UN Women

In July 2010 the United Nations General Assembly voted unanimously to create a new body to accelerate progress in meeting the needs of women and girls worldwide.

The establishment of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women — to be known as UN Women — is a result of years of negotiations between UN Member States and advocacy by the global women’s movement. It is part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. UN Women became fully operational in January 2011. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon named former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet to head UN Women. 

The new body, which will receive a large boost in funding, merges four UN agencies and offices: the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues (OSAGI), and the UN International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (UN-INSTRAW).

“UN Women will promote the interests of women and girls across the globe,”  Ban Ki-moon

How will civil society (ie Soroptimist International) be involved with UN Women?

Years of advocacy by the global women’s movement have been instrumental in the creation of UN Women. Civil society, in particular women’s organisations, play a vital role in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, and strong and dynamic relationships between UN Women and civil society partners in all parts of the world will be crucial in working towards the achievement these goals. As such, non-governmental organisation partners will have a strong voice in the priority-setting, policies and programmes of UN Women which, in turn, will provide support to women’s organisations and networks.

UN Newsletter

Since October 2008 the UN has produced a quarterly newsletter, Words to Action, dealing with the subject of Violence Against Women and the current and back numbers of these may be accessed at the link.

UN Database

In 2008 the UN set up a database and sent a questionnaire to all Member States. The questionnaire was the primary tool for gathering information from Member States on measures undertaken to address violence against women. This information is used to create and maintain the coordinated database on violence against women.

CEDAW

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. The CEDAW Committee consists of 23 experts on women’s rights from around the world. At a meeting in Pakistan in the summer of 2010, delegates discussed 'honour' killings and a transcript of this meeting can be downloaded.

 

UN WomenWatch

For information on the UN's work with women and women's groups, log on to their WomenWatch website. WomenWatch is an inter-agency website and a good practice example of United Nations coordination and collaboration. It was founded by the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW).

The inter-agency website is managed by a taskforce of the Inter-Agency Network, led by the Division for the Advancement of Women. A Policy Advisory Group meets once a year.

 

November 2009

Ban Ki-moon launches UNiTE Network of Men Leaders

On 24 November, 2009, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon marked the 10th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women by launching a Network of Men Leaders, a major new initiative bringing together current and former politicians, activists, religious and community figures to combat the global pandemic.

He said it was unacceptable that as many as 70% of women would experience some form of physical or sexual violence from men - mostly from their husbands, intimate partners, or someone they knew, during their lives. Men must teach each other that real men do not violate or oppress women - and that a woman's place is not just in the home or in the fields but in schools, offices and boardrooms.

Each member of the Network, part of the UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign, which Ban Ki-moon launched last year, will work to support the longstanding efforts of women and civil society organisations worldwide to end violence, undertaking actions from raising public awareness to advocating for adequate laws.

The Secretary-General said, “As I launch this Network, I call on men and boys everywhere to join us. Break the silence. When you witness violence against women and girls, do not sit back. Act. Advocate. Unite to change the practices and attitudes that incite, perpetrate and condone this violence. Violence against women and girls will not be eradicated until all of us – men and boys – refuse to tolerate it.

"Everyone can do something. For my part, I commit to doing everything in my power to ensure the success of this fight. Within and outside the United Nations, I will continue to use my Campaign to highlight the issues. Create partnerships with women to end this violence. As I launch this Network, I call on men and boys everywhere to join us.Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the South African Nobel Peace Laureate, said: "You are a weak man if you use your physical superiority to assault and brutalise women. I will continue fighting until the end of my days for the right of women and girls to live a life free from violence and abuse."

"Violence against women and girls will not be eradicated until all of us – men and boys - refuse to tolerate it. Together let us make that pledge."

 

May 2009

Addis Ababa Conference on FGM

Over four days in May last year, the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to discuss 'on good practices in legislation to address harmful practices against women'. The 18-page report of that meeting can be downloaded here.

 

February 2008

Ban Ki-Moon launches UNiTE

In February 2008, the Secretary-General launched his UNiTE to end violence against women campaign which will continue until 2015 to coincide with the target date for the Millennium Development Goals. The campaign will focus on three key areas: global advocacy; strengthened efforts and partnerships at the national, regional and international levels; and United Nations leadership by example. As part of the campaign, the Secretary-General is personally approaching world leaders to spur action through national campaigns.

Read information on the United Nations' UNiTE campaign