How UN Women and Denmark advance gender equality, peace and inclusive governance for 23 million women and girls across the region

When women lead, communities are more resilient, institutions are more responsive, and peace is more sustainable. Across Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus, the partnership between UN Women and the Government of Denmark is helping turn that principle into reality through the Lead4Peace regional programme “Women’s Increased Leadership for Resilient and Peaceful Societies”.

Since 2022, Lead4Peace has supported women across Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine take on leadership roles, access justice, strengthen their livelihoods and contribute to peacebuilding efforts, while fostering regional cooperation and collective action. The programme is supporting UN Women's Strategic Note implementation that expanded opportunities for more than 23 million women and girls across the region. It also supports countries in advancing governance and gender equality reforms, driven by European Union accession processes, while strengthening the capacities of national institutions to align with and implement EU standards and the gender equality acquis.

This year marks a major milestone with the programme's expansion to Armenia, officially launched during UN Women's annual regional dialogue in Yerevan on 1-2 July 2026.

“Armenia’s entry into the Lead4Peace regional partnership gives us new energy, new perspectives and opportunities for collective action. Now our task is to build on that foundation — with ambition, solidarity and shared responsibility — so that reforms turn into lasting change for women and girls across the region,” said Belén Sanz Luque, UN Women Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia.

The expansion to Armenia builds on years of progress driven by women leaders, peacebuilders, entrepreneurs and activists across the region. From increasing women's influence in peace and security decision-making to expanding access to justice, strengthening economic resilience and countering backlash against gender equality, Lead4Peace is helping turn commitments into tangible change for women and communities.

Women leading for peace and security

Across the region, women are increasingly shaping peace, security and recovery agendas. Through Lead4Peace, their voices helped shape policies and decisions, with 60 to 70 per cent of recommendations advanced by women peacebuilders reflected in regional strategies, humanitarian frameworks and peacebuilding processes. The programme has also strengthened the evidence base through the first regional Women, Peace and Security Gender Snapshot, highlighting the leadership and recovery priorities of women affected by conflict and crisis.

The programme also supported the creation of the South Caucasus Women's Think Tank, whose pioneering Security Barometer has become an important source of gender-sensitive evidence for security and peacebuilding discussions in the region.

As the international community marked the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, women and young peacebuilders supported by Lead4Peace participated in nine regional and global platforms, helping advance commitments such as the Sarajevo Pledge on Women, Peace and Security.

In Georgia, over 100 women and youth leaders contributed to Women, Peace and Security processes, while young women led dialogue initiatives that fostered cooperation and elevated women's voices in peace and security discussions.

In Moldova, more than 1,400 security sector professionals, students and public officials gained skills in gender-responsive security and governance, while the country climbed from 64th to 36th place on the global Women, Peace and Security Index amid stronger implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

In Ukraine, over 1,190 women leaders strengthened their ability to influence recovery and resilience efforts, while advocacy through the Alliance for Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Recovery helped mobilize over EUR 60 million for women's participation, leadership and economic recovery.

As Anne Toft Sørensen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark to Georgia and Armenia, noted: "Peace is really built through partnerships, and the uniqueness of this programme is that it brings together public institutions, civil society actors, private sector, all across the spectrum. When we unite, this is where we create the impact."

Expanding women's access to justice

Across Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, Lead4Peace has expanded women's access to justice and essential services.

In Georgia, the programme strengthened institutional responses to workplace harassment. As a result, four private-sector companies introduced sexual harassment prevention and response mechanisms, helping create safer workplaces.

In Moldova, the programme strengthened access to justice and responses to gender-based violence, reaching more than 900 people, including at least 600 women, through legal aid, awareness-raising and capacity-building. Specialized legal services expanded to seven districts serving approximately 172,000 people, while stronger cooperation among key institutions contributed to more survivor-centred support.

In Ukraine, over 3,000 women received critical protection and support services in frontline and high-risk areas. Women's priorities also became more visible in humanitarian decision-making, helping ensure that national response efforts better address the realities facing women and girls affected by war.

Strengthening women's economic empowerment

In Georgia, the programme supported 80 rural women and 32 conflict-affected women with livelihoods and business support. It also helped institutionalize the country's first Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Women's Economic Empowerment Programme, creating a government mechanism to support internally displaced women.

The programme expanded opportunities in technology and innovation, engaging 720 women and girls through STEAM and digital skills programmes. Women entrepreneurs strengthened their access to markets, financing and business networks, while companies adopted more gender-responsive workplace practices through the Women's Empowerment Principles.

In Ukraine, women entrepreneurs and workers gained access to training, employment opportunities and financial support. They entered traditionally male-dominated sectors, including transportation and logistics, while hundreds of women strengthened their leadership and employability skills through mentoring and career development initiatives.

Looking ahead

The expansion of Lead4Peace to Armenia in July 2026 reflects growing recognition that progress on gender equality, peace and resilience depends on regional collaboration.

As Arsen Torosyan, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Armenia, noted: "Sustainable reforms require women's leadership at every level of governance. When women have equal opportunities to participate in decision-making, our institutions become stronger, more inclusive, and better equipped to respond to people's needs."

As the programme grows, so does its ambition in helping women shape policies, strengthen institutions, expand opportunities and influence the decisions that affect their lives and communities. Together, UN Women and Denmark are investing in a future where women's leadership is not the exception, but a cornerstone of more inclusive, resilient and prosperous societies.