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‘You are the foundation-shakers’: UN chief answers tough questions at townhall with women’s civil society groups

The UN chief on Tuesday applauded civil society groups for “shaking the foundations of privilege” in a male-dominated world, addressing a range of questions during a townhall meeting on the margins of the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) at UN Headquarters. “You are foundation-shakers,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres told the annual […]

At UN, Malala, Anne Hathaway call for action on women’s rights

A Nobel laureate who survived an assassination attempt, a Hollywood actor turned UN advocate and a young Afghan musician whose voice defied repression took the stage at the United Nations on International Women’s Day, delivering a powerful message: justice for women and girls cannot wait. The event blended reflection, celebration and urgency, highlighting both the […]

UN commission opens with focus on justice for women and girls

Access to justice for women and girls dominated the agenda on Monday March 9, 2026 as the Commission on the Status of Women opened its 70th session at UN Headquarters in New York. Government officials, civil society representatives and UN leaders called for renewed efforts to dismantle the discrimination and legal obstacles that continue to […]

Women’s representation in parliament sees sluggish gains

Women held 27.5 per cent of parliamentary seats worldwide as the year began –a 0.3 per cent increase from 2025, marking the slowest growth in nearly a decade, according to a new report from the UN-backed Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).  The report titled Women in parliament 2025 released ahead of International Women’s Day on 8 March, also found that […]

Women’s rights are regressing worldwide, warns UN gender equality chief

As an increase in conflicts leads to a significant spike in gender-based violence, women across the world face a “justice gap” with discriminatory laws reported in most countries, according to a report from gender equality agency UN Women, released on Wednesday March, 4th 2026.  “As the world navigates democratic backsliding, rising conflicts, economic pressures and […]

World Entrepreneurs and Investment Forum puts women at the heart of economic transformation

Women entrepreneurs must be recognized as the architects of economic change and not the beneficiaries. That was the central message of the Manama Declaration, issued at the close of the World Entrepreneurs and Investment Forum (WEIF) held this week in Bahrain. The declaration places women at the heart of economic transformation, underscoring that empowering them within business and […]

Women and girls in science: Dismantling barriers, closing gender gaps

Although women are more likely than young men to pursue higher education, they make up only 35 per cent of science graduates.  Across the world, a significant gender gap persists at all levels of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines due to lack of research funding, gender stereotypes, and discriminatory workplace practices.  UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the gap is particularly pronounced in […]