United Nations in Türkiye

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Türkiye:

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05 September 2026

Climate finance takes centre stage ahead of COP31 in Istanbul

Türkiye’s climate finance ecosystem took centre stage as senior representatives from government, public institutions, financial institutions, international organizations, the private sector, academia, diplomatic community, and the United Nations gathered for the “Towards COP31: Climate Finance Policy Dialogue” at Ziraat Bankası Headquarters in the Istanbul Financial Center. Convened by the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, the United Nations in Türkiye and the Office of the COP31 Climate High-Level Champion on the margins of Istanbul Climate Finance Week, the high-level dialogue focused on aligning national priorities with the global climate finance agenda and turning climate ambition into investable action ahead of COP31. Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek was among the high-level participants attending the dialogue. “The fundamental question is no longer whether we need to invest in climate action. The question is: how do we enhance the scale, speed and quality of finance required to turn climate ambition into investment and investment into real-world results?” said United Nations Resident Coordinator in Türkiye Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi in his opening remarks. “We need stronger pipelines of bankable and investment-ready climate projects. We need to deepen domestic markets for green and sustainable financial instruments. We need stronger risk-sharing and blended finance mechanisms that can help mobilize private and institutional capital. And we need reliable reporting, assurance and climate data so that investors can make informed decisions with confidence” emphasized Ahonsi. Samed Ağırbaş, COP31 Climate High-Level Champion and President of the Zero Waste Foundation said financing was not simply a complementary element of climate policy but the mechanism that enabled climate policies to be implemented. Ağırbaş called for public resources, private capital, international financial institutions and new financing models to be brought together within an integrated system. United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the United Nations Development Programme’s Bureau for Policy and Programme Support Marcos Neto and International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol delivered keynote addresses.Neto said the new generation of nationally determined contributions and national adaptation plans marked a new phase in the implementation of the Paris Agreement.“The world does not need more planning or more pledges. What the world needs is delivery and implementation. In that sense, COP31’s Climate Implementation Bridge can make an enormous contribution by moving us from planning to implementation and capital deployment” said Neto.“As countries seek to strengthen their energy security amid the current crisis, many are looking to accelerate the electrification of their economies. At the same time, nuclear energy is gaining momentum and the falling costs of low-emissions technologies like solar and batteries are making the economic case for investment increasingly compelling,” said Birol. “But challenges in accessing finance persist — particularly in developing economies, where the cost of capital remains high. The International Energy Agency welcomes the Government of Türkiye’s strong efforts ahead of COP31 to deliver practical, measurable and tangible outcomes and stands ready to support the process,” he added.World Bank Country Director for Türkiye Jean-Christophe Carret and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank Vice-President Ajay Bhushan Pandey offered reflections on financing climate action. “COP31 presents a unique opportunity to move the global climate finance discussion from ambition to implementation. Türkiye is already showing how policy reforms, institutional capacity and public-private partnerships can unlock investment for climate and development objectives. The World Bank Group is proud to support this journey by helping mobilize finance, prepare bankable projects and crowd in private capital that delivers tangible benefits for people, businesses and communities,” said Carret. "Türkiye shows why climate finance is not about one instrument or one headline figure. It is about matching the right tool to where the constraint sits. AIIB has deployed sovereign loans, on-lending through domestic banks and leasing companies, direct finance to private-sector projects and corporates, and investments in Turkish green and sustainable bonds, a range made possible by Türkiye's strong public institutions, deep financial sector and dynamic private sector" said Pandey.Partnerships for implementationThe programme included a Partnership Protocols Signing Ceremony featuring financial agreements between the Ministry of Treasury and Finance, the World Bank, the Development and Investment Bank of Türkiye (TKYB) and the Industrial Development Bank of Türkiye (TSKB). The Ministry of Treasury and Finance and the United Nations in Türkiye also signed a Declaration of Intent envisaging a strategic partnership on climate and development finance. The partnership covers six areas: knowledge and evidence; policy dialogues and recommendations; climate finance coordination and partnerships; project preparation and capital mobilization; innovative financing and piloting; and strategic advocacy and COP31 legacy.From dialogue to actionable recommendationsSix parallel thematic sessions brought together policymakers and practitioners to explore financial regulation and taxonomy; green finance instruments; bankable project pipelines; blended finance and risk-sharing instruments; mobilizing private capital; and sustainability reporting, assurance and reliable climate data.Reporting-back sessions brought the discussions into plenary and highlighted opportunities to strengthen policy and regulatory alignment, expand credible green finance instruments, improve project preparation, reduce investment risks and reinforce the data and assurance infrastructure needed for sound climate finance decisions.The recommendations emerging from the dialogue will be captured in a concise report and communicated to the COP31 Presidency, the Office of the Climate High-Level Champion, international financial institutions and multilateral development banks. They are expected to inform continued work to strengthen Türkiye’s climate finance ecosystem and contribute to COP31 climate finance discussions and the Global Climate Action Agenda.

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02 September 2026

‘Fight for humanity’: Avoiding a climate catastrophe means acting now

Record heat waves, deadly flooding and extreme weather reflect an ever-warming planet poised to soon breach safe temperature limits, according to a UN report released on Tuesday, but doubling down on climate action now could avoid a climate catastrophe.Key pointsRapid, collective and global action is vital to cap the temperature rise at 1.5°CClimate action can reverse current trend by slashing methane pollution, protecting land, forest and oceans and accelerating the phaseout of fossil fuelsEvery fraction of a degree will cost lives, destroy livelihoods, deepen inequality and push ecosystems closer to irreversible damageThe scorching heat in the northern hemisphere in recent months, raging wildfires and deadly floods are a warning of what lies ahead, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said.He recalled that the historic 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change saw world leaders pledge to keep temperature rise to the 1.5°C limit above pre-industrial levels, which scientists say is critical to avoiding the worst climate devastation.Indeed, the world is failing to keep that promise, according to the new report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)“The fight for 1.5 degrees is the fight for humanity,” he said. “We are set to breach the 1.5°C limit within the next few years.”‘Every fraction of a degree will cost lives’There are no good outcomes if temperatures remain above 1.5°C consistently, warned UNEP chief Inger Andersen.“Across the globe, extreme heatwaves are already proving that climate impacts will strike faster, hit harder, and last longer, costing more lives and causing deeper disruption,” she said.“Now is the time we must double down on climate action. We can and must get on the right path. By cutting greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening resilience and adaptation and ensuring exceedance of 1.5°C is as small and short as possible.”The UN chief agreed.“Every fraction of a degree will cost lives, destroy livelihoods, deepen inequality and push ecosystems closer to irreversible damage,” the Secretary-General said. “Humanity is speeding past the limit to avoid climate catastrophe.”‘Solutions are at hand’However, swift climate action can bring the world back from the brink, Mr. Guterres said.“We can still bring warming back below 1.5°C by the end of the century,” he said. “We must make the overshoot as small and short as possible, limiting how high temperatures rise and how long they remain above 1.5.”That demands an “overshoot of ambition” through accelerating the phaseout of fossil fuels and the renewables revolution, slashing methane pollution and protecting land, forest and oceans, he said.It also means governments must over-deliver on national climate plans, net zero commitments and beyond, and developed countries must triple adaptation finance and ensure it reaches those most at risk.“The science is clear,” Mr. Guterres said. “The solutions are at hand, and the world has never been better equipped to deploy them. Now is the time to raise ambition and accelerate action.”Highlights from the new report:Above 1.5°C, risks and impacts will intensify with every extra fraction of a degree and every year, including intensified extreme weather, ecosystem loss and submersion of small island developing States and low-lying coastal cities alongside severe damage to human health, food security, water supplies, nature, cities, infrastructure and economiesThe likelihood of crossing irreversible tipping points increases with the magnitude and duration of higher temperatures, including the destabilisation of major ice sheets and degradation of the Amazon rainforestMitigation and adaptation must advance together, prioritising such interventions as nature-based coolingNet zero is a milestone towards net-negative in sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissionsConditions for success include strong political will and multilateralism, effective policies, inclusive governance, and financeCountries with greater responsibility for climate change should act the fastest with the greatest ambition

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10 August 2026

The Mediterranean’s own odyssey: An ecological treasure feels the strain

More than 2,500 years after Homer’s epic was first told, Christopher Nolan's blockbuster retelling of The Odyssey has brought the journey back to big screens worldwide. But, behind the sweeping plot is another character facing an odyssey of its own: the Mediterranean Sea.Since Homer’s day, the Mediterranean has been much more than a beautiful body of water, where Odysseus journeyed home, encountering six-headed monsters, bewitching sirens and unpredictable gods. Situated between Africa, Asia and Europe, the Mediterranean has been a highway connecting cities, civilisations and commerce, providing food and livelihoods while being central to culture, spirituality and the spread of ideas. With its shores now home to more than 500 million people, including some 25 coastal metropolitan areas, the Mediterranean’s importance has only grown. Home to the world’s busiest shipping lanes, it currently supports massive fishing and tourism industries, with a growing list of others.Ecological treasure chestThe Mediterranean is also an ecological treasure chest. Covering just one per cent of the world’s ocean surface, it contains up to 18 per cent of all known marine species, more than a quarter of which are found nowhere else on Earth. Underwater meadows of Posidonia oceanica – an endemic seagrass named for the Greek god Poseidon and commonly known as Neptune grass – cover more than 1.2 million hectares, providing a vital habitat for troves of marine life, sequestered carbon and nutrients. Other ecosystems such as marshes, wetlands and dunes, buffer the Mediterranean’s approximate 46,000 kilometres of coastline and keep communities safe from erosion and storms. These landscapes provide food, water, jobs and identities – but they’re coming under increasing strain.New monsters While Odysseus largely tackled his monsters one by one, the modern-day obstacles in the Mediterranean work together to erode the overall health of the region. These new monsters are posing grave threats. Every day, an estimated 730 tonnes of plastic waste alone enters the sea, much of it carried there by rivers: single-use plastics account for more than 60 per cent of rubbish on Mediterranean beaches. Wastewater, industrial chemicals, agricultural run-off and pollutants from ships are affecting the sea’s waters, alongside newer threats like pharmaceutical waste, microplastics, plastic additives and a rise in underwater noise levels that disrupts wildlife.From heatwaves to pollution The Mediterranean region is warming 20 per cent faster than the global average temperature rise, indicated recurring summer heatwaves. Changes in rainfall, sea-level rise and ocean acidification, are also heightening threats of drought, wildfire, flooding, erosion and water shortages. Construction, pollution and various industries are unsettling and damaging the sea’s vibrant biodiversity, from loggerhead sea turtles and striped dolphins to swordfish, octopus and the rare Mediterranean monk seal.The challenges are often self-reinforcing. When larger predatory fish become scarce, fishers catch smaller species lower down the food chain, disrupting the food web. Damaged coastal ecosystems provide less protection from storms and floods. Warmer water temperatures can make it easier for invasive species to spread, affecting native biodiversity and ecosystems. Irresponsible tourism produces increasing waste and places pressure on fragile habitats.A modern MAP forwardFortunately, the sea has a hero. The Mediterranean Action Plan of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), established in 1975, is the first if its kind under the agency’s broader regional seas programme, which now brings 145 countries together to protect the world’s saltwater bodies.Known as UNEP/MAP, it:Supports marine protected areas and action plans for threatened biodiversity and habitatsPromotes restoration of damaged ecosystemsHelps countries identify and control inbound avenues of invasive species, to keep them at bayHelped establish special protected areas covering more than eight per cent of the sea and species-specific protection plansAdvises on smart coastal planning for countries, focusing on the restoration and health of natural defences like dunes and wetlandsHelps Mediterranean economies grow while safeguarding the ecosystems that have underpinned prosperity since ancient timesMore heroesLandmark agreements are now leading to action, with the Barcelona Convention, adopted by Mediterranean countries in 1976, serving as the region’s primary legally binding framework for protecting its marine and coastal environment. It contains seven protocols tackling such critical issues as pollution, hazardous waste, biodiversity, offshore activities and coastal development.Through UNEP/MAP and the Barcelona Convention, 21 Mediterranean countries and the European Union are now working together, with the UN environment agency supporting countries to establish collective rules, monitor the sea’s health and turn regional commitments into national action.This includes helping nations reduce plastic and chemical pollution, improve wastewater management and prepare for potential hazards like oil spills.The legally binding Regional Plan on Marine Litter, adopted by MAP members in 2013 and updated in 2021, is the first of its kind, committing parties to reduce and remove marine litter and integrate circular economy approaches.Vision for the futureUnlike Odysseus’s return to his home island of Ithaca, the Mediterranean doesn’t have a single destination in view – but there is a clear vision for its future. “What we’re pursuing is a healthy, thriving sea whose magnificent wildlife, ecosystems and industries can sustainably support the millions of people across a multitude of cultures who call the region home,” said UNEP programme coordinator Tatjana Hema.

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22 July 2026

Towards COP31: Policy dialogue brings partners together to Advance South–South Climate Cooperation

The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), the COP31 High-Level Climate Champion and the United Nations (UN) in Türkiye convened a policy dialogue in Türkiye’s capitol Ankara today to advance South–South and triangular cooperation as a practical means of accelerating climate action. The dialogue was supported by the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC).The meeting marked an initial step towards establishing a Türkiye-anchored South–South and Triangular Cooperation Climate Initiative. The proposed initiative aims to connect developing countries with practical solutions, expertise, technologies and financing while supporting climate resilience and implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions, particularly in Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.“COP31 presents a timely opportunity to demonstrate how South–South and triangular cooperation can drive climate implementation. Beyond negotiations, we must strengthen platforms that connect countries with solutions, innovators with investors, and local experience with global partnerships” said Dima Al-Khatib, Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation in the video message she sent to the meeting in Ankara. She added in her message Türkiye’s development cooperation experience, institutional capacities and connections across regions provided a strong foundation for climate cooperation among developing countries. “South–South and triangular cooperation offers a different logic: peer-to-peer, demand-driven and country-owned. It moves beyond the language of donor and recipient towards partnership among equals. Türkiye’s reach, institutional capacity and cooperation philosophy make it a natural anchor for a regional—and, in time, global—hub for climate cooperation, technology exchange and partnership building” said Dr. Babatunde Ahonsi, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Türkiye, at the opening of the policy dialogue.Dr. Ahonsi highlighted that TİKA’s programme offices, embedded in partner countries, bring two decades of experience in the peer-to-peer, demand-driven cooperation that climate adaptation urgently requires.Dr. Ahonsi said the UN would help convene partners, connect solutions with needs and translate political commitment into structured cooperation. He also highlighted the role of the COP31 High-Level Climate Champion in bridging intergovernmental negotiations with implementation by cities, regions, businesses, investors and civil society.The report of the Policy Dialogue is available here. “Building on Türkiye’s Zero Waste initiative, launched under the leadership of H.E. First Lady Emine Erdoğan and drawing on TİKA’s extensive field experience in development cooperation, we hope today’s dialogue will lay the foundations for a practical roadmap towards a Türkiye-anchored South–South and Triangular Cooperation Climate Initiative” said Abdullah Eren, President of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) at his speech during the opening session. “Our objective is to transform ideas into concrete partnerships, deliver tangible outcomes for COP31, and strengthen climate resilience in the countries and communities most affected by climate change” emphasized TİKA President Eren. Speaking on behalf of COP31 High-Level Climate Champion, Director General of the Zero Waste Foundation Mustafa Erdağı expressed his appreciation to all partners for their support in making the dialogue possible. He also thanked participants for their attendance and engagement, wishing them "a very inspiring and productive programme.”More than 130 participants representing governments, UN entities, development partners, international financial institutions, academia, civil society and the private sector discussed opportunities for cooperation in climate technology and innovation, circular economy and resource efficiency, adaptation and nature-based solutions, the translation of policy into practice, and financing for climate initiatives. Discussions also explored partnerships and pilot initiatives that could be further developed in the lead-up to COP31 and beyond.From dialogue to implementationThe dialogue focused on identifying climate solutions already tested in developing-country contexts that could be adapted and scaled elsewhere. Participants considered how peer learning, technology transfer, institutional partnerships and innovative financing—including blended finance, climate funds and triangular cooperation arrangements—could support implementation. They identified concrete initiatives, partnerships and investment opportunities that could be developed and showcased at COP31. The ideas and partnerships emerging from the dialogue in Ankara are expected to inform follow up work towards a potential side event at COP31.South–South and Triangular Cooperation can help turn shared challenges into practical, locally owned climate solutions while advancing a more equitable and inclusive global transition.

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15 July 2026

Skills for an uncertain future: How youth can navigate a changing job market

Choosing a path for the future has never been easy, but for young people today, such rapid technological change as artificial intelligence (AI) is making it increasingly difficult to predict which skills will remain relevant in the years ahead.Highlighting the importance of equipping young people with what is needed for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship, World Youth Skills Day, marked annually on 15 July, raises an important question related to its 2026 theme, Skills for the Shared Future: how can young people prepare for labour market needs that will continue to evolve throughout their lives?“I think young people today need to be more open-minded, more flexible, more adaptable,” said Francesca Fanelli, senior associate director of graduate career development at Columbia University.Amid helping students and recent graduates navigate today’s competitive and rapidly changing job market, she spoke with UN News about some of the best ways to rise to the challenge.Skills for an uncertain futureThe World Economic Forum estimates that nearly 40 per cent of the skills workers rely on now could change or become outdated by 2030, making adaptability and lifelong learning more important than ever.The answer is not to search for an “AI-proof” career, Ms. Fanelli said.While some students are reconsidering their career choices and showing greater interest in skilled trades, which are widely viewed as less vulnerable to automation, she cautioned against basing decisions primarily on assumptions about which jobs will be least affected by AI and technological change.Instead, she advises young people to focus on their interests and strengths while building a broad “toolkit” of transferable skills that can serve them across different roles throughout their careers.Rather than committing themselves to a single career path, Ms. Fanelli encourages students to explore opportunities across different industries and remain open to new directions as the world of work continues to evolve.With AI, ‘you’re still the problem solver’While the future of work may be difficult to predict, Ms. Fanelli believes one thing is already clear: knowing how to use AI effectively is becoming a valuable workplace skill.“AI literacy is a skill now that employers look for,” she says. “They want to make sure that people entering their office know how to use the tool.”This includes knowing how to ask the right questions and write clear prompts while taking responsibility for fact-checking the information AI produces and deciding how to apply it.“You have to use it as an assistant rather than as a problem solver,” Ms. Fanelli says. “You’re still the problem solver.”Making AI work for youFor job seekers, AI can be useful throughout the application process. Ms. Fanelli recommends using it to analyse job descriptions, identify the skills employers are seeking, tailor application materials and prepare for interviews. The quality of the results largely depends on the quality of the instructions provided, she noted.At the same time, she stressed that every application should reflect the candidate’s own experience and personality.“Make sure it’s in your voice, that there are no phrases that you would never find yourself saying,” she advises.Turning skills into a jobYet, learning to use AI is only one part of preparing for the job market. For many students and recent graduates, the process itself can feel deeply uncertain and overwhelming.“The whole process, I think, feels really overwhelming,” Ms. Fanelli says. “Students are just feeling overwhelmed by the process and discouraged before they even start.”Pointing to data showing that it takes job seekers in the United States an average of 6.6 months to secure employment, she said sustaining a search over such a long period requires an effective strategy and the resilience to cope with rejection and self-doubt.Many graduates also find themselves caught in what she described as a frustrating paradox. Despite having strong academic qualifications, they often worry that they lack practical experience, leaving them feeling “both overqualified and underqualified”.Feeling unqualified does not necessarily mean that graduates lack the skills employers need. Ms. Fanelli said many underestimate the value of the abilities they have already developed during their studies.“Every job posting, I still see collaboration, communication, teamwork. You’re most likely developing those skills in your education. You just have to think about how you can communicate those skills to an employer in a way that they’ll understand,” she said.Beyond a dream jobAs young people prepare for an uncertain future, Ms. Fanelli encourages them not to put too much pressure on themselves to find the “perfect” career.“The dream job might not be exactly what you think it is,” she said.Rather than searching for a role that fulfils every expectation, she advises young people to look for work that offers a sense of fulfilment in at least one respect, while recognising that purpose can come from many different parts of life.Family, friendships, community and personal interests can all be sources of meaning, she said, and work does not have to provide everything.“A job sometimes is just for financial stability, and that’s okay.”

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Press Release

10 July 2026

At least one million women and girls lose access to critical support as aid cuts dismantle women’s organizations working in humanitarian crises

New York/Geneva, 10 July 2026 – As armed conflicts reach highest levels in 80 years, organizations providing life-saving services to women and girls are running out of money. Beyond the Breaking Point, a new UN Women report published today on the impact of aid cuts, finds that at least one million women and girls have lost access to critical support since January 2025. The report is based on responses from 855 women-led and women’s rights organizations across 52 crisis-and conflict-affected countries.“The women’s organizations at risk of being shut down are on the frontlines of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. In countries including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Haiti, they operate where international actors cannot and stay long after global attention has moved on. Every dollar withdrawn from women’s organizations is a dollar withdrawn from survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, displaced mothers, girls forced from school, and communities struggling to survive”, said Sofia Calltorp, UN Women Chief of Humanitarian Action.The collapse of women’s organizations is happening as needs reach historic levels. Some 120 million women and girls require humanitarian assistance and protection worldwide [1] and 84 per cent of women’s organizations surveyed report that demand for their services has increased since January 2025. Nearly nine in 10 say they can no longer meet current levels of need. Two in five organizations surveyed expect to shut down, temporarily or permanently, within the next year.To keep life-saving services afloat, women leading or working in the organizations surveyed are paying with their own labour, income, and wellbeing. Many are crisis-affected themselves. Sixty-five per cent of women-led organizations report staff working without pay to keep services running. As organizations slip into survival mode, 48 per cent – nearly half – report rising burnout among their staff, while 88 per cent say the mental health of the women and girls they serve is deteriorating.The consequences of the funding cuts are already visible. Half of women’s organizations have introduced waiting lists or are turning away women and girls in need. Ninety-two per cent of organizations report increasing levels of poverty among the women they serve, while 82 per cent report seeing more girls dropping out of school.Conflict-related sexual violence doubled in 2025, just as the systems designed to protect survivors are collapsing. Eighty-six per cent of women’s organizations report an increase in gender-based violence in the communities they serve. Sixty-two per cent of organizations report that safe spaces are no longer available or have been significantly reduced.Behind these numbers are devastating consequences. A woman seeking refuge from violence might show up at the door of a shelter that has shut down; a pregnant woman may have to walk for hours to reach a health clinic; or a mother may be denied food for her children. The women and girls left behind first are those with the fewest alternatives: women and girls in remote, conflict-affected and hard-to-reach communities. Nearly two-thirds, or 63 per cent, of organizations have already cut services in those areas.The report warns that the consequences extend far beyond humanitarian response. The dismantling of women’s organizations is not happening in a vacuum but against a global backlash on the rights of women and girls. One in five organizations has already suspended work advancing women’s leadership and gender equality. More than half are already witnessing declining participation of women in community leadership and local decision-making.UN Women is calling for sustained investment in women’s organizations as indispensable first responders, defenders of women’s rights, and the foundation of peace and recovery. “Without immediate action, the organizations that have kept women and girls alive through the world’s worst crises risk becoming another casualty of war”, concluded Calltorp.UN Women works with and invests in women-led organizations as essential partners in humanitarian action – providing funding, technical support, and advocacy to strengthen their leadership, expand access to life-saving services, and advance inclusive, locally led humanitarian responses that meet the needs of women and girls. [1] UN Women estimate according to 2026, OCHA Humanitarian Needs OverviewAll information provided is reported by respondents and has not been independently verified by UN Women unless otherwise specified.About UN WomenUN Women exists to advance women’s rights, gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. As the lead United Nations entity on gender equality, we shift laws, institutions, social norms and services to close the gender gap and build an equal world for all women and girls. We keep the rights of women and girls at the centre of global progress – always, everywhere. Because gender equality is not just what we do. It is who we are. ContactFor more information or to interview UN Women experts, please contact [ Click to reveal ]

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Press Release

09 December 2025

Seven in ten women human rights defenders, activists and journalists report online violence

Geneva – 9 December 2025 – Online violence against women human rights defenders, activists and journalists has reached a tipping point, often fueling offline attacks, according to a new report released today, produced by the European Commission and UN Women’s ACT to End Violence against Women programme, in partnership with researchers from TheNerve, City St George’s, University of London and the International Center for Journalists, and in collaboration with UNESCO. Without strong countermeasures, online violence risks driving women out of digital spaces, undermining democracy and freedom of expression. The report, Tipping point: The chilling escalation of violence against women in the public sphere, shows that 70 per cent of surveyed women have experienced online violence in the course of their work. Furthermore, 41 per cent of respondents reported offline harm linked to online abuse. For women journalists, the link between online abuse and offline harm has become more concerning. In a 2020 global survey published by UNESCO, 20 per cent of women journalists associated the offline attacks or abuse they experienced with online violence. In the new 2025 survey – conducted by the same researchers and presented in this report – that share of journalists and media workers has more than doubled to 42 per cent.“These figures confirm that digital violence is not virtual – it’s real violence with real-world consequences”, said Sarah Hendricks, Director of Policy, Programme and Intergovernmental Division at UN Women. “Women who speak up for our human rights, report the news or lead social movements are being targeted with abuse designed to shame, silence and push them out of public debate. Increasingly, those attacks do not stop at the screen – they end at women’s front doors. We cannot allow online spaces to become platforms for intimidation that silence women and undermine democracy.”“This data shows that in the age of AI-fueled abuse and rising authoritarianism, online violence against women in the public sphere is increasing. But what’s truly disturbing is the evidence that women journalists’ experience of offline harm associated with online violence has more than doubled since 2020 – with 42 per cent of 2025 survey participants identifying this dangerous and potentially deadly trajectory”, said Professor Julie Posetti, lead researcher and Director of TheNerve’s Information Integrity Initiative. The report also finds that close to one in four surveyed women human rights defenders, activists and journalists have experienced AI-assisted online violence, such as deepfake imagery and manipulated content. Writers and public communicators (e.g., social media content creators and influencers) who focus on human rights issues face the highest exposure, at 30 per cent.The report comes as the world wraps up the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. This year’s campaign is dedicated to raising awareness about digital violence, with calls for stronger laws and policies to recognize technology-facilitated violence against women as a human rights violation; robust regulation and accountability for tech companies; safety protocols and support systems for women human rights defenders, activists, journalists; and investment in research and data to monitor trends, understand intersectional impacts, and inform evidence-based policy and practice. UN Women will close the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign with a corporate strategy to prevent and respond to technology-facilitated violence against women, focused on strengthening accountability, closing evidence and data gaps, accelerating prevention and survivor-centered responses, as well as building greater resilience and amplifying the voices of women’s rights movements and women leaders.For interviews, contact the UN Women media team on media.team@unwomen.orgAbout ACTThe Advocacy, Coalition Building and Transformative Feminist Action (ACT) programme, is a game-changing commitment between the European Commission and UN Women as co-leaders of the Action Coalition on Gender Based Violence (GBV), in collaboration with the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. The ACT shared advocacy agenda is elevating the priorities and amplifying the voices of feminist women’s rights movements and providing a collaborative framework focused on common priorities, strategies and actions.About UN Women
UN Women exists to advance women’s rights, gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. As the lead UN entity on gender equality, we shift laws, institutions, social behaviours and services to close the gender gap and build an equal world for all women and girls. We keep the rights of women and girls at the centre of global progress – always, everywhere. Because gender equality is not just what we do. It is who we are.About the Information Integrity InitiativeThe Information Integrity Initiative is a new project of TheNerve, the digital forensics lab founded by Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa. It anchors action-oriented research at the intersection of gender, disinformation, freedom of expression and public interest media.

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Press Release

25 November 2025

United Nations, Femicide Report 2024 Every 10 Minutes, a Woman or Girl Is Killed

On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, 25 November, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN Women jointly released a global report emphasizing that violence against women and girls is entirely preventable, yet femicide rates remain alarmingly high.According to the report, in 2024, 50,000 women and girls were killed by an intimate partner or a family member. This figure represents approximately 60 per cent of all intentional femicides. In 2023, the number was 51,100. The observed decrease is attributed to inequalities or discrepancies in country-specific data and does not reflect a genuine reduction. Today, every 10 minutes, a woman or girl is killed by someone close to her.The report states that, on average, 137 women and girls killed every day by intimate partners or family members. In contrast, only 11 per cent of male homicides occur in private settings.Regional Overview: Africa Has the Highest Rate, Europe Remains at RiskIn 2024, Africa recorded the highest rate of intimate partner or family-related femicides, with 3 victims per 100,000 population. The Americas and Oceania follow at 1.5 and 1.4 victims per 100,000, respectively. While Asia (0.7 per 100,000) and Europe (0.5 per 100,000) reported lower rates compared to the global average, the proportion of women killed by intimate partners in Europe is striking: in 2024, 64 per cent of women killed in Europe were murdered by their intimate partners.Examples from Europe and Central Asia reveal that many women face digital forms of violence before being killed, such as catfishing, doxing, online defamation, and cross-platform harassment. Some women are killed shortly after the perpetrator is released from prison. According to UNFPA data, the situation in Türkiye is similarly concerning. One in four young internet users in Türkiye experiences digital violence, and women are 27 times more likely than men to be affected.Digital Violence Kills: Hate Online Harms OfflineThe report highlights that online violence is not merely a “virtual” threat; rather, it is a tangible form of violence that leaves women and girls highly vulnerable to physical abuse and homicide. Research from the United Kingdom indicates that 60 per cent of women killed in domestic settings were monitored online before their deaths. Women with high public profiles, such as journalists, politicians, and activists, are among the groups most exposed to digital violence. Globally, one in four women journalists and, in many regions, 1 in 3 to 4 women politicians report receiving online threats, including death threats. Digital technologies facilitate the spread of violence against women in virtual environments, and women and girls are sometimes killed as a result of images and videos shared online. In certain cases, these murders are even broadcast live on social media, revealing the direct link between digital violence and deadly real-world consequences.Women are exposed to numerous forms of technology-facilitated violence, including catfishing, doxing, cyberflashing, online defamation, cross-platform harassment, sealioning, sextortion, and the misuse of image-based content.The joint 16 Days of Activism campaign by UN Women and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) this year is themed “End Digital Violence against Women and Girls. Full Stop!” highlighting the relationship between digital and physical violence.Statement from UN Women Türkiye Country Director Maryse Guimond“This report reminds us of a clear reality: femicide is not inevitable, it is preventable. Violence often begins in the digital sphere, continues through threats, pressure, and harassment, and, without timely intervention, ends in fatal outcomes. Everyone needs practical tools for online safety. Women and girls must know how to protect their accounts, recognize abusive behaviour, report incidents quickly, and support targeted individuals. To safeguard the right to life of every woman and girl, we must take early warning signs seriously and establish robust justice and effective protection mechanisms in both online and offline spaces.”Data-Driven Policy is EssentialThe report stresses that femicide data is underreported in many countries, resulting in invisibility that demands urgent action.UN Women and UNODC continue to work with countries to implement the international statistical framework adopted in 2022.The full report is available here: https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2025/11/femicides-in-2024-global-estimates-of-intimate-partner-family-member-femicides

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Press Release

15 October 2025

Statement: Rural women rising – shaping resilient futures with Beijing+30

On this International Day of Rural Women, we call for bold action to advance the equality, rights, and empowerment of women and girls living in rural settings. Every day, they feed communities, protect the environment, and power sustainable development. Investing in them is both an act of justice and a safeguard for our shared future.For generations, women in rural settings have driven collective movements for change: mobilizing communities, influencing policies, and championing vital issues such as climate justice. Their leadership continues to build bridges between local action and global progress, even as rural areas are hit hardest by extreme poverty and food insecurity, impacting women, youth, and Indigenous Peoples the most. If current trends continue, 351 million women and girls will still live in extreme poverty by 2030.Amid these challenges, Verene Ntakirutimana’s story from Rwanda demonstrates how empowering women in rural settings creates tangible, lasting change. With support from the Joint Programme on Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment, she transitioned from subsistence farming to a thriving small business. Her success shifted community attitudes: challenging stereotypes, promoting shared decision-making, and inspiring others to follow her example.This year’s theme ‘Rural Women Rising’ is both a tribute and a call to action. Advancing their livelihoods, leadership, rights, and resilience --as set out in the Beijing+30 Action Agenda-- is essential. Initiatives such as the International Year of Women Farmers in 2026 and the Inter-American Decade for the Rights of All Women, Adolescents and Girls in Rural Settings (2024–2034), as well as community movements like Women to Kilimanjaro, offer powerful opportunities to make their work visible, their voices heard, and their rights recognized.When rural women rise, fields flourish, families thrive, and societies transform, propelling us toward the vision of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the SDGs.

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