UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka visited a camp for people displaced by conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Despite the terrors of war and sexual violence, women leaders are forging ahead to make new, better lives for themselves and other women in the camp. Photo: UN Women/Carlos Ngeleka.

The Time is Now: Foreword by the Executive Director

In 2017 we saw an unprecedented upsurge of movements for women’s rights, equality, safety and justice. The tireless work of activists has been central to this global drive, and women all over the world continue to demonstrate the power of many voices speaking as one. Together, we are calling for opportunity and accountability, drawing momentum from grass-roots networks and forging coalitions that stretch right up to the leaders of governments, businesses and civic institutions. Read more ►

Kenyan women took to the streets to celebrate a Supreme Court decision allowing elections to move forward in 2017. The vote resulted in a number of gains for women as legislators and in new leadership positions. Photo: AP Photo/Ben Curtis.

Leading the way to change

Women everywhere have proven their merits as leaders and activists, pressing for a more fair and inclusive world. They still do not have an equal share of the positions where decisions are made, however, even where choices affect everyone, women and men. Despite many obstacles, women are not waiting for an invitation to the table. With growing skills and perseverance, and with UN Women’s support, women politicians, electoral officials, voters, lawmakers, civil society activists and many others are claiming their equal right to lead and be heard. The time is now. Read more ►

Like many rural women, Olga Macz once struggled to overcome severe poverty coupled with pervasive gender discrimination. Today, she has more income, more hope and more skills to claim her rights. Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown.

Claiming economic empowerment

Where women flourish, so does the broader economy, yet too many women are still paid less for the same job, work under unsafe conditions, or are unable to access assets such as land and property. Closing the gaps is essential and urgent. UN Women backs economic empowerment to help women claim their rights, and make choices about where and how to live. From the smallest villages to the busiest cities, from agriculture to high-tech industries, women are taking their rightful roles, whether as entrepreneurs or labour organizers, factory workers or cultivators of crops that feed the world. The time is now. Read more ►

Sometimes a dress speaks louder than words. Women’s activists in Beirut, Lebanon strung up white wedding dresses in a striking protest against a longstanding law allowing a rapist to go free if he marries his victim. The movement quickly gained momentum, resulting in abolishment of the law. Photo: AP Photo/Hussein Malla.

Ending violence against women and girls

Violence against women and girls remains so pervasive that ending it is everyone’s concern. More and more people, from all walks of life, have recognized they must get involved. UN Women engages with legislators to pass tougher laws, business owners to make work-places safe from harassment, and statisticians to improve data so that violence is no longer an invisible crime. All of them are activists committed to a safer, more just world. Behind them are millions of women who have stood up and said enough is enough. We have a right to live free from violence. The time is now. Read more ►

Rohingya refugees like Somjida (standing) have fled desperate conditions, seeking safety at a refugee camp in Bangladesh. They find solace and support by gathering at a Multi-Purpose Women’s Centre. Training helps develop skills such as tailoring that can provide new sources of income, along with a sense of returning to stability and a normal life. Photo: UN Women/Allison Joyce.

Rallying behind peace and recovery from crisis

Crisis causes specific forms of harm and upheaval in the lives of women and girls. While often at the forefront of restoring peace and recovering from natural disasters, they are still poorly recognized as central actors in crisis solutions. Change is coming, though. With UN Women’s backing, activists have cracked open space for women and gender issues at peace tables, in humanitarian action and in national disaster management plans. Humanitarian relief providers increasingly tailor assistance to women’s needs. Political leaders call for gender equality as integral to restoring justice and preventing violent extremism. The time is now. Read more ►

In Serbia, many of Milica Stojanovic’s friends have moved from their small village to nearby towns. She decided to stay and enjoy growing vegetables, a choice backed by a gender-responsive local public budget. Photo: UN Women.

Mobilizing for better budgets

National plans and budgets define the direction of public services and investments essential to gender equality, but without rigorous scrutiny for gender dimensions, they can miss critical elements. Working with UN Women, a groundswell of gender equality advocates, national policy makers and international financial institutions are now championing gender-responsive plans and budgets that fully align with gender equality objectives. The time is now. Read more ►

The annual UN Commission on the Status of Women is a chance for women from around the globe to galvanize continued action to achieve gender equality. Photos: UN Women/Ryan Brown and Susan Markisz.

Supporting gender equality standards

Internationally agreed standards and goals on gender equality, the empowerment of women and girls, and the realization of their human rights establish an ambitious, shared vision for a more just and equal world. They inspire people to rally together around a common purpose. Speak out, step forward, this is where we want to go! The time is now. Read more ►

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres joins women members of the Senior Management Group to celebrate gender parity among top managers at UN headquarters in New York. Photo: UN Photo/Mark Garten.

Coordinating UN system action on gender equality

2017 was a moment for change for women around the world—and at the United Nations. For the first time, similar numbers of men and women serve in the top echelons of senior management, including among Resident Coordinators—the highest UN officials and the chiefs of UN teams in countries. And the UN Secretary-General’s System-wide Strategy on Gender Parity, developed with extensive support by UN Women, came online as a roadmap for parity in every other level and entity in the UN system. Next up as a priority: parity amongst Special Representatives and Envoys. The time is now. Read more ►

Photo: Godong/Universal Images Group via Getty Images.

Forging alliances and partnerships

Anyone can be a partner and an activist in the global quest for gender equality, sharing ideas, resources, aspirations, innovations. Through partnerships, people inspire each other, pushing for transformative change. The time is now.

To end the often-blatant gender stereotypes in advertising, UN Women launched the Unstereotype Alliance. It mobilizes a number of multinational firms to transform advertising around the world to bolster gender equality and diversity (see photo to the left).Read more ►

Photos (clockwise from top left): UN Women/Anahita Ahmed, UN Women/Deepika Nath, UN Women/Younes El Moumine, UN Women/Andriy Krepkih.

Campaigning for change

Around the world, a growing chorus of voices calls for gender equality. Advocacy campaigns align their ideas and channel their passion so their messages of hope and progress are widely heard. The time is now.

For the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, the world went orange, the signature colour of the UN Secretar-General’s campaign, UNiTE to End Violence against Women by 2030 (see photo to the left). Read more ►

At a meeting in Mexico City, members of the Mexican National Union of Domestic Workers put the gloves on to gear up for claiming their rights. Photo: Carolina Corral, courtesy of Instituto de Liderazgo Simone de Beauvoir.

Fund for Gender Equality

In 2017, the Fund for Gender Equality managed a portfolio of USD 8.1 million with 26 projects designed to benefit half a million people by 2019. By the end of the year, active projects reached 49,000 direct beneficiaries, most of whom are women from the world’s most marginalized and underserved communities and groups. Women have learned new vocational, entrepreneurial, communications and advocacy skills; started new businesses; claimed property or labour rights; and advocated to influence public policies. The time is now. Read more ►

The Free Yezidi Foundation Women’s Centre offers urgently needed trauma therapy to women and girls in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, many of whom have experienced horrific violence. Photo: Yesim Arikut-Treece.

UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women

Managed by UN Women on behalf of the UN system, the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women supports non-governmental organizations and governments around the world to improve access to services for survivors of violence, increase the implementation of laws and policies, and prevent violence. In 2017, the UN Trust Fund managed 120 projects aimed at preventing and ending violence against women and girls in 80 countries and territories. A total of 6.3 million people, including men and boys, government officials and the general public, were reached by these projects. The time is now. Read more ►