Partnerships

Partnerships play a central role in UN Women’s work. Supporting the implementation of international commitments such as the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the Millennium Development Goals requires close relationships with an array of actors, and particularly with UN Member States, many of which are generous contributors to UN Women’s programmes worldwide. UN Women and its donors believe that an effective partnership better advances a shared commitment to realizing women’s human rights and gender equality.

Programme partners include non-governmental organizations and networks, along with government actors from all levels. UN Women also works increasingly with regional intergovernmental organizations and civil society groups.

Working together strengthens the capacity of all partners and builds sustainable coalitions. For example, recognizing that the advancement of gender equality requires interacting with people in their communities and enlisting local leaders, UN Women and Religions for Peace, the largest global interfaith network, are collaborating closely to encourage faith-based communities to dialogue on ways to end violence against women and open the doors to equality. Religions for Peace and its networks participate vigorously in UN Women’s Say NO to Violence against Women campaign.

A long-term relationship with the international women’s organization Zonta International supports programmes to reduce violence against women and girls, with an emphasis on innovative local projects funded through the UN Women-managed UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women.

UN Women also works with the private sector. A multi-year partnership with Avon Products Inc., for instance, focuses on ending domestic violence. Collaboration between UN Women and the UN Global Compact has resulted in the Women’s Empowerment Principles, encouraging companies to incorporate fundamental gender equality principles into their operations and policies, benefiting women from the factory floor to the boardroom.

Partnerships between UN Women and other UN organizations bring together expertise and resources. For example, UN Women and UN-HABITAT, responding to the urgent need to address growing violence against women and girls in urban areas, have launched a joint “Safe Cities” programme, working with municipal authorities and women’s organizations to implement policies that make public spaces safer for women and girls.

UN Women’s Goodwill Ambassadors programme provides inspiring examples of partnerships in action. Goodwill Ambassadors actress Nicole Kidman and Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol of Thailand have worked tirelessly to spread the word that violence against women is a problem with solutions. In the Arab States, Goodwill Ambassador Her Royal Highness Princess Basma bint Talal of Jordan supports UN Women’s initiatives to open opportunities for women in information technology and political participation, and in Africa, Goodwill Ambassador Hon. Mrs. Phoebe Asiyo, former member of the Kenya parliament, is in the forefront of efforts to involve women in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.