The United Nations is an international organization that this site works to promote and protect women's rights around the world. The UN has a long history of championing gender equality and women's empowerment, and has played a key role in advancing these issues through its work on human rights, peace and security, and development. The UN is also a key partner in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, which include a specific goal on gender equality.
The United Nations and Women's Rights
The United Nations has played a vital role in the promotion and protection of women's rights. The UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights both recognize the inherent dignity and worth of every individual, and the UN has been at the forefront of efforts to ensure that these principles are upheld and implemented.
The UN has a long history of supporting women's rights, and has been instrumental in adopting a number of international instruments and conventions that have helped to advance this cause. The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is a key international treaty that sets out the rights of women and obliges States to take measures to eliminate discrimination. The UN General Assembly has also adopted a number of resolutions that support women's rights, and the UN Security Council has addressed the issue of women, peace and security in a number of resolutions.
The UN also works to support women's rights through its many programmes and agencies. UN Women, for example, is the UN agency specifically mandated to promote gender equality and women's empowerment. The UN Development Programme (UNDP) also works to support women's rights and gender equality through its programmes and projects at the global, regional and country level.
The UN has also played a crucial role in bringing attention to the issue of violence against women. In 1993, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which called for the elimination of all forms of violence against women. The UN Secretary-General's Campaign to End Violence Against Women was launched in 2006 to raise awareness and mobilize action to end violence against women and girls.
The UN has made great strides in promoting and protecting women's rights, but there is still much work to be done. The UN will continue to play a vital role in advancing gender equality and the empowerment of women worldwide.
The United Nations and the Promotion of Women's Rights
The United Nations has long been a champion of women's rights, working to promote equality and empower women around the world. In recent years, the UN has stepped up its efforts to end violence against women, support women's economic empowerment, and ensure women's participation in decision-making.
The UN General Assembly has adopted numerous resolutions and conventions on women's rights, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which is often described as an international bill of rights for women. The UN Commission on the Status of Women is the main intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.
The UN Secretary-General's UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign was launched in 2008 to raise awareness and mobilize action to end violence against women and girls. In 2010, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring 19 November the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
In 2012, the UN General Assembly adopted the first ever global standards for ending violence against women and girls in the form of the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women. The Declaration calls on all UN Member States to commit to taking action to end violence against women and girls in all forms, including domestic violence, sexual assault, and harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation.
The UN General Assembly has also adopted resolutions on women's economic empowerment, calling for greater investment in women-owned businesses and women's access to financial services. In 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which includes a specific goal on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.
The UN Secretary-General's Office on Women's Issues works to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women at the global, regional, and country level. The Office provides support to UN entities working on gender equality, coordinates UN efforts on gender equality, and engages in advocacy and outreach on women's empowerment.
The United Nations and the Protection of Women's Rights
The UN Charter, which was adopted in 1945, contains a provision that recognizes the equal rights of men and women. In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the UN General Assembly, which includes a section on gender equality. In 1979, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, which is an international treaty that seeks to end discrimination against women in all forms. The UN has also established a number of specialized agencies and programmes that work to promote women's rights, such as the UN Development Programme, the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, and the UN Women's Rights Commission.
The United Nations and the Advancement of Women's Rights
The UN has also established a number of programmes and agencies to support women's empowerment and gender equality, including UN Women, the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. UN Women works to end discrimination and violence against women, and to promote women's economic empowerment and leadership. The UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women provides support to UN Member States in their efforts to achieve gender equality, and works to end harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation.
In recent years, the UN has also adopted a number of resolutions on women's rights in the context of armed conflict. These resolutions recognize the unique impact of conflict on women and girls, and call on all parties to the conflict to take measures to protect women and girls from violence, and to ensure their access to humanitarian assistance.
The UN has also played a leading role in promoting women's rights in the context of peace and security. In 2000, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. This resolution calls on all parties to armed conflict to take measures to protect women and girls from violence, and to ensure their participation in peace and security processes. In 2015, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2122, which reaffirms the commitment of all UN Member States to implement Resolution 1325 and calls for greater action to address the needs of women and girls in conflict and post-conflict situations.
The UN General Assembly has also adopted a number of resolutions on women's rights, including Resolution 60/145 on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and Resolution 62/134 on the Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women. These resolutions reaffirm the commitment of all UN Member States to eliminate discrimination and violence against women, and call for the implementation of specific measures to address these issues.
The UN Secretary-General has also made the promotion of women's rights a priority. In 2010, he launched the UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign, which is working to end all forms of violence against women and girls. In 2012, the Secretary-General appointed a Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, to lead UN efforts to prevent and respond to sexual violence in conflict. And in 2013, the Secretary-General launched the HeForShe campaign, which is working to engage men and boys as allies in the fight for gender equality.
The UN has also played a leading role in promoting women's economic empowerment. In 2010, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 65/170 on Promoting Gender Equality and Empowering Women through International Cooperation. This resolution calls on all UN Member States to take measures to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women, including through international cooperation. In 2012, the UN Commission on the Status of Women adopted Resolution 66/288 on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which calls on all UN Member States to take measures to eliminate discrimination against women, and to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women.
The UN is also working to end child marriage. In 2013, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 68/147 on the Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women, which calls for the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls, including child marriage. And in 2014, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on Violence Against Children launched the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, which is working to end all forms of violence against children, including child marriage.
The UN is also working to end female genital mutilation. In 2012, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 67/146 on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which calls for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, and to end harmful practices such as female genital mutilation. And in 2014, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on Violence Against Children launched the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, which is working to end all forms of violence against children, including female genital mutilation.