Since its inception over 70 years ago, UNESCO has been at the forefront of efforts to support women’s rights, women’s empowerment, and gender equality.
In a landmark decision during the 34th Session of the General Conference in 2007, UNESCO made its greatest commitment thus far to the achievement of gender equality by designating Gender Equality as one of two Global Priorities for the 2008-2013 Medium-Term Strategy, which was once again renewed in the 2014-2021 Medium-Term Strategy.
UNESCO’s commitment to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment is coordinated by the Division for Gender Equality in the Office of the Director-General, located at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France.
The Division ensures the overall coordination of UNESCO policies, strategies and actions in support of gender equality and women’s empowerment. It builds individual and organizational capacity for gender transformative programmes as well as an enabling environment for gender equality through mandatory gender equality training. The Division is also responsible for raising awareness on the intersectionality of gender in all areas of society and on Gender Equality issues at large.
Gender Wire
Gender Wire is an electronic newsletter informing the UNESCO Secretariat and UNESCO Member States of relevant facts and figures, events and news concerning the work of UNESCO for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment.
Sustainable Development Goal 5
Gender inequality persists worldwide, depriving women and girls of their basic rights and opportunities. Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls will require more vigorous efforts, including legal frameworks, to counter deeply rooted gender-based discrimination that often results from patriarchal attitudes and social norms.