Since the early 1900's, 8 March has been observed as International Women's Day, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements.

View Publication in Full


It is now recognized that sustainable human development cannot be achieved without gender equality. Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015 hinges on making tangible progress with regard to gender equality and women’s empowerment, not only as a goal in itself (MDG3), but also in the achievement of all the other goals. When women are integrated meaningfully into the labour force, there are impressive advances in social well-being. When women are empowered, there are better health and education outcomes for their children as well as a more sustainable use of natural resources.

Author/Editor(s): Dr. Rema Hammami, Sinta Dewi, Inger Brodal, Lubna Madyeh, Khaled Mansour, Heba Qedwa, Vanessa Farr, Sana Asi, Anne-Marie Goetz, Hanny Cueva-Beteta, Heba Zayyan, Yolanda Iriarte, Jamil Rabah, Naema Abu Hmeid

View Publication in Full

A volatile and disputed region in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Gaza Strip has suffered a long history of violence that has had a significant political, economic, social and psychological impact on the people who live there. In December, 2008, tensions boiled over into violence when Israel launched a military offensive that lasted for 23 days, breaking a delicate six-month truce between its country and Hamas.

Publication in Full

The UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women Annual Donor Report 2009 summarizes the progress and results in implementing the UN Trust Fund Strategy 2005-2008, under which the Fund continued operating in 2009. The report also highlights the results of an external evaluation conducted during this period.