20-year-old Kalaichelvi Kanagalingam could no longer afford her tuition fees in Kilinochichi, the Northern Sri Lanka, and received valuable training with the help of a UN Women Fund for Gender Equality-supported programme...

From flash mobs to bicycle races, street marches to art exhibits, and even illuminating landmarks and buildings in orange light, people around the world banded together during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence by “oranging their neighbourhoods.”

In the nearly 20 years since 189 countries committed to the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – an agenda for women’s empowerment and blueprint for advancing women's rights around 12 critical areas of concern – countries have worked hard to meet those goals, but many acknowledge remaining gaps and challenges.

UN Women is deeply concerned by the escalation of violence in the crisis relating to Gaza. It has taken a catastrophic toll on tens of thousands of civilians, many of whom are women and children.