In March, the UN Chose SDG 5 – Gender Equality

This goal aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls worldwide. It is not only a matter of fairness but also a key to sustainable development, economic growth, and a more peaceful society.

The Pact of the Future strengthens commitments to ensuring gender equality, empowering women and girls, and eliminating all forms of discrimination and violence against them. It calls for a significant increase in investments to reduce the gender gap, including in the care economy and support systems, as well as reforms to ensure women have equal rights to economic resources.

Some countries have made significant progress in achieving gender equality:

• Rwanda – One of the world's leaders in the number of women in parliament (61.3% of seats are held by women).
• Iceland – Consistently ranks first in the World Economic Forum's Gender Equality Index.
• Norway and Finland – High levels of gender pay equality, access to education, and political participation.

Around the world, various organizations and countries are working to close the gender gap, empower women, and combat discrimination.

Key Global Initiatives

1. HeForShe (UN Campaign "He for She")
   Launched by UN Women in 2014 to engage men and boys in the fight for gender equality. Prominent supporters include presidents, business leaders, and actors such as Emma Watson, who became the face of the campaign.

2. Spotlight Initiative
   A joint project of the UN and the EU with a budget of €500 million. Its primary goal is to eliminate violence against women and girls. The initiative operates in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Pacific islands, providing support to women in challenging situations.

3. Generation Equality
   Launched in 2020 by UN Women, France, and Mexico to accelerate gender equality by 2030. It includes Action Coalitions focused on women’s economic rights, violence, reproductive rights, and more. Over 90 countries and 1,000 organizations have joined the initiative.

Gender Equality Initiatives in Russia

1. Women's Support Centers and Crisis Centers
   Various NGOs in Russia support women facing violence, discrimination, and economic hardship:

   • "Nasiliu.net" – Russia’s largest online project against domestic violence.
   • ANO "Women for Development" – Programs promoting women's economic independence.

2. "Women for Life" Foundation
   Provides assistance to women in difficult life situations (single mothers, survivors of violence). It also supports women in job searches and social adaptation.

3. Women’s Business Communities

   • "Ladies Who Tech Russia" – Supports women in IT and STEM.
   • "Women in Venture" – Encourages women’s participation in venture business.
   • "Mom Entrepreneur" – A program for mothers looking to start their own businesses.

CSW69 Session and the Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration

The 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women(CSW69) will take place from March 10 to 21, 2025, at the UN Headquarters in New York. This session also marks the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) – a key document for advancing women's rights.

This year’s focus will be on reviewing these critical frameworks and analyzing current challenges in their implementation to ensure gender equality by 2030.

The celebration of International Women’s Day took place on March 7 at 10:00 AM (5:00 AM MSK) at the UN Headquarters. Watch the broadcast via the provided link.