On the occasion of the International Day of the Girl, Milica Stojkovikj from North Macedonia shares her perspective on girls' rights, her journey into activism, and her vision for a more equal and just world.

Media plays a pivotal role in shaping public attitudes and perceptions about gender roles. Its influence extends to reflecting, reinforcing and spreading societal patterns, norms and stereotypes. In this article, we share how "EU 4 Gender Equality: Together against gender stereotypes and gender-based violence" programme is empowering journalists across the region.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), in close collaboration with the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO), convenes the interministerial Beijing+30 Regional Review Meeting, titled “Reviewing 30 years of Beijing Commitments to Accelerate Gender Equality in the UNECE Region,” on October 21-22, 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland.

On October 3-4, 2024, the Central Asian Women Leaders’ Dialogue will host its annual Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Forum in Bishkek. This year’s forum, titled "Women, Peace, and Security: Strengthening Stability in Central Asia and Afghanistan," brings together a diverse group of regional leaders, parliamentarians, government officials, international and non-governmental organizations, and academic and expert communities from Central Asian countries.  

Almaty, Kazakhstan – From 17–19 September, the UN Women “Making Every Woman and Girl Count” regional programme and the School of Data hosted a Gender Data Art Residency “Art-Kazan: Where Art Meets Data.” This event brought together 18 talented artists to turn data into captivating works of art, highlighting critical gender issues and promoting women’s and girls’ rights.

UN Women Tajikistan hosted an Open Day for local women leaders to promote dialogue on peace and security. The event served as a vital platform for exchanging experiences, sharing best practices, and exploring innovative solutions to foster collaboration and advance the implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda in Tajikistan. The event featured two sessions, with presentations from representatives of government entities, UN agencies, and civil society organizations

In a groundbreaking event, delegates from Europe and Central Asia committed to accelerating progress on gender equality and making the lives of women and girls across this region better. The international conference “Charting the Future 30 Years after Beijing: Effective Institutional Mechanisms for the Advancement of Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment” brought together over 80 officials from across Europe, Central Asia, and beyond.

A servicewoman of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan, Major Dana Zhamaliyeva serves in the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) as a military observer. She is the seventh female peacekeeper sent by Kazakhstan to the UN mission. In this interview, Major Dana Zhamaliyeva explains why women are pivotal to enhancing peacekeeping processes around the world.

Anorabegim Sherzodova is a 14-year-old freelancer and blogger from Tajikistan. She specializes in videography and reel creation, establishing herself as a young professional in the digital media sphere. Additionally, she volunteers with GoViral and serves on the Young People Advisory group within UNICEF, demonstrating her commitment to youth engagement and social impact. Her interests span various aspects of media production, content creation, and digital advocacy.

The UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, in collaboration with the Government of Albania, invites you to the international conference “Charting the Future 30 Years after Beijing: Effective Institutional Mechanisms for the Advancement of Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment”. This event marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a global blueprint for gender equality and empowering women and girls.

Art-Kazan is a unique initiative by UN Women “Making Every Woman and Girl Count” regional programme and School of Data, designed for creative talents from across Central Asia to participate in an online training of 5 sessions on data art and gender data/analysis, a three-day immersive art residency in the heart of Central Asia, and a platform to showcase their work at an international exhibition. Inspired by the traditional kazan pot, symbolizing unity and shared cultural heritage, Art-Kazan unites artists to integrate gender data into contemporary artworks to champion gender equality and inspire transformative change in Central Asia.

On September 12, 2024, young people from across Europe and Central Asia gathered virtually for the third and final dialogue leading up to the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Co-organized by the UN Women and UNFPA Regional Offices for Europe and Central Asia, the event focused on core themes of the Beijing Platform for Action: ‘Gender Stereotypes’, ‘Women's Economic Empowerment’ and ‘Participation and Decision-Making.’ Participants discussed their concerns, hopes, and ideas for promoting equal rights and opportunities.

Sahila Asadova is one of 25 women entrepreneurs from rural Azerbaijan who received support through the “EU 4 Gender Equality: Together against gender stereotypes and gender-based violence” programme to pursue their dreams and develop their businesses.

UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) and the Beijing+30 Civil Society Steering Committee wrapped up their final civil society consultations on September 10, 2024. This marked the conclusion of a series of discussions in preparation for the Beijing+30 Regional Review Meeting, which will be held in Geneva on October 21-22, 2024. The review commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA), the most progressive blueprint for advancing women’s rights, set to be celebrated in 2025.

Guncha Annageldiyeva, a 26-year-old activist from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, dedicates her work to empowering youth, particularly young women, to engage in sustainable development and peacebuilding. In her roles as Y-PEER International Coordinator and Coordinator of the Preventive Diplomacy Academy Alumni Network for the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, she mobilizes youth to tackle critical issues such as violence against women, sexual and reproductive health rights, and the implementation of ‘Youth, Peace and Security’ and ‘Women, Peace, and Security’ agendas.

UN Women is deeply concerned about the recent enactment of a morality law by the de facto authorities in Afghanistan, which imposes extensive restrictions on personal behaviour, effectively erasing women from public life and granting broad enforcement powers to the morality police.

UN Women Tajikistan has supported the establishment of a Reproductive Health Support Room in Vahdat, a key initiative aimed at offering comprehensive services. These include reproductive health and family planning, mental health support, initial psychosocial assistance for survivors of gender-based violence, as well as preventive care and treatment services.

Ahead of the local elections in October 2024, UN Women in BiH held 11 training sessions for women politicians across Bosnia and Herzegovina in June and July, focusing on political leadership and campaign management.

Branislava Arađan, a 31-year-old law graduate and human rights activist from Novi Sad, Serbia, has devoted over a decade to advocating for youth rights and empowerment through her work with various non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Passionate about supporting young people, she founded an NGO focused on gender equality, advocacy, campaigning, and digital safety for girls.

Roman Gojayev is a 26-year-old international facilitator, multidisciplinary artist, youth and gender activist from Baku, Azerbaijan. As the co-founder and development director of Gender Hub Azerbaijan, he champions inclusive youth participation and gender equality. Roman's work spans human rights education, youth inclusion, and policy advocacy, focusing on engaging young men as allies in promoting gender equality. He is a member of several international youth and rights organizations, bringing his passion for social progress to both local and global stages.