Over the years the people of Sulu province in the Philippines have experienced armed conflicts, violent extremism, kidnappings and multiple displacements. The province now is part of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Nurrunihar Mohammad is a provincial representative for the Bangsamoro Women Commission and a former-combatant of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Police Lieutenant Colonel Melbeth Mondaya is Gender and Development Focal Point of the Philippine National Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. The region has long been affected by private armed groups, violent extremism and violent clan feuding. In November 2021, Mondaya participated in a workshop on women, peace and security organized by UN Women and Bangsamoro Women Commission in cooperation with the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

As a demonstration of commitment to place gender at the core of collaborative security action in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in the Philippines, representatives from the Government and from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, security actors and representatives from women’s organizations came together for a three-day workshop (3–5 February 2021) to discuss how to strengthen cooperation on a range of issues related to gender and security in BARMM.

COVID-19 has impacted us all, butmost of thedecisions taken are by menand the voices we hear are often male., Yet, themajority of front-line health workers are women and many of the industries directly affected by quarantines and lockdowns—such as travel, tourism and food production—have a higher concentration of women. The care burden on women—already three times more than men on a good day—has grown exponentially. UN Women is bringing the voices of women on the front lines of the pandemic. As essential workers, care givers and journalists, here are some s(h)eroes who are out there, every day, protecting and serving their communities.

Associate Professor Dr. Tassana Boontong is President of Thailand Nursing and Midwifery Council and Dean of Faculty of Nursing, HRH Chulabhorn College of Medical Sciences. She previously served as Vice-President, National Reform Council, 2014-2015; Senator, 2011-2014; Vice-President of the Senate, 2008-2011; Founding Dean of the Office of Nursing, Mae Fahluang University, 2006-2007; Founding Dean of the Faculty of Nursing, Srinakharinwirot University, 2003-2006; and Dean of the Faculty of Nursing, Mahidol University, 1987-1999.

This year, on the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, we celebrate ten years since the adoption of the United Nations Security Council’s landmark resolution 1820 (2008), which classified the use of conflict-related sexual violence as an impediment to the restoration of international peace and security. Over this decade, we have witnessed groundbreaking advancements in the fight against conflict-related sexual violence, including successful prosecutions...

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.

Afghanistan has been in conflict for over thirty years, during which Afghans have experienced and witnessed unspeakable violence and upheaval. Enforced disappearance, summary execution, torture, rape, indiscriminate bombardment and wanton destruction have been a daily reality for the people of Afghanistan for decades.

Women being under-represented in the mass media and facing gender-based discrimination and exploitation in their career is central to solution finding efforts of the Global Forum on Media and Gender.

The UN Security Council today demonstrated renewed determination to put women’s leadership at the centre of all efforts to resolve conflict and promote peace.

A courageous survivor of Nepal’s conflict empowers herself and starts an organization to help other women re-build their lives.