18 July is Nelson Mandela’s birthday. It is also the first ‘Mandela Day’ to be marked since we lost him after a long illness. Mandela Day is an opportunity for each of us to bring the best out of ourselves by taking some form of action in solidarity with others, to be of service, and to inspire change in our world. As Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon puts it, “Nelson Mandela Day is a call to action.”

A new series of commercials featuring public figures, as well as workshops and support for women politicians from all parties, and a project to broaden the current quota law are all stimulating the participation of women in decision-making in Uruguay.

 We invite our users to read the full article published on July 16th 2014.

Khadra Hussein Mohammad, 28, made history by becoming Somaliland’s first female National Deputy Prosecutor, dealing with a range of cases including theft, gang-related violence, and even terrorism.

Across Somaliland, UNDP is supporting a fundamental shift in legal education and professionalism in the justice sector. Khadra is one participant among many of UNDP’s long-term project, supporting development of an inclusive justice system and encouraging participation of women in the legal profession. 

The call for  "Experiences that make a difference: Mainstreaming gender equality in public policies in Latin America and the Caribbean" is extended until July 17, 2014.  Due to problems posed by the migration of the portal América Latina Genera, the organization has decided to extend the deadline of the call, thus ensuring that the technical problems encountered are solved.

The Global Forum convened by Women in Parliaments (WIP) in Kigali, and co-organized by UN Women, was held from 1 to 3 July 2014. The meeting brought together 200 women leaders from 51 different countries who addressed issues of peace, reconciliation and security, goals for the post-2015 agenda and the impact of gender-sensitive constitutions and legislation.  

We invite you to read the full article published by our partner, UN WOMEN.

UN Women Deputy Executive Director Lakshmi Puri yesterday met with key ministers of the new Government in India whose efforts will be crucial to the progress of the country’s women and girls – who represent over 18 per cent of the world’s women.

In her meeting with Maneka Sanjay Gandhi, India’s Minister for Women and Child Development, Ms. Puri offered UN Women’s continued support and conveyed the organization’s unwavering commitment to advance the gender equality, women's empowerment and rights project in India.  

UN Women is issuing a global call for nominations to enlist two new members as youth representatives on its Global Civil Society Advisory Group (GCSAG).

In 2012, UN Women established the GCSAG as a consultative forum and a platform for regular dialogue with civil society. The Group is constituted by 22 eminent civil society representatives, whose expertise the Executive Director consults as necessary to foster dialogue to advance global goals of gender equality and women’s empowerment. 

Ana Luisa Rodríguez de González has already served four terms as the mayor of Atiquizaya. She won her first election in 2003. In that same year, of the 262 municipal councils holding elections, only 15 were led by women. "These first elections I contested were a two-fold challenge for me", she recalls. "First of all, I was concerned not to let down all those people who had placed their faith in me; but I also felt that if I were to fail, people would not see this merely as a personal failure on my part, but would say instead that women were not up to the task.