What We Do

End Violence against Women

This fundamental violation of women’s rights remains widespread, affecting all countries. Women need strong laws, backed by implementation and services for protection and prevention. Learn more

Photo: UN Women/Samir Jung Thapa

Humanitarian Action and Disaster Risk Reduction

In the past decade, the Asia-Pacific region accounted for 41 per cent of all disasters worldwide, and over 90 per cent of all global deaths from disasters. The region is also home to a number of protracted crises, which, when combined... Learn more

Haribai fought all odds to become a worksite supervisor under the world’s largest pay-for-work programme, MGNREGA. Here she collects her earnings at the local bank in the Lalitpur district of Uttar Pradesh. As part of a project supported by UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality and Gender at Work, Haribai and 9000 other Dalit women opened bank accounts to control the money they earn. All-women worksites, stronger collectives and trained women supervisors helped 30,000 Dalit women in Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh to learn about and benefit from MGNREGA. Photo: UN Women/Gaganjit Singh

Trust Funds

A multi-donor initiative, the Fund for Gender Equality is dedicated to programmes that increase women’s economic opportunities and/or political participation at local and national levels. Managed by UN Women on behalf of the UN system... Learn more

Photo: UN Women/Adrianus Mulya

Economic empowerment

Women lag far behind men in access to land, credit and decent jobs, even though a growing body of research shows that enhancing women’s economic options boosts national economies. Macroeconomic policies and policy-making can make the connections to gender equality... Learn more

CEDAW & Women's Human Rights

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women sets comprehensive international standards for women’s human rights. Signatory governments are obligated to take steps in laws and policies to achieve these norms. Learn more

Peace and Security

There is international recognition that women bear the brunt of modern conflicts, including where rape is a weapon of war. Specific threats to women must be identified and stopped, and women must be at the centre of peace talks and post-conflict reconstruction. Learn more

Youth voters dip their fingers into the indigo-blue dye. Photo: UN Women/Betsy Davis Cosme

Governance

Across all areas of life, whether in political bodies or corporate boardrooms, women have a limited say in the decisions that affect them. Quotas and other special measures open more space for women’s participation. New skills help women realize their full leadership potential. Learn more

HIV & AIDS

Although much progress has been made in part of the Southeast Asia region, AIDS is increasingly acquiring a women’s face. UN Women brings principles of gender equality and a rights-based approach to achieve the goal of halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the region. Learn more