Resources
Explore a wide range of valuable resources on GCED to deepen your understanding and enhance your research, advocacy, teaching, and learning.
41 Results found
Beyond COVID-19: A Feminist Plan for Sustainability and Social Justice Year of publication: 2021 Corporate author: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) As the world learns to live with COVID-19, to emerge from the current crisis, and to “build back better”, UN Women’s new Feminist Plan for Sustainability and Social Justice is a visionary but practical roadmap for putting gender equality, social justice, and sustainability at the centre of the recovery. The Feminist Plan maps the ambitious and transformative policies – on livelihoods, care, and the environment – that are needed to build a more equal and sustainable future. To get there, calls for context-specific policy pathways, tailored political strategies, and financing. The plan identifies key levers that can create change and the actors at global, national, local levels that need to take action to move towards this vision. 
Women’s Rights in Review 30 Years after Beijing Year of publication: 2025 Corporate author: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) In 2025, the world celebrates 30 years of achievement on the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a visionary 1995 plan agreed by 189 governments to achieve the equal rights of all women and girls. The UN Secretary-General’s report on the 30-year review and appraisal of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action reflects global, regional, and national reviews of 159 countries, summarizing progress and priorities for further action. It finds that many countries have made strides on gender equality and women’s empowerment, from banning discrimination in employment to adopting gender-responsive climate action plans. Innovation is accelerating progress, and opportunities are opening to scale up proven strategies. Yet gender discrimination remains deeply embedded in all economies and societies, imposing chronic constraints on the rights and hopes of women and girls. 
Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The gender snapshot 2019 Year of publication: 2019 Corporate author: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) This publication was created to inform those discussions, by bringing together the latest available evidence on gender equality across all 17 Goals, underscoring the progress made as well as the action still needed to accelerate progress. 
Women in politics: 2019 Year of publication: 2019 Corporate author: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) | Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) The “Women in politics: 2019” map, created by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women, depicts global rankings for women in the executive and parliamentary branches of government as of 1 January 2019. The map shows progress towards gender equality in these areas at regional and national levels. 
Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2021 Year of publication: 2021 Corporate author: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) | UN. Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN. DESA) The pandemic has tested and even reversed progress in expanding women’s rights and opportunities. Women have not recovered lost jobs and income, hunger is on the rise, and school closures threaten girls’ educational gains. Women’s participation in government, research and resource management remains far from equal. Vulnerable groups of women, including migrants, those with disabilities and those affected by conflict, are frequently left behind. Disparities between rich and poor countries are preventing equal access to lifesaving COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, putting women in poorer countries at disproportionate risk. Moreover, despite women’s central roles in responding to COVID-19, including as front-line health workers, they do not have the leadership positions they deserve. Building forward differently and better will require placing women and girls at the centre of all aspects of response and recovery, including through gender- responsive laws, policies and budgeting.Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2021 presents the latest evidence on gender equality across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting the progress made since 2015 but also the continued alarm over the COVID-19 pandemic, its immediate effect on women’s well-being and the threat it poses to future generations. 
Turning Promises into Action: Gender Equality in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Year of publication: 2018 Corporate author: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) “Turning promises into action: Gender equality in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” provides a comprehensive and authoritative assessment of progress, gaps and challenges in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from a gender perspective. This report monitors global and regional trends in achieving the SDGs for women and girls based on available data, and provides practical guidance for the implementation of gender-responsive policies and accountability processes. As a source of high-quality data and policy analysis, the report is a key reference and accountability tool for policymakers, women’s organizations, the UN system, and other stakeholders. 
COVID-19: How to Include Marginalized and Vulnerable People in Risk Communication and Community Engagement Year of publication: 2020 Corporate author: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) | Regional Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Women, the elderly, adolescents, youth, and children, persons with disabilities, indigenous populations, refugees, migrants, and minorities experience the highest degree of socio-economic marginalization. Marginalized people become even more vulnerable in emergencies. This is due to factors such as their lack of access to effective surveillance and early-warning systems, and health services. The COVID-19 outbreak is predicted to have significant impacts on various sectors. The development of this guide was led by UN Women and Translators without Borders on behalf of the Risk Communication and Community Engagement Working Group on COVID-19 Preparedness and Response in Asia and the Pacific, co-chaired by WHO, IFRC and OCHA. 
Girl Goals: What has Changed for Girls? Adolescent Girls’ Rights over 30 Years Year of publication: 2025 Corporate author: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) | United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) | Plan International This report makes three key recommendations on action we can take now to advance adolescent girls’ rights at scale, in ways that account for fiscally constrained contexts and multiple competing priorities: 1. Ensure tangible and actionable support for adolescent girls’ voices, advocacy and action. The current generation of girls are raising their voices to be heard and are already at the forefront of making change around the world. With the right support, resources and seats at the table, adolescent girls can help transform the world for the better, shaping better policy outcomes for themselves and everyone. This is not about girls’ voices above all others, or endless consultation, but about specific, meaningful actions that ensure girls get the support they need and are heard on policy issues that matter to them. 2. Establish and track explicit targets for change for adolescent girls, who are too often invisible and sidelined Setting explicit targets to monitor outcomes for adolescent girls is key to making progress. Context-specific prioritization will be necessary, but there are some issues that stand out globally. Gaps in progress (such as child marriage gains accruing disproportionately to wealthier households) demonstrate the need forprogrammes that address poverty and economic realities alongside harmful social norms. The disproportionate number of adolescent girls not in education, employment or training, not entering the labour market as young women, and left behind when it comes to digital skills, is a threat to the gains made for girls and to economic growth that will benefit everyone. Stagnation on issues like underweight also stand out. Country- specific priorities supported by data- driven accountability mechanisms and investments are needed to translate policy commitments into change on the ground. 3. Resource and deliver smartly to unlock the social and economic dividend Governments and partners should invest in solutions proven to change outcomes across multiple SDGs at scale – for example, investing in education and skills, cash transfers and economic empowerment programmes designed to support girls. Existing systems, from maternal health care to school curricula, should be adapted to meet girls’ needs rather than creating small- scale, separate projects. Streamlined, evidence-based ‘add-ons’ – such as adding parenting support to existing maternal health-care programmes – can be cost effective and accelerate outcomes if well designed. Change is possible, and this report shows that great gains have been made. Smart investments now can transform the world for girls, families, communities and national economies. It is time to act. 
A New Era for Girls: Taking Stock on 25 Years of Progress for Girls Year of publication: 2020 Corporate author: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) | United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) | Plan International The analysis presented in this report demonstrates that while girls' lives are better today than they were 25 years ago, the gains are uneven across all regions. The report calls on global, national and regional stakeholders to expand opportunities for girls and young women to be the changemakers and designers of the solutions to their challenges and opportunities; invest in the skills development of adolescent girls so they can compete in today's labour market; improve girls' health and nutrition; and end violence in all its forms against them. 
Gender, Climate & Security: Sustaining Inclusive Peace on the Frontlines of Climate Change Year of publication: 2020 Corporate author: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) | United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) | United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Climate change is a defining threat to peace and security in the 21st century – its impacts felt by everyone, but not equally. Gender norms and power dynamics shape how women and men of different backgrounds experience or contribute to insecurity in a changing climate. Grounded in a series of case studies from research and programming experience, this report offers a comprehensive framework for understanding how gender, climate and security are inextricably linked. The report assesses entry points for action across existing global agendas and suggests concrete recommendations for how policymakers, development practitioners and donors can advance three inter-related goals: peace and security, climate action and gender equality.