators in January 2018 during the third local elections to...