Source description last updated: 27 January 2026

In brief: UN Women is the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.

Coverage on ecoi.net:

News (for countries of priorities A-C) and other publications (for countries of priorities A-D).

Covered quarterly on ecoi.net.

Mission/Mandate/Objectives:

“For many years, the United Nations faced serious challenges in its efforts to promote gender equality globally, including inadequate funding and no single recognized driver to direct UN activities on gender equality issues. In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, to address such challenges.” (UN Women, About UN Women, undated)

UN Women was created by merging the Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW), the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues Advancement of Women (OSAGI) and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).

“UN Women’s main roles are:

●       To support inter-governmental bodies, such as the Commission on the Status of Women, in their formulation of policies, global standards and norms.

●       To help Member States implement these standards, standing ready to provide suitable technical and financial support to those countries that request it, and to forge effective partnerships with civil society.

●       To lead and coordinate the UN system’s work on gender equality, as well as promote accountability, including through regular monitoring of system-wide progress.” (UN Women, About UN Women, undated)

“We make strides forward for women and girls in four areas:

●       leadership,

●       economic empowerment,

●       freedom from violence, and

●       women, peace and security as well as humanitarian action.” (UN Women, About UN Women, undated)

Funding:

“UN Women thanks its 177 financial partners and donors [...] Overall contributions received in 2024 grew 5.6% compared to 2023, reaching USD 594.4 million [...] 16 partners provided funding to 18 country offices, up from 10 and 15, respectively, in 2023. Our partnership base, including our donors and non-funding partners, diversified and grew by 8%. Engagement with public sector institutions rose by 21%, including local and regional governments. A 7% increase in our private sector partners’ portfolio resulted in more resources and additional shifts in business practices to advance gender equality. National Committees in 13 countries drove a 26% growth in fundraising from individuals, companies and grant-makers.” (UN Women, Annual Report 2025, undated)

Scope of reporting:

Geographic focus: UN member states

Thematic focus: Rights of women and LGBTI persons

Methodology:

“UN Women acts on two fronts. It supports international political negotiations to formulate globally agreed standards for gender equality. And it helps UN Member States to implement those standards by providing expertise and financial support. UN Women also assists other parts of the UN system in their efforts to advance gender equality across a broad spectrum of issues related to human rights and human development.” (UN Women, How We Work, undated)

“As part of our mandate, UN Women supports Member States in setting norms. We conduct research, and compile and provide evidence, including good practices and lessons learned, to inform intergovernmental debates and decisions. We also assist in implementing norms and standards through our country programmes. In addition, UN Women leads and coordinates the UN system’s work in support of gender equality and the empowerment of women. Intergovernmental discussions on UN Women’s country activities take place in the Executive Board, where a rotating group of UN Member States helps set strategic directions.” (UN Women, Intergovernmental support, undated)

UN Women has “a key role in increasing knowledge about women’s status in the United Nations.” (UN Women, UN system coordination, undated)

“Our solutions include preparing regular research and data-based flagship reports to call attention to existing gaps and spur action. These include Progress of the World’s Women and World Survey on the Role of Women in Development. [...] UN Women has issued position papers on the post-2015 development agenda, and on the global economic crisis, among others, and provides regular substantive inputs to intergovernmental processes, like the Commission on the Status of Women.” (UN Women, Research and data, undated)

Languages of publications:

English, French, Spanish

Further reading / links:

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 2 July 2010 [A/RES/64/289], 21 July 2010
https://docs.un.org/en/A/RES/64/289

Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 14 September 2009 [A/RES/63/311], 2 October 2009
https://docs.un.org/en/A/RES/63/311

Comprehensive proposal for the composite entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women [A/64/588], 6 January 2010
https://docs.un.org/en/A/64/588

UN Women, UN-Women Executive Board Members, undated
http://www.unwomen.org/en/executive-board/members

Methodological note:

ecoi.net's source descriptions contain background information on an organisation’s mission & objective, funding and reporting methodology, as well as on how we cover the source. The descriptions were prepared after researching publicly accessible information within time constraints. Most information contained in a source description was taken from the source itself. The aim is to provide a brief introduction to the sources covered regularly, offering information on relevant aspects in one place in a systematic manner. 

All links accessed 27 January 2026.