India passes law to reserve seats for women legislators
On 21 September, Indian legislators passed the first legislation considered in the country’s new Parliament building: the Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023. The bill, which passed both houses of Parliament almost unanimously—with just two votes against—will ensure that women occupy at least 33 percent of the seats in state legislative assemblies and the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament. Read more>
Outcomes of the periodic review of the "Justice and Gender Equality before the Law" Initiative 2023
Beirut, 10 December 2023 – Within the framework of the Annual Periodic Review of legislative updates for Arab States participating in the "Justice and Equality between Women and Men in the Law" initiative, 15 of the 17 participating countries presented national legislation that was introduced or amended during the period of 2022-2023. The legislation was reviewed by legal experts from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the regional offices of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The revisions were added to the Initiative’s website, providing the most up-to-date legislation in the Arab region. Read more>
New amendments in North Macedonia’s Criminal Code expand protection for various forms of violence against women
North Macedonia now has expanded protection for various forms of violence against women with the adoption of new amendments of the Criminal Code which align the country’s laws with the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention. Read more>
Mainstreaming gender in climate change adaptation in Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana
As the impacts of climate change intensify around the world, adaptation efforts are crucial to ensuring that communities, ecosystems and economies are able to survive. National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes are a way for governments to direct resources to such efforts, focusing particularly on vulnerable sectors such as agriculture, water resources and infrastructure, and enhancing coordination and collaboration among different stakeholders involved in adaptation planning and implementation. Read more>
India: Law for women legislators
On 21 September, Indian legislators passed the first legislation considered in the country’s new Parliament building: the Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023. The bill, which passed both houses of Parliament almost unanimously—with just two votes against—will ensure that women occupy at least 33 percent of the seats in state legislative assemblies and the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament. Read more>
Arab States: Gender equality in the law
Beirut, 10 December 2023 – Within the framework of the Annual Periodic Review of legislative updates for Arab States participating in the "Justice and Equality between Women and Men in the Law" initiative, 15 of the 17 participating countries presented national legislation that was introduced or amended during the period of 2022-2023. The legislation was reviewed by legal experts from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the regional offices of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The revisions were added to the Initiative’s website, providing the most up-to-date legislation in the Arab region. Read more>
North Macedonia: Criminal code
North Macedonia now has expanded protection for various forms of violence against women with the adoption of new amendments of the Criminal Code which align the country’s laws with the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention. Read more>
Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana: Gender in climate change
As the impacts of climate change intensify around the world, adaptation efforts are crucial to ensuring that communities, ecosystems and economies are able to survive. National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes are a way for governments to direct resources to such efforts, focusing particularly on vulnerable sectors such as agriculture, water resources and infrastructure, and enhancing coordination and collaboration among different stakeholders involved in adaptation planning and implementation. Read more>
Key achievements
across 39 countries, home to 1.4 billion women and girls were adopted, revised or repealed with UN Women’s support
national and local multi-sectoral policies, strategies and/or plans were adopted in 58 countries, with the potential to benefit 2.6 billion women and girls
in 82 countries have increased capacities to influence gender-responsive legislation, strategies, policies, action plans and/or institutional reforms