UN Women's First Decade (2011-2021)

UN Women was established in July 2010 and started operations in January 2011. In its 10 years of existence, UN Women has achieved significant results in supporting Member States to strengthen global norms and standards, translate these norms into real change in the lives of women and girls, and enhance coherence and impact of the work of the UN Development System on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Over the last 10 years, gender equality issues gained increased attention in the global environment.

In 2015, together with the People’s Republic of China, UN Women convened the first-ever meeting on gender equality and women’s empowerment at the level of Heads of State and Government.
In 2020, more than 40 leaders spoke at the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on Beijing+25, a remarkable increase from the Fourth World Conference on Women where only six countries were represented at this level.
Media attention to gender equality issues has significantly increased around the world with gender equality now recognized as a key factor in political processes, peacebuilding and sustaining peace, the economy and other sectors.
The G7, G20 and other global and regional intergovernmental fora have placed gender equality and women’s empowerment at the top of their agendas, which was not the case in 2010.

While these advances are not always directly related to UN Women’s efforts, the Entity’s work has contributed to heightening global attention to gender equality. The last 10 years have also seen an acceleration of progress on some key indicators in areas especially impacting women’s lives:

OF SEATS IN NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS

are held by women (increased from 19%)

THE NUMBER OF COUNTRIES

with gender balanced parliaments while the number of countries with severe women’s underrepresentation almost halved

OF PEACE AGREEMENTS

have specific provisions to improve the security and status of women and girls (increased from 22%)

OF RESOLUTIONS

adopted by the General Assembly integrate gender perspectives (increased from 37%)

IN BILATERAL AID

target gender equality in fragile or conflict-affected situations in 2017–2018, which is an increase from $12.1B in 2011-2012

UN Women's direct contribution during the decade

In addition, together with its partners, UN Women directly contributed to the following results during the decade to create a more enabling environment for the realization of women’s rights:

Global Norms and Standards

STAND-ALONE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL

on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, was adopted along with robust gender mainstreaming across the 2030 Agenda

MAJOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENTS

including Rio+20, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, and the Paris Agreement strengthened the inclusion of gender equality

DEDICATED SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTIONS

bring more attention to women, peace and security

SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES

of the Commission on the Status of Women and the participation of nearly 35,000 civil society representatives

Leadership and Governance

COUNTRIES

adopted or implemented legislated gender quotas or constitutional provisions to increase women’s representation in national parliaments and local governments

CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS

supported to strengthen women’s rights

ASPIRING WOMEN LEADERS

and political candidates enhanced their campaigning and other skills

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES

integrated a gender equality focus

COUNTRIES

developed and implemented gender-responsive policies, plans and budgets

COUNTRIES

strengthened national statistical systems and data collection to track gender equality

COUNTRIES

home to 3B women and girls, have stronger legal protection through over 700 legal reforms, half of which eliminated discriminatory laws

Economic Empowerment

COUNTRIES

home to 2.6B women and girls, have a stronger legal, regulatory and policy environment on women’s economic empowerment

COMPANIES

signed the Women Empowerment Principles, up from 180

WOMEN PER YEAR

enhanced their skills to participate in the economy, including as entrepreneurs

RURAL WOMEN

along with nearly 400,000 family members, benefitted from greater access to sustainable livelihoods and climate-resilient technologies and productive resources

Ending Violence Against Women

COUNTRIES

home to 2.9B women and girls, have strengthened legal and policy frameworks to prevent and respond to violence against women

COUNTRIES

home to 2.9B women and girls, have improved access to quality support services against violence

WOMEN AND GIRLS

and 54.6M people in the last five years were reached through grants from the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women

Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action

COUNTRIES OR TERRITORIES

had adopted National Action Plans on women, peace and security, up from 19

INCREASE IN FUNDING ALLOCATION

to UN peacebuilding projects promoting gender equality as a principal objective, thanks an established 15% target

EXPERTS DEPLOYED

to document sexual and gender-based violence in conflict and crisis settings, including to every UN commission of inquiry

WOMEN’S ORGANIZATIONS

supported through the establishment of the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund, the Elsie Fund, and the WPS Focal Points Network of 89 Member States and regional organizations