United Nations Department of Global Communications

From medical breakthroughs to new space discoveries, from advanced quantum computing research to new scientific methods to understand the natural world around us, women and girls are shattering glass ceilings. Yet structural barriers and social norms remain that limit women and girls from unlocking their full potential.

Over the last two decades, Viet Nam has made remarkable strides in providing its population with access to quality education and paving the way for a more equitable and sustainable future. Learn how UN entities are joining hands to close the gaps and provide quality education for girls, ethnic minorities and students with disabilities.

In the vast expanses of Mongolia, where nomadic herders roam with their livestock, access to technology can be a game-changer.

Brazil has concluded its G20 presidency, capping a year marked by intense negotiations during more than 140 meetings and dozens of working groups across 15 Brazilian cities.

The pervasive issue of hate speech, particularly its online manifestation, poses a significant threat to peace, stability, and human rights across regions. The United Nations' efforts to combat hate speech in South and Southeast Asia have yielded valuable insights that can inform future initiatives in the region and beyond. 

Launch of a global road safety campaign, #MakeASafetyStatement, aiming to halve road-related fatalities by 2030. In collaboration with celebrities and partners, the campaign raises awareness and mobilizes political will for action. UN teams in Guatemala and South Africa are implementing targeted initiatives to address local challenges and foster safer roads.

In Tajikistan, more than 600 teachers were trained in handling cases of violence against women and girls, including how to appropriately address complaints by children concerning violence. Hundreds of complaints have been submitted to and addressed by participating schools since the module ‘Ways and methods of positive upbringing without violence and discrimination’ was developed.

Our UN teams are on the ground in 162 countries and territories, coordinating joint programmes and tackling a range of priorities and initiatives — from climate action and food security to gender equality and safety of civilians.

Our UN teams are on the ground in 162 countries and territories, coordinating joint programmes and tackling a range of priorities and initiatives — from climate action and food security to gender equality and safety of civilians.

Our UN teams are on the ground in 162 countries and territories, coordinating joint programmes and tackling a range of multi-faceted priorities and key initiatives on a daily basis — from climate action to gender equality and food security.

The Ukraine crisis may pose a threat to food security and living standards in Africa, but it could also provide incentives to boost intra-African trade. Those were the key messages from Hanan Morsy, Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), during a recent online presentation to over 100 UN officials from all over the continent. Many UN Resident Coordinators chimed in with observations from the field.

Our UN country teams and their partners around the world, including host governments, are continuing to work together in tackling the multifaceted impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and recovering better together to accelerate progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. We are also responding to other challenges, focusing on providing support to those most vulnerable. Below are some highlights of our work in March 2022. 

During the 2nd half of 2020 and the 1st quarter of 2021, 22 new cases of poliomyelitis (polio), a deadly viral disease, were detected in Benin. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination campaigns were carried out to stem polio transmission.

"After raping me, he told me that I was still a child, and he threw me outside. This is the first time I have told anyone because I was scared to say something before." And so, 12-year-old Elisabeth's childhood was forever changed.