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Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, education for girls over 12 has been banned, making Afghanistan the only country where girls cannot attend secondary school. This has affected around 1.5 million Afghan girls, with warning that over 4 million could be impacted by 2030 if the ban continues.  This setback reverses decades of progress, where girls' primary school enrollment rose from nearly zero in 2001 to 2.5 million in 2021. Even more concerningly, the restrictions are taking a toll on women and girls’ mental health. Despite this bleak situation, ������ESCO has been funding and training Afghan media outlets to broadcast educational programs to approximately 17 million Afghans.

According to the Under-Secretary-General of Peace Operations, there are many good reasons for increasing the number of women peacekeepers in ������ Missions. ������ News’s Anshu Sharma spoke to Mr. Lacroix at the first-ever Conference for Women Peacekeepers, held in the Indian capital New Delhi on 24 and 25 February, where he was representing the United Nations. The Under-Secretary-General argued that changing the gender balance benefits the work environment in Peacekeeping Missions, improving conduct and discipline. Ms. Sharma began by asking him why it was important to make the trip to New Delhi, and what was achieved.

Hawa Ba, Mauritanian journalist, advocates for women's rights, challenges gender stereotypes, and raises awareness about gender-based violence, collaborating with the Mauritanian Journalists’ Network and ������ Human Rights.

Equal rights, equal opportunities and equal power is Un Women’s call to action for all women and girls worldwide on International Women’s Day (8 March). As we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the , the world is deeply unequal.  International Women’s Day is an opportunity to stand up and demand action and to deliver on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action to make the world equal and better for everyone. The of the International Women’s Day will take place on 7 March at the ������ General Assembly Hall in New York.

The 69th session of the  (CSW69) runs from March 10 to 21. Over these , Member States, ������ entities, and NGOs worldwide will assess advancements related to the , a groundbreaking document for women's rights celebrating its 30th anniversary. The Commission will evaluate the progress and the challenges in gender equality, and it will include multiple interactive dialogues and  on interesting current topics with a focus on women’s empowerment. !

Join us on 8 March to celebrate International Women’s Day! Let's take action for equal rights, power, and opportunities for everyone, especially young women and girls, who are key to creating lasting change. 2025 marks 30 years since the , a milestone for women's rights that has helped shape legal protections, services, and shifted outdated norms. Following this document’s dreams, ! Engage leaders, discover , use #ForAllWomenAndGirls to drive change, and  and ! (7 March, 10 a.m. New York time)

‘Close your eyes and imagine that an astronaut walks into our hall. Who do you see: a man or a woman?’  ������ESCO’s seminar highlighted gender biases in science, discussing the underrepresentation of women in pursuing scientific careers.

On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we are imagining what happens when ALL voices in science are included.

With a looming planetary crisis, experts stress the need for more women in science. discusses the importance of gender equality in environmental solutions.

The , established in 1995 by 189 governments at the Fourth World Conference on Women, is the most comprehensive plan for achieving equal rights for all women and girls. It focuses on , including jobs and economy, political participation, peace, the environment, ending violence against women and more. As we approach the 30th anniversary in 2025, it is crucial to continue the fight for gender equality and equitable power structures for all. Are you ready?! 

Women and girls belong in science, yet today, only one in three scientists is a woman. This gender gap hinders innovation, progress, and societal development. As we mark the 10th anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11 February), let’s commit to creating equal opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

This year’s International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation focuses on "Stepping up the pace: Strengthening alliances and building movements to end FGM". It highlights the urgent need for collaboration and calls on everyone—girls, boys, men, women, youth, survivors, communities, governments, organizations, and all sectors—to take action. Indifference is not an option. The pace of necessary change must increase 27-fold to meet the 2030 target of eliminating FGM. On 6 February, let’s come together to support #Unite2EndFGM and lead the charge in the #EndFGM campaign.

80,000 people, including 1,230 pregnant women, need humanitarian assistance after the devastating earthquake in Vanuatu. “It pains me to see this vibrant country battered by yet another natural disaster,” says Dr. Natalia Kanem, who recently visited the Pacific island. See .

With over 145 million adolescent girls calling Africa home, the potential for transformative change is immense. Yet challenges persist: from high rates of child marriage to limited educational opportunities.  to ensure that adolescent girls enter adulthood empowered to thrive?

Gender-based violence violates human rights, particularly for women and girls in situations of crisis, conflict, and displacement.