ABOUT UNIFEM
What is UNIFEM?
UNIFEM is the women’s fund at the United Nations. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies that promote women’s human rights, political participation and economic security.
Within the UN system, UNIFEM promotes gender equality and links women’s issues and concerns to national, regional and global agendas by fostering collaboration and providing technical expertise on gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment strategies.
UNIFEM is dedicated to building stronger women’s organizations and networks so that women themselves have the power to negotiate new and better policies with their governments and international agencies.
When was UNIFEM created?
UNIFEM was created by a UN General Assembly resolution in 1976, following a call from women’s organizations attending the 1975 UN First World Conference on Women in Mexico City. The year 2001 marks the organization’s 25th anniversary.
Where does UNIFEM work?
UNIFEM has projects in over 100 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and the Pacific and Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CEE/CIS). UNIFEM started implementing programmes in the CEE/CIS countries in 1998. The organization currently has 13 field offices in the above mentioned regions.
Who is UNIFEM’s Executive Director?
Born in Singapore, Noeleen Heyzer took up her post as Executive Director of UNIFEM in 1994. Bringing 25 years of experience in development work, social justice, women’s empowerment and human rights, she has led an organizational transformation process at UNIFEM that has expanded the Fund’s resource base, strategic partnerships, visibility and impact. Before joining UNIFEM, Ms. Heyzer held many important and influential positions, including Director of the Gender and Development Programme of the Asian Pacific Development Centre for 10 years. She was also a founder of Development Alternative with Women for a New Era (DAWN) and the Asia Pacific Women in Law and Development (APWLD). She is the author and editor of numerous catalytic books and articles that promote women’s rights in development. Her PhD, in Social Sciences, is from the University of Cambridge.
What international agreements guide UNIFEM’s work?
Four documents, agreed to by UN member states, are central guides for UNIFEM efforts:
The 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. One hundred seventy three countries are parties to the Convention.
The Beijing Platform for Action (PFA), adopted by governments at the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women, was reaffirmed and strengthened in 2000 during the global five-year review of progress organized by the UN.
UN Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security recognized that war impacts women differently, and reaffirmed the need to increase their role in decision making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution.
Millennium Declaration and Millennium Development Goal(MDGs) 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.
What are UNIFEM’s priorities?
UNIFEM has just come to the end of a 4 year Multi Funding Framework (MYFF) and is currently in transition towards a Strategic Plan which focusses on the following three areas :
1. Enhancing women’s economic security and rights
2. Reducing the prevalence of violence against women and HIV/AIDS
3. Increase gender justice in democratic governance in stable and fragile states.
In addition, the MDGs, CEDAW, PPA, BPfA and the UNDAF play an important role in shaping the framework for the Pacific.
Background to UNIFEM in the Pacific
