Beijing +25 CSO National Reviews to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action

Date: Wednesday, November 13, 2019

[Remarks] As highlighted by Shanthaji, the Beijing +25 commemoration, and the Generation Equality Forum to be organised by UN Women in 2020, will be a diverse and intergenerational convening. To build for the future, we must bring together the young generations of women’s rights and gender equality activists with the visionaries who crafted the Beijing Platform for Action. It is only if we bring women of all ages and from different social, economic and geographic backgrounds, with their different experiences and skills, together that we can reach our goals.

Cross-generational forum in Nepal explores new solutions to gender-based violence and discrimination

Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Kali Gurung’s husband was killed in crossfire between the rebels and government forces decades ago. But her struggles did not end with the conflict, and she explained how conflict-affected women like her had difficulty moving on even after the peace was restored in the country following the 1996-2006 conflict with the Maoist rebels. “Women of my generation have suffered violence not just during the armed conflict. I hope by sharing my experiences today can provide lessons to the new generation of women so that they will not have to suffer like us.”

“Now I take the decisions... I don’t wait for my supervisor to approve everything.”

Date: Monday, November 11, 2019

Hilaria Amaral do Carmo is the only female Programme Coordinator of the Covalima Community Centre in southwestern Timor-Leste. She radiates confidence as she works to improve conditions for women. But she wasn’t always like this. She recalls with a laugh how she used to seek approval from her supervisor for even the smallest of decisions. Amaral do Carmo credits her newfound confidence to the leadership skills she learned from Ba Futuru (For the Future), a non-governmental organization supported by UN Women.

Business leaders and entrepreneurs: Empowering women boosts businesses

Date: Monday, November 11, 2019

Over 120 people, mostly female business owners and entrepreneurs from South-East Asia, attended the We Empower Asia panel discussion hosted as part of the Oct. 30-31 AWEN’s Women CEOs Summit in Bangkok. AWEN is ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network. Speakers raised awareness about how empowering women in the workplace boosts bottom lines; how the Women’s Empowerment Principles -a set of guidelines on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community- can support that cause; and how companies can increase investments in gender-inclusive environments.

Gordons Market, Port Moresby officially opens

Date: Wednesday, November 6, 2019

[Press release] Markets are extremely significant economic and trading hubs across PNG, with women and girls at the centre of agricultural production. This is why through the UN Women Safe Cities Programme, more than 400 female vendors were engaged in consultations regarding the design of this market. Through this gender-sensitive redevelopment, female vendors and patrons can be sure their rights, safety and security have been placed at the forefront of design.

Civil Society Advisory Group to guide UN Women’s work in Bangladesh

Date: Monday, November 4, 2019

[ANNOUCEMENT] UN Women is re-establishing a Civil Society Advisory Group (CSAG), which was previously set up in 2012. As Beijing+25 approaches and Bangladesh nationally stands at a cross-road in terms of growing inequality and intensifying human rights and gender challenges, while aspiring to graduate from Least Development Country and become a developed country by 2041, UN Women has decided to relaunch a CSAG in order to systematically seek advice from CSO representatives on its work.

UN Women Regional Director rides in their seats on Meri Seif Buses

Date: Friday, November 1, 2019

UN Women Regional Director Mr. Mohammad Naciri rode 90 minutes in the shoes of the more than 150,000 women who accessed the service over the last year to highlight the importance of prioritising women’s safety on public transport. Mr. Naciri made a typical Port Moresby journey from 4 mile to Air Transport Sqaudron (ATS) settlement along with regular female commuters on the Meri Seif Bus service.

Nepal takes steps to include LGBTIQ persons in 2021 population census

Date: Thursday, October 31, 2019

UN Women is supporting dialogue between the Government and LGBTIQ groups to ensure that Nepal’s LGBTIQ people are properly counted in the 2021 population census. The last census, in 2011, tallied only 1,500 people identifying as LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, intersex and queer/questioning). That was because the census lacked specific questions or a method to collect this data, and the nature of the census made many people afraid to come out.

14th Inter-Provincial Ministerial Group Meeting

Date: Thursday, October 31, 2019

[Press release] Representatives from the Federal Ministry of Human Rights, Provincial Ministers, Secretaries of Women Development Departments (WDDs) and Chairpersons of National and Provincial Commissions on the Status of Women (CSW) resolved to expedite efforts for achieving gender equality and pursue women’s empowerment as the world is set to mark the 25th anniversary of Beijing Platform for Action – Beijing +25 – next year.

Panel: “Empowering Women Means Business” at ASEAN Women CEOs Summit

Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Private sector leaders, social entrepreneurs along with European Union and UN officials will meet in Bangkok to discuss the business case for gender equality and women’s economic empowerment at a panel hosted as part of the ASEAN Women CEOs Summit.