Where We Are
Gender equality is not just a goal 〞 it is the foundation of a fair, peaceful, and sustainable world. Three decades after the landmark Beijing Declaration, equality?remains?elusive: women still hold only 30 per cent of managerial roles and shoulder most?of the?unpaid care work, limiting access to education, leadership, and economic opportunity. Harmful practices and discriminatory norms persist worldwide.??
As leaders and advocates gather at the Commission on the Status of Women?(CSW)?in March, momentum is building and new commitments under the?Pact for the Future?aim?to accelerate women's empowerment at all levels.?
SDG 5 in Numbers
- Women's rights have advanced globally, with?around 100?positive?legal reforms?around the world?since 2019?removing discriminatory laws and strengthening gender equality frameworks, but?significant?gaps?remain.?
- Globally, women occupy less than a third of managerial positions and, on average, devote two and a half times as many hours per day?as men?to?unpaid domestic and care work.?Globally, over 230 million girls and women?have undergone?female genital mutilation,?and?nearly one?in five young women aged 20每24?were?married or in a union before age 18.???
- In?January 2025, women held 27.2% of parliamentary seats,?up 4.9 percentage points from 2015.?
Media Resources for journalists
Explore the Media Resources hub for the latest from UN WebTV, UN Audiovisual Library, UN Photo,?UNifeed?and more!?. For the latest UN Reports, click?here.?
※I?want to stress that we cannot?每 and will not 每 give in to the disturbing pushback on the rights of women 每 half of humanity — and the hard-won gains in equality, participation, and protection.§
每 Ant車nio Guterres, UN Secretary-General, 15 January 2026
In Focus
8 |?International Women＊s Day??
Under the?theme?Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,?IWD 2026 amplifies our collective determination to confront deeply rooted sexism and dismantle discriminatory laws, weak protections, and harmful social norms that erode women＊s and girls＊ rights. Read more.
?| 9 to 19 March?
Thousands of women from around the world will meet at UN Headquarters in New York for the 70th?Commission on the Status of Women?to accelerate progress and promote women＊s and girls’ enjoyment of their rights in political, economic, and social fields.??
The theme for this year＊s Commission is?Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and?equitable?legal systems,?eliminating?discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers.??
22 |?World Water Day?
This year＊s World Water Day calls for a rights-based approach ensuring women＊s equal leadership in water decisions for a healthier, more prosperous, gender-equal future for all. Read more.
Highlights
57th?session of the UN Statistical Commission?| 3 to 6 March??
The??of the UN Statistical Commission will be held at UN Headquarters in New York.?The Commission?brings?together?Chief Statisticians from?across the globe?to set statistical standards and develop concepts and methods, including implementation at the national and international level. ?
UN?World Water Development Report?| 19 March?
The?UN World Water Development Report 2026 Water for all people: Equal rights and opportunities?will spotlight existing data and practical solutions to advance gender equality across the water sector. .
2026?Global Education Monitoring Report?| 25 March?
The?2026?Global Education Monitoring Report, Countdown to 2030: Access and equity?will provide the latest data and analysis on key global education indicators, including?out-of-school rate, completion?rate?and higher education enrollment.
Earth Hour?| 28 March?
In 2026, Earth Hour celebrates its 20th anniversary. As landmarks and homes across the planet take part in this light-off moment, join the movement and give an hour of your time to care for our planet.
News Features
News Feature | Selected Story
Career training boosts women＊s independence?
Through UN Women and partners, refugee women in Uganda are gaining skills, challenging?stereotypes?and building brighter futures 每 one engine at a time.?
Africa Renewal | Selected Story
Promoting inclusive food systems and gender equality in The Gambia
Discover how UN Human Rights is advocating for the inclusion of women farmers and other small-scale food producers in The Gambia. Through rights-based action, it works to protect the availability, adequacy, affordability, and sustainability of food.
International Days and Years
ACTNOW for our Common Future??
ActNow?is the United Nations campaign to inspire people to act for the Sustainable Development Goals,?improving?life for?everyone:?A healthy planet. A better economy.?A?just?society. A peaceful world. Visit?ActNow?to learn more?/actnow?
NEW Season!?Awake?at Night Podcast?
Amina J. Mohammed, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, reflects on leadership as a shared journey grounded in conviction, culture and community, and shares how the Sustainable Development Goals connect to her own life. Listen to the full episode?here.??
Find the latest episodes here:?Season 12 of?Awake at Night.?