UN Women Asia and the Pacific

A UN Women team member speaks with the chefs as they prepare meals at UN Women’s Community Kitchen. 18 September 2026. Photo: UN Women/Srijana Bhatta

Women are running community kitchens, feeding their communities

Reshma Ranjit, stirs a large pot of haluwa, a sweet, creamy pudding-like dessert, in the community kitchen at Indrayani Basic School in Bidur Municipality ... Learn more

One in three institutions built to advance gender equality stripped of power in just two years, new UN report reveals

The UN warns that a deliberate political retreat from gender equality is reversing decades of progress, and calls for equal power for women everywhere ... Learn more

Nearly 160,000 women and girls impacted by Nepal flash floods

An estimated 157,050 women and girls living in Nepal’s Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts have been directly and indirectly affected by flash floods that swept through communities on 26 August ... Learn more

UN Women’s TransformCare Global Initiative enables a large-scale, long-term, multi-partner response to transform care systems across more than 50 countries in 6 regions. By 2035, TransformCare has the potential to contribute to systemic impact for 2.9 billion women and girls, generate at least 260 million decent jobs for women, and release more than 10 trillion hours of women’s and girls’ time. Photo: UN Women/Srijana Bhatta

Kathmandu is a caring city – here’s what that means for women

Transforming care through policy, services, urban infrastructure, and shared responsibility in Kathmandu, Nepal ... Learn more

Aid cuts, employment bans, movement restrictions: The triple threat to Afghan women

Women’s organizations, often the last remaining lifeline for Afghan women and girls, are struggling to survive under the combined pressure of aid cuts, and employment and movement restrictions ... Learn more

Highlights

One month after the Nepal floods, women are running community kitchens, feeding their communities, and rebuilding their lives

In the afternoon, Reshma Ranjit, stirs a large pot of haluwa, a sweet, creamy pudding-like dessert, in the community kitchen at Indrayani Basic School in Bidur Municipality-1, Nuwakot, Nepal.

Around her, more women prepare meals for families staying at a holding centre after the Bhotekoshi floods swept away their homes and communities on 26 August 2026 ... more

A member of the local disaster management committee struggles to walk through mud and debris while trying to support the rescue in Dhungey.Photo: UN Women/Srijana Bhatta

Nearly 160,000 women and girls impacted by Nepal flash floods

More than 500 people have been killed and nearly 1,000 remain unaccounted. Some 10,000 homes have been washed away, while critical infrastructure has been destroyed. With search and rescue operations still under way, the full scale of the disaster is continuing to ... more

South Asian nations and UN Women advance regional cooperation on care to boost women’s labour force participation in the region

Landmark regional dialogue in Kathmandu focuses on unlocking opportunities for inclusive economic growth by investing in the care economy and accelerating women’s economic empowerment across South Asia. ... more

In Focus: At the heart of democracy 

On the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia, under the 2026 theme, ‘At the heart of democracy’, UN Women affirms that democracies are strongest when they are inclusive, representative, and accountable - upholding the equality, dignity, protection, and full participation of LGBTIQ+ people ... more

Inside a greenhouse, a person sits on the soil between rows prepared for planting. The rows are lined with black irrigation tubes. The person holds a small hand tool and works the soil. Next to the person, a young child sits on the ground. The child is close to the planting rows and looks toward the work area. The greenhouse has a curved frame covered with clear and green plastic. Thin strings hang from the structure above, ready to support plants as they grow. The soil is dry and evenly arranged in rows, showing that the area is prepared for crops.

World Environment Day
Solar-powered greenhouses enable Afghan women to grow food, income and hope

“No matter how hard we worked, we could not grow enough to improve our situation,” Noorhaya* said. “Life has been full of challenges. We live in a simple mud house and most days we depended on basic food like wheat, peas and beans.” ... more

MORE STORIES

🔖 Statements

Afghan women have not given up, nor can we – We must not look away

Monday, 23 June 2025 | UN WOMEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SIMA BAHOUS

Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on the Beijing+30 Review

Thursday, 19 November 2024 | UN WOMEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SIMA BAHOUS

We must step forward – The situation is not hopeless, and we are not helpless

Wednesday, 18 September 2024 | UN WOMEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SIMA BAHOUS

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🔖 Update!

Christine Arab, Regional Director

Christine Arab has dedicated over 25 years to advancing gender equality and women’s human rights within the UN System, working across Asia, the Pacific, the Arab States, the Caribbean, the Balkans and the Southern ... more

Featured Publication

This Gender Alert is issued in support of the UN’s Nepal Rasuwa Flood Flash Appeal. It is intended to inform prioritization, coordination and resource allocation of decisions within the Appeal through a gender and social inclusion lens.

📸 Featured photo

Photo: UN Women/Ploy Phutpheng and Kittiphong Boonprakhom

Hundreds of Thai and international families, students and supporters gathered in Benjakitti Park and at the Thai–Belgian Bridge for “A Safe Journey With Her to End Digital Violence”, a family ride and picnic organised as part of the UNiTE 16 Days of Activism.

MORE PHOTOS

Featured video

Unweave the Story – Find out why more companies are choosing to buy from women-owned businesses

[English subtitle, ISL] #BuyForEqual isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s a smart move. Watch this video to see how you can lead the way. Watch on YouTube

Explainer

What is UN Women?

English with subtitle — UN Women is the global champion for gender equality. As the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and women empowerment, UN Women was established to accelerate progress in meeting their needs worldwide.