UN Women Highlights 2024 – 2025

Introduction

In 2025, UN Women, the youngest United Nations organization, will celebrate its 15th anniversary. Over the years, it has become a global leader in advocating for women’s rights and gender equality.

Global Impact

UN Women operates in 109 countries, delivering impactful programs and initiatives that benefit four billion women and girls worldwide. Its work aligns closely with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:

• SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
• SDG 1: No poverty
• SDG 3: Good health and well-being
• SDG 4: Quality education
• SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth

Key Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Empowerment of Women and Girls: UN Women’s initiatives focus on eliminating gender disparities in education, employment, and leadership roles, directly contributing to SDG 5.
2. Economic Inclusion: Programs supporting women’s entrepreneurship and workforce participation promote SDG 8 by fostering inclusive economic growth.
3. Health and Well-being: Efforts to improve access to healthcare and combat gender-based violence support SDG 3.
4. Education and Awareness: Advocacy and educational campaigns raise awareness about gender equality, advancing SDG 4.

Conclusion

As UN Women marks 15 years of impactful work, its commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals remains central. The organization continues to be a driving force for gender equality and women’s empowerment globally.

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1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed

The article highlights the work of UN Women in promoting women’s rights and gender equality globally. The primary SDG connected to the issues discussed is:

1. SDG 5: Gender Equality – The article focuses on advancing gender equality and empowering women and girls worldwide.

Additionally, the work impacting four billion women and girls across 109 countries suggests relevance to other interconnected SDGs such as:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – Empowering women often includes improving health outcomes.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – Addressing gender disparities contributes to reducing inequalities within and among countries.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – UN Women’s global reach and collaboration reflect the importance of partnerships.

2. Specific Targets Under the Identified SDGs

Based on the article’s focus, the following targets can be identified:

1. SDG 5 Targets:
   • 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
   • 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making.
   • 5.6: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights.
2. SDG 10 Targets:
   • 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
3. SDG 17 Targets:
   • 17.16: Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article

While the article does not explicitly mention specific indicators, several can be implied to measure progress towards the targets:

• Indicator 5.1.1: Whether or not legal frameworks are in place to promote, enforce and monitor equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex.
• Indicator 5.5.1: Proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments and local governments.
• Indicator 5.6.1: Proportion of women aged 15-49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use and reproductive health care.
• Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 per cent of median income, by sex, age and persons with disabilities.
• Indicator 17.16.1: Number of countries reporting progress in multi-stakeholder development effectiveness monitoring frameworks that support the achievement of the sustainable development goals.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: eca.unwomen.org