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COVID-19 jeopardises progress made towards protecting women and girls from violence and harmful practices

Date: Monday, June 15, 2020

The passing of laws to end child marriage resulted in blocking thousands of child marriages and enabling second chance education for girls. However, these gains made over the years are in jeopardy in the age of COVID-19. In Malawi because of cases brought to court, child marriages were annulled, and girls had the opportunity to return to school. F ewer adolescents experienced female genital mutilation (FGM) compared with older generations. In Ethiopia, for instance, 47 per...

The Government of Japan to Fund UN Women Programs to Address the Impact of COVID-19 on Women and girls in Africa

Date: Friday, June 12, 2020

Women are disproportionately affected by the impact of COVID-19, as more women work in low-paying, insecure and informal jobs, while carrying the bulk of burden on unpaid care work at home. As more countries report infection and lockdown, more domestic violence helplines and shelters across the world are reporting rising calls for help. Confinement is fostering the tension and strain created by security, health, and money worries. In addition, it is increasing isolation...

I am Generation Equality: Sandiso Sibisi founder of 'Born to Succeed Women' and Director at COOi Studios South Africa

Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2020

I am touched by the hardship that women go through to be afforded a seat at any table whether it be in a boardroom, at their home or in their communities. The norm is for decisions about us, to be made for us and that disturbs me greatly.

UN Women launches South Africa Chapter of the Unstereotype Alliance

Date: Wednesday, February 19, 2020

The Unstereotype Alliance, a thought and action platform, seeks to eradicate harmful gender-based stereotypes in all media and advertising content. Convened by UN Women, the Unstereotype Alliance contributes to empowering women in all their diversity and addressing harmful masculinities to help create a gender equal world.

South Africa launches 365 days of activism against gender-based violence and femicide on Human Rights Day

Date: Wednesday, December 11, 2019

The Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Maite Nkoana- Mashabane, officially launched the 365 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) on 10 December 2019 in partnership with UN Women and 1st for Women Insurance.

Peace Lab at the 3rd Capital Meeting of Women, Peace and Security Focal Points, tackles the challenges of youth participation in peace and security

Date: Monday, April 15, 2019

UN Women Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka with participants at the Youth Peace lab, one of the working groups at the 3 rd Capital Level Meeting of the Women Peace and Security Global Focal Points Network. Photo: UN Women/Otae Mkandawire Multi-coloured pieces of paper are strewn across tables along with bright markers, glue and note paper as youth activists from across the world, intensely discuss challenges and solutions to ensuring that young people and young women, are...

Unlocking opportunities for women-owned businesses

Date: Monday, March 18, 2019

The UN Women South Africa Multi-Country (SAMCO) commemorated International Women’s Day 2019 with Intsika Women Business Association in Kwa Zulu Natal province, South Africa. The event forms part of SAMCO’s Flagship Programme Stimulating Equal Opportunities for Women Entrepreneurs.

UN Women announces Danai Gurira as Goodwill Ambassador during Global Citizen Festival in Johannesburg

Date: Monday, December 3, 2018

During the UN’s global annual advocacy campaign, 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (25 November – 10 December), UN Women announced the appointment of internationally renowned award-winning actor-playwright Danai Gurira as its Goodwill Ambassador.

DE BEERS GROUP AND UN WOMEN ANNOUNCE CAPACITY-BUILDING PROGRAMME TO SUPPORT 500 WOMEN IN SOUTH AFRICA

Date: Monday, September 3, 2018

De Beers Group and United Nations Entity for Women for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UNW) South Africa are pleased to announce the launch of a capacity-building programme to support 500 women micro-entrepreneurs in the communities of Blouberg and Musina, near De Beers’ Venetia Mine in Limpopo. The key objective of the programme is to equip women micro-entrepreneurs with business management and life skills to build their confidence and capacity to operate and grow...

Business leaders taking action on gender equality and women empowerment

Date: Tuesday, August 28, 2018

The event was held to recognize and inspire business corporate leadership in advancing gender equality and empowerment of women, promote inclusive economic prosperity in realizing the 2030 Agenda.

UN Women and partners encourage feminist activism in South Africa

Date: Friday, August 17, 2018

A high-level forum held yesterday in South Africa has urged the role of feminist civic activism, youth and social movements in strengthening democracy, gender equality and sustainable development. The event, called “Supporting social movements and civil society activism to Leave No One Behind for peace, prosperity and sustainable development,” was organized by UN Women and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in partnership with Amnesty International, the Nelson...

UN Women calls on the private sector to become activists, advocates and investors in gender equality

Date: Friday, March 16, 2018

UN Women calls on the private sector to become activists, advocates and investors in gender equality

SheDecides Flagship Event marks a year of accelerated global support for women and girls to realise their sexual and reproductive health rights

Date: Monday, March 5, 2018

It has been a year since SheDecides, a global movement to promote, provide, protect and enhance the fundamental rights of every girl and woman was launched. The movement is about getting women and girls to be the ones to make decisions about their bodies, lives, health and futures.

Joint Statement: ‘Freedom from fear’: Ending violence against women

Date: Sunday, December 10, 2017

Human beings are born free and equal, both in rights and in dignity. This is the fundamental principle enshrined in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On 10 December nearly 70 years ago, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the first international assertion of the “highest aspiration of the common people”, including the “promotion of universal respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms”,...

Evidence-based interventions and accountability to end violence against women

Date: Thursday, October 5, 2017

Civil Society leaders, gender activists, feminist leaders, donors, and representatives from international organisations including UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ncguka called for evidence-based interventions and accountability to end gender based violence on 2 nd October at the Five Days of Violence Prevention experts conference hosted by Sonke Gender Justice in Johannesburg. Opening the conference, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Co-Founder of Sonke Gender Justice, Mr...

Township entrepreneurs prove that investing in women-owned businesses makes economic sense

Date: Thursday, July 20, 2017

It’s difficult to miss Jay-Beez Fast Food on Jane Muso Street in Kagiso. The green lawn, multi-coloured chairs and tables and the distinct smell of frying magwinya (local doughnuts) draw you in. Inside owner Gape Bogopane, her husband Jabu and her assistant Lady are busy taking orders from hungry customers, many of whom reside across the road in a mining hostel. Gape outside her shop. Photo: UN Women/Susan Kimathi Caption Jay Beez did not always have this buzz or...