In Zanzibar, Tanzania, community radio stations are using GBV data to raise awareness, challenge harmful norms, and encourage survivors to seek support. Through UN Women’s Women Count program, these broadcasts are driving greater community engagement, increasing case reporting, and empowering listeners to take action against gender-based violence.

UN Women warmly congratulates the African Union on adopting the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU CEVAWG), the continent’s first dedicated legal instrument aimed at ending all forms of violence against women and girls. The Convention comes at a time of renewed urgency in the push to advance gender justice for all women and girls.

Annagrace Malamsha and Flora Kagoma are among the young women in Tanzania empowered by the African Girls Can Code Initiative (AGCCI). Implemented by UN Women and partners, AGCCI, now in its third phase, equips women aged 17–25 with coding and digital skills to bridge the gender gap in technology.

Joint statement by UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women, Equality Now, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)and The Eastern African Sub-Regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI) on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM

“My mother was an ‘excisor’ and I lived with the practice in my family, believing it was normal. One day, she excised several young girls, and one of them bled to death,” shares Siaka Traoré, whose mother practised female genital mutilation (FGM). Traoré grew up thinking that female genital mutilation was a normal rite of passage for girls in Mali… until that day. 

In Kassala State, Sudan, amidst the challenges of economic uncertainty, Awatif* found a path to stability and empowerment through a UN Women-supported entrepreneurship program. She belonged to a restrictive community where women were not permitted to participate in outdoor activities, gather with men, or take on roles beyond household duties. Breaking societal norms, she became a member of two women farmers’ groups, comprising 90 women, formed by UN Women in Halfa Algadida Locality in Kassala State.

Rwanda has taken a significant step in the combat against HIV and gender-based violence (GBV) by endorsing and initiating the National Operational Plan for the Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) Program focused on HIV Prevention, Gender-based Violence (GBV) and Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH). This initiative was co-organized by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), UN Women, and UNFPA. A stakeholders' meeting held on December 1, 2024, at the Serena Hotel in Rubavu District convened senior leaders from the UN Joint Team on AIDS, various Rwandan governmental bodies, diverse development partners, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and Civil Society Organizations.

The Economic Justice and Rights (EJR) Action Coalition Leaders consisting of governments, international organizations, civil society, youth, the private sector and philanthropies gathered for a three-day retreat in Nairobi to review progress, strengthen partnerships, and strategize planned activities for the future.

Gloria Loumo, 27, from Karamoja, Uganda, faced immense challenges after her education was interrupted by an unplanned pregnancy in 2018. Rejected by her family, she found temporary shelter with her brother and struggled to survive while raising her daughter. Her turning point came when she joined the UN Women-supported Second Chance Education Programme, which empowered her to return to school and dream of becoming a teacher. Speaking at a 2024 youth summit, Gloria urged peers to value education and learn from her experience. She emphasized the importance of community support, mentorship, and local leaders championing girls’ education. Gloria’s journey reflects the enduring relevance of the Beijing Declaration, highlighting education as a transformative tool to break cycles of poverty and inequality. Her message is clear: “The future is education—let’s ensure no one is left behind.”

The Embassy of the Netherlands and UN Women convened Female Heads of Missions, UN Agencies, and Male Changemakers in Uganda to discuss a 2025 Beijing+30 campaign. The initiative will celebrate Uganda's gender equality progress, promote positive narratives, and amplify grassroots voices through collaborative events and advocacy.

Grace, a 24-year-old refugee in Uganda’s Kyangwali settlement, overcame severe trauma and mental health challenges caused by Gender-Based Violence (GBV) with support from the Transcultural Psychosocial Organisation (TPO) under a CERF-funded project. After fleeing conflict in Congo and struggling with isolation, despair, and the burden of raising two children, Grace received Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), financial literacy training, and cash assistance that enabled her to rebuild her life. Now empowered, she is pursuing education, starting a small business, and inspiring other women and girls to seek the mental health support they need.

The national launch for the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based violence in Uganda was officially kicked off on the Monday 25, November 2024 at Hotel Africana in Kampala. This year’s theme, which resonates strongly with the global call for enhanced collaboration across sectors to create a safer and more equitable society is anchored in the UNiTE theme: “Towards 30 Years of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls.”

Eastern Africa continues to face significant threats posed by transnational organized crime, sexual and gender-based violence, violent extremism, and terrorism which all disproportionately affect women and girls.

The Gates Foundation has been involved with Generation Equality since its inception, enabling us to simultaneously contribute to a shared global vision and advance our own gender equality goals.

Malawi, a nation previously grappling with high HIV prevalence and entrenched gender inequalities, is rewriting its narrative through transformative interventions spearheaded by UN Women. Gender inequalities and harmful societal norms fuel Malawi's HIV epidemic, disproportionately affecting women and girls. With approximately 991,600 people living with HIV (2024 Spectrum/Naomi estimates), the epidemic intersects with gender-based violence (GBV), creating a complex web of vulnerabilities. Recognizing this, UN Women launched the Gender and HIV HeForShe project in 2019 to address these challenges through a holistic, gender-sensitive lens.

As the world faces the challenges of conflict, climate change, and social inequality, the East and Southern Africa region is boldly moving towards a more peaceful and inclusive future. The Regional Symposium on Fostering Peace and Inclusivity held in Nairobi from 2nd to 3rd October 2024, united leaders, policymakers, and change-makers in conversation about the significance of women's involvement in peace processes and to set a new direction for the region.

The United Nations in Kenya, in collaboration with the Government of Kenya and various partners, launched the USD 28.5 million Joint Programme on Migration, Mobility, and Regional Integration. The Joint Programme is a strategic collaboration between the United Nations and the Government of Kenya. Running from December 2024 to June 2026, the programme aims to support Kenya’s Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on capacity building, policy advocacy and community participation to enhance social cohesion and regional integration.

The journey to localizing the Generation Equality in Tanzania is making significant progress through the collective efforts of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society groups, and the private sector. By the end of September 2024, this collaboration has resulted in over 250 pledges to advance gender equality initiatives.

New York, 17 December, 2024 – As the crisis in Sudan continues to deepen, UN Women has just published a new Gender Alert on the impact of the conflict on women and girls. More than 11 million people have been displaced as of October 2024, with more than half (54 per cent) being women and girls. 

UN Women Kenya and UNESCO held a National Young Male Dialogue Forum on December 9 2024 to intensify efforts towards the intentional engagement of men as frontline champions in preventing femicide and violence against women and girls.