Outcome LAC_D_3.2

Latin America and the Caribbean Governments increased their capacity to advance a gender transformative perspective and implement gender equality international and regional norms and frameworks at the national and subnational levels

During 2025, governments in Latin America and the Caribbean increased their capacity to advance a gender-transformative perspective and to implement international and regional norms and frameworks on gender equality and women’s empowerment at national and subnational levels. This outcome was enabled by a deliberate, mutually reinforcing set of interventions that strengthened both State capacities and the knowledge, coordination and advocacy capacities of civil society organizations. UN Women supported 11 key normative, policy and intergovernmental processes in Latin America and the Caribbean, implemented through 98 dialogue spaces, meetings and advocacy platforms that enabled engagement between governments and civil society organizations. Through these processes, UN Women assisted LAC Member States and civil society—particularly feminist and women’s organizations—in advancing the implementation of international normative frameworks for gender equality and the full realization of women’s and girls’ human rights. These included technical briefings, coordinated convenings, intergenerational and thematic dialogues, and multi-stakeholder dialogue spaces explicitly designed to promote government–civil society engagement, including: CSW69 process (17 side events, 1 meeting with civil society organizations and 1 breakfast with Ministers); the XVI Regional Conference on Women of Latin America and the Caribbean (49 side events and 1 Feminist Forum); global climate and biodiversity processes (COP30 and CBD SBSTTA27); the 67th Meeting of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Women (MDM) (1 MDM and 1 Feminist Forum); the Bi-regional Care Pact process (1 coordination meeting); the Beijing+30 process (11 intergenerational prospective dialogues and 1 a regional webinar on the Beijing +30 collection for knowledge dissemination and advocacy; disability and inclusion (COPS181 and 1 meeting with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities); 3 meetings with national CSOs from Argentina, Chile and Peru; 3 meetings with the Civil Society Advisory Group (CSAG); and 3 meetings with expanded civil society networks. Through UN Women programmes and grant-giving mechanisms, a total of USD 224,840 were disbursed to civil society organizations—particularly feminist and women’s organizations and those representing women from traditionally marginalized groups—strengthening their ability to engage in policy dialogue, normative processes and advocacy spaces. The strengthened leadership and advocacy capacities of 60 civil society organizations—particularly those representing Indigenous, Afro-descendant, rural, youth, women with disabilities, environmental defenders, and women in mobility, among others —directly contributed to more inclusive, informed and representative policy dialogue. This, in turn, enhanced governments’ capacity to integrate diverse perspectives into national and subnational positions, policy messages and implementation strategies linked with intergovernmental processes. As a result of this combined strengthening of civil society and State capacities, and the sustained creation of inclusive policy spaces, governments demonstrated an increased ability to translate international and regional gender equality norms and frameworks into gender-transformative policy discourse and implementation pathways across the region.

Latin America and the Caribbean Governments increased their capacity to advance a gender transformative perspective and implement gender equality international and regional norms and frameworks at the national and subnational levels

In 2023, notable progress was achieved, with significant influence on 12 key normative, policy, peace, and humanitarian processes by civil society organizations dedicated to gender equality and women's empowerment. During CSW67, UN Women actively facilitated the substantial engagement of civil society, particularly feminist and women organizations, through support for eight side events organized by LAC Member States. These events delved into the central theme of CSW67, exploring its implications in areas such as digital inclusion, digital violence, education, indigenous women's issues, the digital gap, rural women's challenges, climate change, and multilateralism. In collaboration with the OAS’ Summit Secretariat, the Government of Panama, and the Government of Canada, UN Women played a vital role in a workshop aimed at enhancing the capacities of civil society organizations in gender equality. With 36 representatives from various LAC countries in attendance, UN Women provided substantive information on the gender equality normative framework and guided participants on designing and implementing advocacy campaigns for gender equality and women's empowerment. Additionally, UN Women supported the organization of the Second Annual Forum on Human Rights Defenders in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean. This collaboration with ECLAC addressed the challenges faced by environmental rights defenders in the region. Notably, UN Women directly supported the substantive participation of 12 CSO representatives at the Forum and organized a regional workshop for over 50 CSO representatives, creating awareness about the Escazú Agreement and advocating for its implementation with a gender equality focus. As part of its collaboration with the Regional Conference on Women of LAC, UN Women co-organized two meetings of the Presiding Officers in 2023, facilitating a regional consultation before CSW67 and CSW68. The main achievements included the adoption of the Regional Declaration on the priority theme by Ministers and high-level authorities of national machineries for women's advancement. UN Women ensured substantive CSO representation in these intergovernmental meetings, supporting panelists and in-person participants while assisting the NGO CSW LAC in organizing impactful meetings that garnered hundreds of participants. The resulting political declarations were shared with national authorities, acknowledging the crucial work of CSOs in advancing gender equality and women's empowerment in the region.

Latin America and the Caribbean Governments increased their capacity to advance a gender transformative perspective and implement gender equality international and regional norms and frameworks at the national and subnational levels

In 2024 the LAC Regional Office continued supporting LAC governments in increasing their capacities to advance a gender transformative perspective and implement gender equality international and regional norms and frameworks at the national and subnational levels. In this regard, 28 key normative, policy, peace, and humanitarian processes were influenced by civil society organizations dedicated to gender equality and women's empowerment. The main processes are related to initiatives within the mandate of the ECOSOC, the CSW68, the CEDAW, the Regional Conference on Women of Latin America, the CRED, the COP16 of the CBD and several initiatives led by civil society organizations.