Gender-Responsive Policies and Institutions

Alaa Salah, who became the face of the Sudanese protest movement, speaks at the UN Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security in October, 2019. Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown

Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls around the world requires stronger laws, policies and institutions. UN Women supports Member States in creating and implementing global norms and standards and in adopting laws and policies that promote gender equality, the empowerment of women and the realization of their human rights.

Strengthening international norms and standards

UN Women supports Member States to develop stronger global norms and standards on gender equality in intergovernmental processes such as the Commission on the Status of Women, the Economic and Social Council, the Security Council, the Human Rights Council, and the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. We also facilitate civil society’s participation in such processes and in the implementation of gender equality commitments.

Implementing commitments

UN Women provides data, knowledge, and programme and policy support to drive the implementation of commitments on gender equality, such as the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, as well as the 2030 Agenda and relevant Security Council resolutions on Women, Peace and Security. Working with governments, UN Women provides expertise and strengthens capacities to develop, adopt and implement laws and policies that further gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Strengthening institutions

UN Women backs public institutions at all levels in better responding to the needs of women and girls. We advocate for and engage in multi-stakeholder dialogues to mainstream gender perspectives across sectors, and promote gender balance at all levels of decision-making.