Dorcus is a community activist in her village of Loboloin in Looto Sub County, Amudat district 386 kilometers (about 239.85 miles) northeast of Uganda's capital, Kampala. A retired former Local Council 5 Chairperson she has now dedicated her life to campaigning against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in her community. 

Consolata Kabanyoro, a 38-year-old mother of two, has faced adversity for over eight years as a resident of City Square Cell in Bundibugyo Town Council, Bundibugyo District. In 2010, she lost her husband, and his death sparked disputes among his four wives over the inheritance of his property. Despite him leaving behind four pieces of land, one of the widows attempted to claim all of it, leaving the others with nothing. 

Betty Laker diligently works, her weathered hands delving into the earth as she uproots cassava tubers. The sun beats down relentlessly but she remains focused, determined to provide nourishment for herself and her family.

In 2022, UN Women Uganda, with the support of the Austrian Development Agency, established victim-friendly rooms at the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Tororo to improve the handling of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) cases in the region. These rooms, equipped with refreshments, sanitary products, and child-friendly educational materials, are linked to the courtrooms through audiovisual technology to expedite the judicial process for SGBV cases. Her Worship Doreen Ajuna serves as the Chief Magistrate of Tororo District in eastern Uganda, where she oversees various criminal cases, including those related to gender-based violence. 

About 10 years ago, Priscilla was a fervent supporter and practitioner of the notorious female genital mutilation (FGM) in her community, having once been a victim of the cruel practice herself. However, in 2013, Priscilla found herself in constant conflict after the government, through the FGM Act 2010, moved to abolish the practice of FGM in Uganda, aiming to protect the internationally recognized human rights of girls and women.

On August 7, 2024, the Embassy of Japan and UN Women jointly announced the launch of “The Project for the Implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Refugees Settlements and Host Communities”.

UN Women strongly condemns the murder in Kenya of the Ugandan Athlete Rebecca Cheptegei. She is the third elite female runner to be murdered in a most violent way in the past three years in Kenya. The suspects in all three cases were intimate partners of the slain athletes. Society roots for these athletes to win and bring medals home, and more must be done to protect them.

In the southern region of Zanzibar, women like Munira Abdallah Abdallah are experiencing a transformation in their economic lives, thanks to investments in early childhood centres. A grandmother and sea moss farmer, she now has a safe place to leave her grandchild while she works to improve her livelihood.

The EntreprenHER programme, a partnership between De Beers Group, UN Women, and local governments in southern Africa, has trained 220 women entrepreneurs in 2024. Targeting 1,500 women-owned micro-enterprises over three years, the initiative focuses on business skills and digital literacy.

Beyond gathering the five discussants’ views, the focus group discussion also helped to grow their understanding of why it is important to disaggregate data by sex and other variables such as age, disability status, location, HIV/Aids status, and even employment status. In effect, it built their knowledge and understanding of gender data. 

Somalia marked a significant milestone in its commitment to advancing gender equality with the launch of the Somalia Generation Equality Forum. This event was organized by the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development of the Federal Republic of Somalia. It brought together high-ranking government officials, civil society members, international partners, and various stakeholders committed to advancing gender equality and women's rights in Somalia. UNSOM and UNDP, representing the UN agencies, expressed their deep appreciation for the event and reinforced their unwavering commitment to advancing gender equality at all times. Their dedication to this cause is a testament to the importance of gender parity in achieving sustainable development and peace. 

In the sun-drenched Nawata Village in Zomba, nestled in the Shire highlands of Malawi, a group of thirty women has harnessed the power of innovation to transform their lives and protect their surroundings. Thanks to a UN Women-supported project, funded by the Government of Australia, the women are united by a common purpose: to create sustainable biomass briquettes that replace traditional firewood.

In the sun-drenched Nawata Village in Zomba, nestled in the Shire highlands of Malawi, a group of thirty women has harnessed the power of innovation to transform their lives and protect their surroundings. Thanks to a UN Women-supported project, funded by the Government of Australia, the women are united by a common purpose: to create sustainable biomass briquettes that replace traditional firewood.

Isha S.Y. Sumah, a 20-year-old university student, has always had a strong desire to make a difference in her community. Growing up in a society where gender inequality and violence against women and girls were rampant, she witnessed firsthand the suffering of women abused by their husbands, often with no consequences for the perpetrators. These experiences fueled her determination to fight for a society free from Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), where both men and women can enjoy equal rights.

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is the most pervasive human rights violation worldwide. Nearly thirty years after the Beijing Platform for Action, despite unprecedented momentum and commitments to advance gender equality, the prevalence of VAWG has remained persistent

Judith Edea, the Chairperson of Karoko Ward in Adjumani District is a Women Peace Mediator in Adjumani district. Since 2018, with funding from the Government of Norway, UN Women has been implementing interventions aimed at increasing representation and leadership of women in formal and informal peace processes and negotiations, including participating as mediators in conflict and post-conflict. 

Muhindo Rebecca, a resident of Kasese district in Uganda is one of the parents that lost their children during the rebel attacks on a school in June 2023 that left forty-two people, including 37 students, dead.

hekinah Miriam Alice, 33 years old, is a refugee from Democratic Republic of Congo and has lived in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement in Kyegegwa district since 2021. Alice is one of the refugee women who has acquired vocational skills through UN Women’s second chance education intervention implemented under the Leadership Empowerment Access and Protection (LEAP) project funded by the Government of Norway.

UN Women and the participating stakeholders charted a course for action, including engaging male policymakers in discussions about dismantling harmful aspects of traditional masculinity. By involving men as partners and beneficiaries of change, the workshop participants hope to build a future where everyone can thrive.

Mbambu Juliet is a force to be reckoned with. With walking crutches to support her movement, Juliet is leading a charge against violence and inequality in her community. As the Executive Director of Bwera United Women with Disabilities Association (BUDWA), a community-based organization operating in Kasese District, Juliet has transformed from a woman in need to a beacon of hope for countless others.