UN Women

UN Women, officially the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, was created in July 2010 when the UN General Assembly voted to merge four existing bodies focused on women's issues. The new agency became operational on January 1, 2011, consolidating the work of the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM, founded in 1976), the Division for the Advancement of Women, the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women, and the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues. This merger aimed to give gender equality a stronger, more unified voice within the UN system.

Michelle Bachelet, then President of Chile, became the first executive director, bringing high-level political experience to the role. She was succeeded by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka of South Africa, and since December 2021, Sima Sami Bahous of Jordan has led the organization. UN Women operates with an executive board that includes representatives from 41 member states, elected on a regional basis to ensure global representation. The agency is part of the UN Development Group, coordinating with other UN bodies to promote gender equality worldwide.

UN Women's work spans over 80 countries, focusing on areas like ending violence against women, promoting women's economic empowerment, and increasing women's political participation. Its annual budget, around $500 million, comes from voluntary contributions from member states and private donors. While the agency has faced criticism for limited funding and the slow pace of change, it remains the primary UN entity dedicated to gender equality, with programs ranging from grassroots initiatives to global policy advocacy. [edit]