[Press release] The European Union and its partners launched a programme that aims to promote the rule of law and enhance the criminal justice system in Pakistan, with a specific focus on the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan. Anchored in the vision that an enhanced and reformed justice sector is the only sustainable solution for addressing critical and systematic weaknesses in justice delivery, the programme spans from 2021 till 2025, and is financed with EUR20 million.

Dr. Habiba Sarabi, a trailblazing leader in Afghanistan, is one of only four women negotiating peace with the Taliban as part of the ongoing intra-Afghan talks. Trained as a hematologist, she became a peace activist, politician and reformer in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. She has served as Minister of Women’s Affairs and in 2005 became the first Afghan woman to serve as a governor. She continues to be instrumental in promoting women’s rights and peacebuilding at a crucial turning point for her nation.

Local administrations in Cambodia are planning to incorporate into their climate change risk reduction plans the ideas contributed by female leaders who received training under a United Nations project. Local authorities discussed the plans with women’s and civil society groups on 17 and 19 October in two provinces, Prey Veng and Kompot...

To strengthen the criminal justice sector response to sexual violence, it is essential to establish quality essential justice services for victims that prioritize their safety, protection and support, today’s workshop by UN Women and partners concluded. To improve the quality of and access to essential services for victims of gender-based violence, it is necessary to enhance understanding of the essential services for women and girls subject to violence- what...

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the Swiss Development Corporation (SDC) today signed a one-year partnership agreement to enhance the capacity of the Women Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to integrate a gender perspective in new provincial laws and policies and review of existing legislation. Through this project “Capacity Enhancement of the Women Parliamentary...

Women’s groups in the National Parliament and civil society are jointly pushing to enhance women’s political leadership in Timor-Leste by supporting female candidates in the upcoming village and national-level elections. A Strategic Framework 2016-2021 to mobilize female voters and candidates was launched on 11 October by the Women’s Caucus of the National Parliament and ‘100% Hau Prontu’ (I am ready) movement of 15 local and...

With the support of the Japanese Government, UN Women Timor-Leste launched a new four-year, 294 million Japanese Yen (USD 2.74 million) project that aims to support the implementation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in Timor-Leste. Resolution 1325 is the first of 8 resolutions that call on Member States to recognize women’s leadership and participation in all matters of peace and security. Toward this end, the project will partner with the Ministry of Interior, Secretary of...