Stories
- Economic empowerment (139)
- Ending violence against women and girls (138)
- Gender equality and women’s empowerment (122)
- Peace and security (64)
- Leadership and political participation (60)
- COVID-19 (47)
- Youth (40)
- Humanitarian action (29)
- Health (28)
- Partnerships (26)
- Gender, culture and society (24)
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UN Women Supports Maasai Women-led Enterprises to Respond to COVID-19 in Tanzania
Friday, June 19, 2020
The Ngorongoro district in Arusha region is a land of craters, sacred forests and mountains, wild animals and the unique Maasai people. It is striking how this noble community has learnt to co-exist with nature, sharing land, wild food, herbs and water with the wild animals that roam freely in this beautiful paradise. This remarkable way of life has endured for many years and attracted thousands of tourists from around the world to Tanzania’s tourism hub, creating business opportunities for the Maasai people.
Friday, June 19, 2020
By 9:00 a.m., the morning sun already feels hot in the Bidibidi settlement for refugees and displaced persons, located in the Yumbe District of Uganda. A steady file of women gathers around a borehole to collect water. They will repeat this chore again in the evening.
UN Women Partners with Private Sector to Improve Hygiene at Safe Markets
Friday, June 19, 2020
In the wake of COVID-19 outbreak and restrictions in movement, the local vegetable markets provide multiple roles. While they offer convenience in accessing fresh produce, sustain women vendors as their source of livelihoods, they are also a potential source of contamination and spread of the coronavirus.
The impact of COVID-19 on women: Nicole GAKOU, Senegalese female entrepreneur
Friday, June 19, 2020
Nicole Gakou is an engineer in information systems and a business manager. She is also the President of the Union of Women Entrepreneurs of Senegal (UFCE). In this interview with UN Women, she sheds light on the impacts of COVID-19 on businesses led by women. The UFCE includes 500 women distributed in the regions of Dakar, St Louis, Ziguinchor, and Thiès who are active in all sectors of activity. Today, 46% of these women are in agro-food processing (agriculture, livestock and fish farming), 36% in services, and less than 1% work in laboratories of cosmetic industry. Over 90% of UFCE members are in the formal sector and the rest of the members are accompanied to achieve this.
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...
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...
COVID-19 response : UN Women Builds Economic Resilience of Women Living in Refugee Camps in Uganda
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
UN Women has been working with CARE International since October 2018 to implement the Leadership, Empowerment Access and Protection (LEAP) program in the South Sudanese emergency response
From where I stand: “It has become impossible to meet daily needs”
Saturday, May 30, 2020
As the sixth-born child to poor parents, there wasn’t enough money for me to pursue any studies after high school. Growing up, my siblings and I often missed school to help our parents harvest vegetables from our land so that we could eat. After graduating, I moved to Nairobi to find work to sustain myself. For the past two years, I’ve been working as an Uber driver in Nairobi. My daughter and I live outside of the city, in Kiambu County. A friend introduced me to the Uber...
From Where I Stand: "Due to COVID-19 people were not going to the police"
Saturday, May 30, 2020
“Since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Ethiopia, one-stop crisis centres and shelters haven’t been able to support survivors because of the lack of isolation rooms for newcomers and insufficient human resources and personal protective equipment. To fill this gap, a transitional shelter was opened to serve as a space where survivors could stay during the quarantine period. Once the survivors are tested for...
Press Release: Kenya's Women, Peace and Security Agenda enters next phase
Wednesday, May 27, 2020
The Kenya National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2020 – 2024 (KNAP II) is the second phase of a process initiated in 2016 to implement the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325). By providing a framework to amplify voices of women at the grassroots, country and national level, it also aligns with the Leave No-no Behind principle.
From where I stand: ‘Voice the Violence’ program still providing services during COVID-19
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
Mphatso Baluwa Jim is the national coordinator of Malawi Girl Guides Association (MAGGA), a voluntary non-Governmental organisation. UN Women is supporting MAGGA to implement the “Voice the Violence” program which focuses on empowering and protecting women and girls from violence. She explains how COVID-19 has affected how her organization is reaching women and girls to ensure no one is left behind.
In The Words Of Zahra Namuli..." My family is at a risk of COVID -19"
Monday, May 25, 2020
People are at home and many of them are glued to their Televisions yearning for information about COVID-19. They cannot easily access such information if there is no journalist to pass it on or to break it down in a simplified manner.
UN Women and Private Bank in Mozambique join efforts to advance women economic empowerment
Monday, May 25, 2020
The Commercial and Investment Bank (BCI) and UN Women Mozambique signed a memorandum of understanding in Maputo, to advocate and promote gender and women's empowerment in Mozambique. The agreement was signed by UN Women Mozambique and BCI representatives Marie Laetitia Kayisire and Rogério LAM respectively.
Monday, May 25, 2020
Associação Socio Cultural Horizonte Azul (ASCHA) a Maputo based civil society organization and UN Women partner in activities by youth and for youth particularly on the right of girls and young women, issued a statement addressing government authorities to demand extension of social protection programs for women and girls and other vulnerable groups as long COVID19 impact last.
Fighting the shadow pandemic of violence against women and children during COVID19
Thursday, May 21, 2020
Alongside health impacts, the global COVID19 pandemic has brought a loss of liberties. Restrictions in movement have affected people’s jobs and livelihoods. Despite the many hardships being faced, freedom from violence cannot, under any circumstance, be surrendered – the right to live free from violence is a basic human right. Yet the most vulnerable members of society including children, women, persons with disabilities, the elderly – are suffering during...
Female-Headed households in South Sudan bear the brunt of Covid-19 as livelihoods shrink
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Margret Raman, 38, a single mother of five, two boys and three girls, is one of the several women in Yambio, South Sudan who is bearing the brunt of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Since the announcement of Covid-19, our lives have never been the same. Since we received business and financial management skills from UN Women, our businesses have been growing only to be disturbed by Covid-19."
Improving livelihoods, remaining resilient in the face of Covid-19
Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Everywhere in South Sudan, Covid-19 has become a new song, challenging not only the health system, but also threatening livelihoods of the already vulnerable populations. As the economy is crumbling, women groups are failing to save and invest. Anika Women group is one groups that is trying some innovative ways to improve livelihoods of its members, and to remain resilient in the face of the Covid-19 risks.
Friday, May 15, 2020
As part of its continuous efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls in Liberia, the Spotlight Initiative is supporting the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Council of Chiefs and Elders to launch a campaign for monitoring the implementation of the Ganta Declaration which calls for a one-year suspension of all Sande society activities; and to raise awareness among communities on measures to prevent the spread of corona virus and respond to sexual and gender based violence
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
UN Women and the African Union in partnership with the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) will host the inaugural meeting of African Ministers for Gender and Women’s Affairs, on 12 May 2020 under the theme “COVID-19 Response and Recovery” - a gendered framework.”
Monday, May 11, 2020
Young men can also assist with house chores such as cooking, cleaning, helping children to learn, watching educative programs together, playing and praying together to lessen domestic burdens on women. “