Mae Sot, a bustling border town in western Thailand, lies across from Myanmar, approximately 500 kilometres from Bangkok. As a key transit point for migrant workers, refugees and displaced communities, it offers both opportunity and significant vulnerability, particularly for women and girls. Women migrant workers – especially those who are undocumented – face heightened risks of violence, exploitation, trafficking and legal insecurity.

For survivors of sexual violence, the first interaction with law enforcement can shape their entire journey towards justice and recovery. In Thailand, where millions of international visitors and migrant workers arrive each year, the Tourist Police often serve as first responders to cases of sexual assault since they have language skills and training to help foreigners.

“WE Centres serve as safe spaces for members of the WPS Network to learn, collaborate and advance the WPS agenda while amplifying women’s meaningful role in social cohesion at the local level,” said Arab.

Brigadier General Nurul Azizah is the Director of Women and Children Protection and Trafficking in Persons Crimes of the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Indonesian National Police (Bareskrim Polri). The police, supported by UN Women, have developed an academic position paper on the establishment of this Directorate to integrate gender equality in police institutional practices and culture and to improve responses to women and girls victims of violence and trafficking.

As part of their engagement in the Forum, UN Women and UNEP, under the EmPower: Women for Climate-Resilient Societies Programme, co-organized side events to ensure that gender equality and social inclusion were included in climate discussions.

UN Women, TalentCorp and LeadWomen have joined forces to launch the first Malaysia Women’s Empowerment Principles Corporate Action Lab (WEPsCAL) -- a cohort-based initiative supporting companies to develop innovative solutions and implement and track actions to promote gender equality with the support of like-minded organisations.

“2025 marks a turning point—30 years since the Beijing Declaration and just five years before the deadline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” said UN Women China Country Representative Smriti Aryal

Soun Sreymom, a former Cambodian migrant worker, now uses her experience to advocate for safe migration and workers’ rights. As a leading voice in the EU-funded PROTECT project in Cambodia, she facilitates community dialogues on gender, labour rights and preventing violence against women, and uses her powerful photographs to spark conversation and raise awareness about safe migration.

When a devastating 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck Port Vila, Vanuatu, in December 2024, it left many communities in darkness – without power, water or basic services. But in Melemaat Village, just outside of Port Vila, one household became a beacon of hope for its neighbours.

[Joint Press Release] A bell rang out at the start of morning trading at the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) today, International Women’s Day, to signal wide-ranging support by listed companies and others for improving women’s status and opportunities in the business world.

The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN Women have renewed their partnership to promote inclusive renewable energy and passive cooling policies and actions across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. Building on the efforts of the EmPower: Women for Climate-Resilient Societies (EmPower) Programme and the UNEP Cool Coalition, this partnership aims to address the growing challenge of extreme heat and rising energy demand for sustainable cooling in the region.

A strategic partnership between the Government of the Republic of Korea, through its Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and UN Women is set to strengthen women’s leadership and participation in decision-making in South and South-East Asia.

"Women work hard and rarely complain. Women at home do everything—raising children, cooking, cleaning, and running businesses—all from morning until night. Yet, their work often goes unrecognised." These words from Long San

[Statement] On International Women’s Day, the United Nations in Afghanistan reiterates its urgent call for the de facto authorities to lift restrictions that continue to strip women and girls of their fundamental rights. The UN also calls on Member States to translate solidarity into action—by amplifying Afghan women’s voices, supporting their leadership, and investing in their resilience and future.

The Asia-Pacific Regional Commemoration of International Women’s Day 2025, jointly convened by ESCAP and UN Women, will shine a spotlight on the highlight of the transformative role of youth in driving innovation to achieve gender equality. Under the theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Equality. Rights. Empowerment”,

[Press release] Women’s and girls’ rights are facing unprecedented growing threats worldwide, from higher levels of discrimination to weaker legal protections, and less funding for programs and institutions that support and protect women.

Yanin lives in the Salaloi community in Surin Province, where every Friday, a group of women gathers to share knowledge and engage in activities that enrich their lives, fostering intergenerational dialogue with younger women in the community

[Press release] In celebration of International Women's Day, the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, in collaboration with UN Women hosted the International Conference on "Strengthening Women’s Participation in Law Enforcement in Vietnam" at the Pullman Hotel, Hanoi.

Under the theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights, Equality, Empowerment,” the spotlight was on youth at the International Women’s Day 2025 celebration in Bangkok. UN Women Asia-Pacific Regional Director Christine Arab joined colleagues from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)to commemorate progress and issue a “clarion call” to further efforts to advance gender equality.

At the 12th Asia-Pacific Forum for Sustainable Development (APFSD), policymakers, researchers, and practitioners gathered in Bangkok for a critical conversation on preventing violence against women.