United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women - UN Women
About UN Women
In July 2010, the UN General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. In doing so, UN Member States took an historic step in accelerating the Organization’s goals on gender equality and the empowerment of women.
The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system, which focused exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment: Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women (OSAGI), United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).
Mandate
UN Women is the lead driver and lead voice advocating for gender equality and women’s empowerment globally, supporting Member States to advance gender equality, in line with national priorities and international norms and policies. UN Women focuses on five key priority areas: Expanding women’s voice, leadership and participation; Ending violence against women, Strengthening implementation of the women, peace and security agenda, Enhancing women’s economic empowerment and Making gender equality priorities central to national, local and sectoral planning and budgeting.
In the country since: 2006 (as UNIFEM until 1 January 2011)
At a glance:
UN Women in FYR Macedonia is providing support to the country in fulfillment its national and international commitments towards gender equality, including as expressed in the National Action Plan for Gender Equality 2007-2012 and the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
Specifically, UN Women activities focus on:
- Promoting gender responsive budgeting as a tool for advancing gender equality and democratic governance, through provision of technical assistance for integration of gender equality considerations in policy and budget making processes at central and local level;
- Supporting the improvement of provision of adequate legal aid services for women facing domestic violence as well as coordination and strengthening the mechanisms for prevention of domestic violence under the framework of UN Joint Project to Prevent Domestic Violence (2009-2012);
- Supporting women that are subject to exclusion or discrimination and their organizations in voicing their needs, claiming their rights and actively participating in decision-making processes;
- Enhancing accountability towards gender equality commitments through supporting capacity development and dialogue between government and civil society organizations;
- Developing and strengthening capacities of key government institutions and Non-governmental organizations to implement and monitor commitments under UN SCRs 1325 on Women, Peace and Security in Western Balkans;
- Supporting regional dialogue, networking and exchange of best practices and experiences between countries from South East Europe under the framework of its regional programmes;
- Promoting innovative approaches in raising awareness on gender equality and women’s rights.
Contacts:
tel: ++389 (0)2 3109 307; (0)2 3109 308
fax:++389 (0)2 3179 791
Address: Zeleznicka 46, 1-8
1000 Skopje, MK
E-mail: info.mk@unwomen.org
www.unwomen.org; www.unifem.sk
UN Partner Agencies
