UN Women Africa
Badienou Gokh: Community Sentinels at the Heart of the Fight Against Violence Against Women and Girls in Senegal
Through community leaders like Adja Tacko Sall, the Badienou Gokh network is providing frontline support to survivors of gender-based violence in Senegal, demonstrating the vital role of community-based protection and the need for greater investment in local response systems. Learn more
Post-CSW70 Action Brief : Protecting gains, Mobilizing Allies.
Following CSW70, UN Women West and Central Africa launched a Friendraising initiative to mobilize allies and transform commitments into action. The brief identifies key priorities, including access to justice, countering regressive narratives, evidence-based advocacy, and stronger partnerships to advance women’s and girls’ rights across the region. Learn more
Transforming social norms towards women 's leadership in Malawi one road show at a time
In Malawi, across local and parliamentary governmental offices, the representation of women in politics remains low. In the 2019 general elections, only 23 per cent of the parliament was made up of women and the representation at the local level was even lower. Learn more
Generation Equality: Advancing Gender Equality in East and Southern Africa
In East and Southern Africa, Generation Equality addresses six key action areas that are vital for creating a just and inclusive future. Learn more
How Peer Support Helped Scholastica Rediscover Hope.
From stigma to self-belief: HIV-positive young woman regains confidence and hope through UN Women peer support. Learn more
Marie Mediatrice Izabiliza: A Lifelong Journey Since Beijing 1995
In September 1995, during Rwanda’s fragile recovery following the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, a young woman named Marie Mediatrice Izabiliza boarded a plane to represent her country at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. She wasn’t just carrying luggage; she was carrying hope. Learn more
Holding on through multiple displacement: A journey of strength and survival amid conflict in Sudan
In the crowded gathering site at Al-Zaeem Al-Azhari School in Port Sudan, 41-year-old Marwa Hassan Saeed holds her daughter close—both weary from a long, painful journey of displacement. Once a teacher at an international school in Khartoum, Marwa’s life was upended by conflict and crisis. Learn more
UN Women Care Snapshots for West and Central Africa
UN Women’s Care Snapshots highlight how investing in care systems can reduce gender inequalities, strengthen women’s economic empowerment, and drive sustainable development across West and Central Africa. Learn more
In Mali, reducing the time spent on unpaid domestic work is creating more opportunities for women and girls.
For many women in Mali, time is a scarce resource. Between household chores, meal preparation, food processing, and caring for children, older people, or sick family members, a large part of each day is devoted to essential but unpaid work. These are hours that cannot be spent on education, income-generating activities, or participation in public life. Learn more
Nigeria launches new structures to advance gender equality in the federal civil service.
The policies and budgets that shape the lives of millions of Nigerians pass through the Federal Civil Service. To ensure those systems work more equitably for women and men, UN Women and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) have inaugurated the Steering Committee and Technical Working Group on Gender-Responsive Planning and Budgeting (GRPB) and the INSPIRE Programme. Learn more
Young women are claiming their place in Liberia’s armed forces
Women make up just 7.5 per cent of Liberia’s armed forces. A nationwide effort is reaching young women with information on military careers, as Liberia seeks to expand women’s participation in the security sector and peacekeeping. Learn more
Highlights
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Advancing Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in West and Central Africa.
Advancing Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in West and Central Africa.
UN Women WCARO advances gender equality across 24 countries by leveraging its triple mandate to strengthen women’s rights, accountable institutions, and women’s leadership despite persistent inequalities and violence.
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Flash
Flash Update #1 Ebola Outbreak In West And Central Africa Region
UN Women WCARO is supporting gender-responsive Ebola preparedness and response efforts in Central Africa by partnering with governments, women-led organizations, and communities to protect and empower women and girls on the frontlines of the crisis.
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The Faces of Impact : Compendium of human-interest stories
The Faces of Impact : Compendium of human-interest stories

The Faces of Impact, is a compendium of real stories from women and communities whose lives have been transformed by our collective efforts to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in Nigeria.

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Beijing +30
Beijing+30 ESARO Explainer

Thirty years ago, in 1995, 189 countries made a historic commitment to advance gender equality, rights and the empowerment of all women and girls by adopting the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPfA). 

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Regina on the motorbike she uses to attend to the clients of her agro-vet shop in Kitui county. (Photo: UN Women/James Ochweri)
Cultivating Change: Advancing Economic Opportunities for Rural Women in Kenya

The Women’s Economic Empowerment and Climate-Smart Agriculture (WEE CSA) project, implemented by UN Women Kenya in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), has done more than teach technical farming skills to women like Christine—it has sparked a profound change in attitudes, personal discipline, fiscal management, and leadership. Since its launch in 2020, the initiative has impacted over 2,700 women farmers in three of Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Land (ASAL) counties—West Pokot, Laikipia, and Kitui.

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Women transporting improved beehives to the forests Photo: António Domingos
Empowering Change: Rural Mozambican Women Lead the Way in Sustainable Beekeeping

In the heart of Mozambique, women are courageously advancing toward sustainability and gender equality goals through innovative sustainable beekeeping initiatives. These practices are transforming lives, preserving the environment, and promoting equity.

📊 Gender data is not just valuable; it is essential in preventing and responding to gender-based violence. But there are gaps.
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Women are seen at a displaced person's site that helps women in need, including victims of sexual violence, in Bentiu, Sudan.Photo: © OCHA/Alioune Ndiaye

The power of data in informing responses to and helping to prevent GBV cannot be overstated. More than just numbers, accurate gender data can allow for a more in-depth understanding of the severity, frequency, and forms of violence, and identifying those most at risk as well as the common perpetrators. It can pinpoint where violence occurs and assess the impact on the lives of survivors' and societal well-being.

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📑 Statement: Olympian Rebecca Cheptegei murder: More must be done to protect female athletes
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End Femicide

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. Like the two victims before her, Cheptegei was a rising female star athlete who was clearly making a name for herself, doing what she loved the most, running. Read more ➤