UNIFEM Strategy

Note: UNIFEM has been dissolved and incorporated into the newly established UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). Read about UN Women's guiding documents. (The following information is for historical reference.)

UNIFEM focuses its activities on one overarching goal: to support the implementation at the national level of existing international commitments to advance gender equality. In support of this goal, UNIFEM works in the following thematic areas:

• enhancing women’s economic security and rights,
• ending violence against women,
• reducing the prevalence of HIV and AIDS among women and girls, and
• advancing gender justice in democratic governance in stable and fragile states.

The UNIFEM Strategic Plan, 2008–2011 provides strategic policy and management direction for UNIFEM to increase its development effectiveness, strengthen strategic partnerships and mobilize resources. It outlines how UNIFEM works in partnership with United Nations system Member States and civil society organizations to contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other internationally agreed commitments. read more et aussi lea más

Key Documents

Several key documents guide the work of UNIFEM:

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The “women's bill of rights” is a cornerstone of all UNIFEM programmes. More than 170 countries are parties to the Convention.

Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (PFA). Adopted by governments at the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, this document sets forth governments’ commitments to enhance women’s rights. Member states reaffirmed and strengthened the platform in 2000 during the global five-year review of progress, and pledged to accelerate its implementation during the 10-year review in 2005.

UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (2000) recognized that war impacts women differently, and reaffirmed the need to increase women’s role in decision-making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution.The UN Security Council subsequently adopted three additional resolutions on women, peace and security: 1820 (2008), 1888 (2009) and 1889 (2009). Taken together, the four resolutions represent a critical framework for improving the situation of women in conflict-affected countries.

Millennium Declaration and Millennium Development Goals were embraced by all UN Member States and outline a set of time-bound and measurable goals and targets to promote gender equality and to combat poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy and environmental degradation by 2015.

See also General Assembly Resolutions.