UN Women at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 80)

UN Women at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 80)

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The 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80)comes at a historic crossroads: 80 years after the UN's founding, 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 15 years of UN Women and 5 years to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Opening on 9 September 2025 under the theme "Better Together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights,"this session is not business as usual. It is the boldest reform in UN history and the ultimate test of multilateralism. For UN Women, September 2025 is a month of defining moments: from the High-Level Meeting on Beijing+30 (22 September), to global report launches, high-level side events, and public mobilization through the Peace Is All of Uscampaign and the SDG Media Zone. Across all activations, UN Women will deliver a unifying message of urgency, hope, and possibility: advancing the Beijing+30 Action Agenda, placing gender equality at the heart of the SDGs' final push.

UNGA80 Report launch: "Half the world, only a quarter of the news"

When: 4 September 2025

Read the report and watch the recording here.

On 4 September 2025 in New York, UN Women and WACC launched the latest Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP), the world's largest and longest-running study on gender in news media. Thirty years after Beijing, findings showed that women appeared in just 26 per cent of broadcast, radio, and print news - virtually unchanged in 15 years. Coverage of gender-based violence remained rare, and journalism challenging stereotypes reached its lowest level in three decades. While the share of women journalists increased to 41 per cent, the report underscored stalled progress and growing backlash. UN Women leaders called for urgent accountability to ensure women's voices shape every newsroom and story. Read the report and watch the recording here.

UNGA80 Media report launch: "Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2025"

When: 16 September 2025 at 12:45 p.m. EDT

Where: UN Headquarters, Noon Briefing

Livestream: UN Web TV

UN Women and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs will launch Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2025on 16 September 2025 at 12:45 p.m. EDT during a press briefing at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The Gender Snapshot is the world's leading source of data on gender equality and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Drawing from more than 100 data sources, it tracks progress for women and girls across all 17 Sustainable Development Goals. With just five years left to deliver on the 2030 Agenda, and three decades since the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action, the report offers both a stark warning and a clear way forward. Anchored in the Beijing+30 Action Agenda, it identifies six priority areas where urgent, accelerated action is needed to achieve gender equality for all women and girls by 2030.

UNGA80 Side event: Free Future 2025

When: 18 September

Where: Ford Foundation

On 18 September 2025, the Ford Foundation, Pivotal Ventures, and the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women and Girls (UN Trust Fund) will co-host Free Future 2025: Our Money, Our Lives - Economic Pathways to a Violence-Free World, produced by The Meteor, ahead of UNGA80. Framed within the Beijing+30 Action Agenda, the event will explore how transforming economic structures can prevent gender-based violence, support survivors, and promote dignity and safety for all. Featured speakers include Charlize Theron, FKA twigs, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and Tarana Burke. The event will also launch the UN Trust Fund's 2025 Call for Proposals: Resourcing Resilience - Investing in Civil Society Leadership to End Violence against Women and Girls and spotlight grantee partners from Lebanon and Mexico.

UNGA80 Side event: At risk and underfunded: The impact of global funding cuts on women's rights organizations working to end violence against women and girls

When: 21 September 2025, 3-4 p.m. EDT

Where: UN Headquarters

On 21 September, from 3-4.30 p.m., at UN Headquarters, New York, this UNGA80 side event will spotlight the funding crisis women's rights organizations working to end violence against women and girls are facing. Despite proven impact, women's rights organizations receive less than 1 per cent of gender equality official development assistance, putting life-saving services and prevention at risk. UN Women will present findings from its 2025 global survey under the EU-funded ACT Programme, with reflections from civil society and donors. The event will call for long-term, flexible financing and stronger partnerships to sustain feminist movements as essential actors for achieving SDG 5.

UNGA80 High-level meeting on the thirtieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women

When: 22 September 2025, 10 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Where: UN Headquarters, General Assembly Hall (TBC)

Livestream: UN Web TV

On 22 September 2025, world leaders will gather at the United Nations for the High-Level Meeting on the Thirtieth Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women (Beijing+30). Convened by the President of the General Assembly with the support of UN Women, the meeting will be held under the theme: "Recommitting to, resourcing and accelerating the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls."It will highlight achievements, best practices, gaps, and challenges - while mobilizing measurable commitments through the Beijing+30 Action Agenda. The UN Secretary-General, The President of the General Assembly, and UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous will address the Opening Segment among other key speakers.

UNGA80 SDG media zone: UN Women Spotlight sessions

When: 22 September 2025 to 26 September 2025
Where: UN Visitor Plaza, UN Headquarters

Organized by the UN Department of Global Communications in collaboration with the PVBLIC Foundation, the SDG Media Zone takes the conversation on sustainable development beyond policy rooms and into the global public sphere through impactful interviews and dialogues. At UNGA80, UN Women will curate a series of high-profile sessions highlighting urgent gender equality issues and solutions. These will include closing the digital gender gap and the opportunities it unlocks; confronting online misogyny as an emerging threat to women's rights; leveraging the power of sports to drive equality and empowerment; and reimagining the future of women, peace and security. Together, these sessions will amplify women's voices, challenge stereotypes, and spark action for a more equal and inclusive world.

UNGA80 "Peace is all of us" Campaign and summit

When: 23 September 2025, 4.30-6 p.m. EDT
Where: New York, online

In commemoration of the International Day of Peace, the Peace Is All of UsSummit will be organized on the margins of UNGA80 by the United Nations Women's Peace & Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) on 23 September 2025, 4.30-6 p.m. EDT (TBC) at UN Women Headquarters, New York. As part of the WPHF"Peace Is" flagship campaign and global summit series -launching in London on 17 September at the London School of Economics and continuing in New York 23 September in partnership with NYU, WILPF, UNF and UN Women - this urgent intergenerational dialogue will bridge global commitments with lived experiences and spotlight women's leadership, youth activism, and local solutions. The event will be in-person, livestreamed, and followed by the appearance of WPHF global advocate Kristen Bell at Global Citizen Festival in Central Park on Saturday, 27 September. Join the conversation, make peace personal and shareable and use your voice and platforms with #PeaceIs| #MyPieceForPeace| #PassThePeaceto show what peace means to you.

UNGA80 Side event: HeForShe Summit and the launch of the HeForShe Barbershop Toolkit 2.0

When: HeForShe Summit 23 September, 7-9 p.m. and Barbershop Toolkit 2.0 Launch 25 September, 2-3.30 p.m.

Where: UN Headquarters and other venues

The HeForShe Summit, held during UNGA80 under the theme of Equitable Masculinities and Safe Digital Spaces, will address the "manosphere", a sprawling digital ecosystem fueling misogyny and disinformation. The event will serve as a rallying point to reclaim online spaces for gender equality and will showcase positive male role models supporting equality across all Sustainable Development Goals. At this summit, the HeForShe Alliance will unveil its 2025 IMPACT Report, which offers a timely reflection on both transformative progress and urgent challenges, especially in the online sphere.

The launch of the second edition of the HeForShe Barbershop Toolkitwill offer a practical, peer-led model for engaging men in meaningful conversations on gender equality. The updated toolkit -developed with the Government of Iceland, feminist leaders, civil society, and global practitioners - is rooted in a decade of implementation, learning, and listening to respond to today's urgent global context with an intersectional, action-oriented approach.

Read last year's full report here: HeForShe 2024 IMPACT Report

UNGA80 Event and report launch: "Unfinished Business: Private Sector and Gender Equality Report"

When: 24 September 2025 at 8.30 a.m. EDT
Where: UN Women Headquarters

UN Women will unveil Unfinished Business: Private Sector and Gender Equalityon 24 September 2025 at 8.30 a.m. EDT at UN Women Headquarters. This comprehensive report presents a global overview of progress and remaining gaps in corporate initiatives to advance gender equality and women's empowerment. Drawing on promising practices, the report aims to encourage collaboration among the public and private sectors, UN agencies, and partners to catalyze transformative change for women and girls. It calls on governments, companies, investors, the United Nations, and data providers to close evidence gaps, strengthen accountability, and put women's rights at the core of business practices. The event is in-person and online, and the press launch will take place on 18 September (TBC).

UNGA80 Side event: Deepening Women, Peace, and Security commitments for action: Innovating and adapting to deliver on peace and security

When: 24 September 2025, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. EDT
Where: UN Headquarters

Livestream: UN Web TV

On 24 September 2025, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. EDT at UN Headquarters, New York, the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Focal Points Network - the largest of its kind with 96 UN Member States and 10 regional organizations - will convene its annual Ministerial-Level Side Event during UNGA80. Hosted by Japan and Norway with UN Women as Secretariat, the meeting comes as conflicts, sexual violence, militarization, and crises intensify globally. On the 25th anniversary of UNSCR 1325, ministerial delegates and senior officials will reaffirm that the world needs more women, peace, and security, not fewer. The event will be in-person only and livestreamed. 

UNGA80 Side event: "How empowering her transforms the world"

When: 25 September 2025, 8.30-10.30 a.m. EDT
Where: Swedish Residence

On 25 September 2025, 8.30-10.30 am at the Swedish Residence, the Government of Sweden and UN Women will co-host a high-level event on women's economic empowerment as a cornerstone of gender equality and sustainable development. Featuring remarks from Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous, and a keynote by UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Danai Gurira, this high-level event will spotlight transformative approaches to women's empowerment, drawing on lived experiences, evidence, and innovation. With insights from global leaders and changemakers from across the globe, it will explore how shifting power, challenging norms, and investing in women's empowerment - from the arts and sport, to peacebuilding and campaigning - can unlock prosperity for all.

UNGA80 Side event: Women's leadership for peace

When: 26 September 2025 at 11 a.m.-12.30 p.m EDT
Where: UN Headquarters

The UN Women Leaders Network - a global intergenerational and intersectional group of high-level women leaders advocating for gender-equal participation in leadership and decision-making - will host Women's Leadership for Peaceon Friday, 26 September 2025, 11 a.m.-12.30 p.m. In cooperation with the United Nations Foundation, the event will spotlight women's leadership in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and crisis response. UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous, who serves as the Network's Chair, will deliver opening remarks and the panel discussion will feature distinguished speakers from the UN Women Leaders Network who will bring their diverse perspectives and rich experience to this timely discussion.

Topics

• 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
• UN system coordination