Women and gender issues

The UN is now seeking $173 million to support communities through March 2024 affected by the impact of three earthquakes that struck Herat province in west Afghanistan last month. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports 275,00 people have been affected, up from an initial estimate of 114,000 people.

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, observed on 25 November:

The United Nations has announced that Police First Sergeant Renita Rismayanti of Indonesia will receive the 2023 United Nations Woman Police Officer of the Year Award on 16 November.

The UN and partners are providing humanitarian aid to Nepal, including 6 metric tons of food from the World Food Programme (WFP), medicines and supplies from the World Health Organization (WHO), over 2,000 emergency shelter sets from United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and relief packages from UN-Women, which is also working with women’s groups on community kitchens.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Kirsi Madi of Finland as Deputy Executive Director for Resource Management, Sustainability and Partnerships at the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women).

In Haiti, the World Food Programme (WFP) reports that since mid-August, violence in Port-au-Prince has forced about 40,000 people to flee from their homes. These recent movements bring the total number of displaced people across the country to 200,000.

The importance of strengthening the participation of women for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security remained in the spotlight today as the Security Council resumed — and concluded — its annual open debate on the topic of women, peace and security.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) — by far the largest humanitarian provider in Gaza — warned that, unless fuel is allowed into Gaza immediately, it will be forced to halt its operations tonight.

Stronger Government actions and financing are necessary to ensure progress of women’s participation in peace and security amid dire and evolving global conditions, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council today, opening its annual day-long open debate on women, peace and security.

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the high-level pledging event of the Invest-In-Women Global Summit, in New York today: