In a significant step towards advancing gender equality, Zimbabwe hosted its first-ever Generation Equality Commitment Makers Meeting on 27 February 2025.

Zimbabwe's Generation Equality Commitment Makers: Driving Change for Women and Girls

UN Women Somalia, Save the Children International and the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) facilitated a four-days training on Integrating Gender Perspectives in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Humanitarian Action in November 2024 in Mogadishu. The training targeted new members of the Gender in Humanitarian Action (GiHA) GiHA working group from civil society organizations, women-led organizations in Banadir region. It was designed to build the capacity of participants to integrate gender equality considerations into emergency planning and response, ensuring that humanitarian actions are inclusive and effectively meet the diverse needs of affected populations.

At the core of Generation Equality is a steadfast commitment to accountability, underpinned by a comprehensive Accountability Framework which tracks annually through a survey and self-reporting progress towards the ambitious promises made to uplift women and girls globally.

#ForAllWomenAndGirls is a rallying call for action on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Aneth Gerena Isaya, a leading advocate for the economic empowerment of women with disabilities in Tanzania, talks about the critical need for disability inclusion and how she is driving efforts to make it a reality.

The sixty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) will be held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from March 10-21, 2025. This year's focus is on reviewing and appraising the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and its outcomes.

The Joint Statement by the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Working Group, co-chaired by the UK and EU Embassies and facilitated by UN Women, calls for urgent action on gender equality, justice, and women’s participation in peace processes amid rising violence, displacement, and economic instability. Established in 2018, the WPS Working Group enhances coordination among key donors, UN agencies, IGAD, and institutions formed under the R-ARCSS to advance gender equality and women's participation in peace processes. The overall goal of the WPS working group is to improve and support the implementation of the WPS agenda in South Sudan and to consolidate and coordinate financial, technical and advocacy resources to advance the cause of WPS in South Sudan.

In a local government office in Pwani, two women leaders, Chiku Abdallah and Margreth Gumba, stand with strength and confidence, sharing their inspiring journeys of resilience and determination in pursuing leadership positions at the local level.

On this International Women’s Day, we, the undersigned bilateral and multilateral partners supporting gender equality and women’s empowerment in Ethiopia under the umbrella of the Gender Equality Working Group, reaffirm our unwavering commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of women and girls. This year holds special significance as we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA), a landmark global commitment that continues to guide efforts toward the full realization of women’s and girls’ rights.

Claire Uwineza, leads a non-profit social enterprise, Resonate, which works to address the “confidence gap” faced by women and girls in Rwanda, which often leads to missed opportunities for their advancement.

Rwanda continues to make remarkable strides in advancing gender equality and women's leadership. With a group of newly inducted parliamentarians, it was crucial for Rwanda’s 80 parliamentarians (51 women and 29 men) to enhance their understanding of gender-responsive and transformative governance, leadership, and development. To address this need, UN Women, in collaboration with the Rwanda Women Parliamentary Forum (FFRP), organized a two-day induction training on gender equality and women’s transformational leadership at the Parliament of Rwanda.

#ForAllWomenandGirls is a rallying call for action on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Maria Munir from Ethiopia shares experience on establishing and sustaining shelters that provides comprehensive essential services for women and girl survivors of violence.

Lucide Pascale from Rwanda shares her inspiring journey in STEM on the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration. A 20-year-old Computer Engineering student at the University of Rwanda, Lucide was driven by curiosity and inspired by women in STEM on social media. Despite facing gender biases and practical challenges, she persevered with support from her family and teachers. Lucide credits AGCCI for boosting her confidence and helping her embrace her passion for tech. Her determination led her to represent Africa at the Bürgerfest Festival in Germany and become a peer mentor in the Siemens EmpowerHer program. While acknowledging progress in education and training for women, Lucide highlights the need to retain women in STEM fields and ensure equal career growth opportunities. Her message to women and girls: "Dare to try. You are capable, needed, and belong in any field you choose."

At 23, Katie Nyuma Munthali is on a mission to bridge the gender gap in technology in Malawi. Katie’s commitment to technology isn’t just about personal growth—it’s about creating opportunities for others. “I’ve seen how technology drives innovation and change,” she explains. “I want to use my skills to make a positive impact, especially for girls in my community.”

EntreprenHER, a UN Women and De Beers Group partnership, empowers women entrepreneurs in Botswana, Namibia, and South Africa through business training and grants. The program has reached over 2,600 women since 2017, with success stories demonstrating how targeted support transforms individual businesses and entire communities.

Kampala, Uganda – 24th February 2024 – The Justice for Her project was officially launched at the High Court Conference Hall in Kampala, marking a significant step towards improving access to justice for women and girls in Uganda. The initiative aims to address legal barriers faced by survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and to strengthen gender-responsive justice mechanisms across the country.

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