Where We Are

Gender equality is not just a goal — it is the foundation of a fair, peaceful, and sustainable world. Three decades after the landmark Beijing Declaration, equality remains elusive: women still hold only 30 per cent of managerial roles and shoulder most of the unpaid care work, limiting access to education, leadership, and economic opportunity. Harmful practices and discriminatory norms persist worldwide.  

As leaders and advocates gather at the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in March, momentum is building and new commitments under the Pact for the Future aim to accelerate women's empowerment at all levels. 

Read more about Goal 5 

SDG 5 in Numbers

  • Women's rights have advanced globally, with around 100 positive legal reforms around the world since 2019 removing discriminatory laws and strengthening gender equality frameworks, but significant gaps remain. 
  • Globally, women occupy less than a third of managerial positions and, on average, devote two and a half times as many hours per day as men to unpaid domestic and care work. Globally, over 230 million girls and women have undergone female genital mutilation, and nearly one in five young women aged 20–24 were married or in a union before age 18.   
  • In January 2025, women held 27.2% of parliamentary seats, up 4.9 percentage points from 2015. 

Media Resources for journalists

Explore the Media Resources hub for the latest from UN WebTV, UN Audiovisual Library, UN Photo, UNifeed and more! https://media.un.org/en. For the latest UN Reports, click here. 

“I want to stress that we cannot – and will not – give in to the disturbing pushback on the rights of women – half of humanity — and the hard-won gains in equality, participation, and protection.”

– António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, 15 January 2026

In Focus

8 | International Women’s Day  

Under the theme Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls, IWD 2026 amplifies our collective determination to confront deeply rooted sexism and dismantle discriminatory laws, weak protections, and harmful social norms that erode women’s and girls’ rights. Read more.

70th Commission on the Status of Women | 9 to 19 March 

Thousands of women from around the world will meet at UN Headquarters in New York for the 70th Commission on the Status of Women to accelerate progress and promote women’s and girls’ enjoyment of their rights in political, economic, and social fields.  

The theme for this year’s Commission is Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers. Read more. 

22 | World Water Day 

This year’s World Water Day calls for a rights-based approach ensuring women’s equal leadership in water decisions for a healthier, more prosperous, gender-equal future for all. Read more.

Highlights

57th session of the UN Statistical Commission | 3 to 6 March  

The 57th session of the UN Statistical Commission will be held at UN Headquarters in New York. The Commission brings together Chief Statisticians from across the globe to set statistical standards and develop concepts and methods, including implementation at the national and international level. Read more. 

UN World Water Development Report | 19 March 

The UN World Water Development Report 2026 Water for all people: Equal rights and opportunities will spotlight existing data and practical solutions to advance gender equality across the water sector. Read more.

2026 Global Education Monitoring Report | 25 March 

The 2026 Global Education Monitoring Report, Countdown to 2030: Access and equity will provide the latest data and analysis on key global education indicators, including out-of-school rate, completion rate and higher education enrollment. Read more.

Earth Hour | 28 March 

In 2026, Earth Hour celebrates its 20th anniversary. As landmarks and homes across the planet take part in this light-off moment, join the movement and give an hour of your time to care for our planet. Read more. 

News Features

News Feature | Selected Story

Career training boosts women’s independence 

Through UN Women and partners, refugee women in Uganda are gaining skills, challenging stereotypes and building brighter futures – one engine at a time. Read more

Africa Renewal | Selected Story

Promoting inclusive food systems and gender equality in The Gambia

Discover how UN Human Rights is advocating for the inclusion of women farmers and other small-scale food producers in The Gambia. Through rights-based action, it works to protect the availability, adequacy, affordability, and sustainability of food. Read more

ACTNOW for our Common Future  

ActNow is the United Nations campaign to inspire people to act for the Sustainable Development Goals, improving life for everyone: A healthy planet. A better economy. A just society. A peaceful world. Visit ActNow to learn more https://www.un.org/actnow 

NEW Season! Awake at Night Podcast 

Amina J. Mohammed, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, reflects on leadership as a shared journey grounded in conviction, culture and community, and shares how the Sustainable Development Goals connect to her own life. Listen to the full episode here.  

Find the latest episodes here: Season 12 of Awake at Night. 

SDG EDITORIAL CALENDAR 2026