UNIFEM
Encyclopedia
The United Nations Development Fund for Women, commonly known as UNIFEM (from the French "Fonds de développement des Nations unies pour la femme") was established in December 1976 originally as the Voluntary Fund for the United Nations Decade for Women in the International Women's Year
. Its first director was Dr. Margaret Snyder, Ph.D. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies that promote women
’s human rights
, political participation and economic security. Since 1976 it has supported women’s empowerment
and gender equality
through its programme offices and links with women’s organizations in the major regions of the world. Its work on gender responsive budgets began in 1996 in Southern Africa
and has expanded to include East Africa
, Southeast Asia
, South Asia
, Central America
and the Andean region
. It has worked to increase awareness throughout the UN system of gender responsive budgets as a tool to strengthen economic governance in all countries.
UNIFEM was part of the United Nations Development Group (UNDG). It's role in the UNDG is now taken over by its successor, UN Women
.
HRH Princess Basma bint Talal of Jordan
was appointed UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador
in 1996.
On January 26, 2006 UNIFEM nominated Nicole Kidman
as its goodwill ambassador.
The current Executive Director of UNIFEM is Inés Alberdi
.
In January 2011, Unifem was merged into UN Women
, a composite entity of the UN, along with International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues (OSAGI), and Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW).
International Women's Year
International Women's Year was the name given to 1975 by the United Nations. Since that year March 8 has been celebrated as International Women's Day, and the United Nations Decade for Women, from 1976–1985, was also established.-International:...
. Its first director was Dr. Margaret Snyder, Ph.D. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies that promote women
Woman
A woman , pl: women is a female human. The term woman is usually reserved for an adult, with the term girl being the usual term for a female child or adolescent...
’s human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, political participation and economic security. Since 1976 it has supported women’s empowerment
Empowerment
Empowerment refers to increasing the spiritual, political, social, racial, educational, gender or economic strength of individuals and communities...
and gender equality
Gender equality
Gender equality is the goal of the equality of the genders, stemming from a belief in the injustice of myriad forms of gender inequality.- Concept :...
through its programme offices and links with women’s organizations in the major regions of the world. Its work on gender responsive budgets began in 1996 in Southern Africa
Southern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
and has expanded to include East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
, Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
, Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
and the Andean region
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
. It has worked to increase awareness throughout the UN system of gender responsive budgets as a tool to strengthen economic governance in all countries.
UNIFEM was part of the United Nations Development Group (UNDG). It's role in the UNDG is now taken over by its successor, UN Women
UN Women
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as UN Women, is a United Nations entity working for the empowerment of women and girls....
.
HRH Princess Basma bint Talal of Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
was appointed UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador is a collective term sometimes used as a substitute honorific title or a title of honor for an Ambassador of Goodwill; but, most appropriately for a generic recognition, it is a job position or description that is usually indicated following the name of the individual recognized...
in 1996.
On January 26, 2006 UNIFEM nominated Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman
Nicole Mary Kidman, AC is an American-born Australian actress, singer, film producer, spokesmodel, and humanitarian. After starring in a number of small Australian films and TV shows, Kidman's breakthrough was in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm...
as its goodwill ambassador.
The current Executive Director of UNIFEM is Inés Alberdi
Inés Alberdi
Inés Alberdi is the Executive Director of UNIFEM and has been a noted academic, policy advisor and policy maker on family and women’s issues.- Career :...
.
In January 2011, Unifem was merged into UN Women
UN Women
The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, also known as UN Women, is a United Nations entity working for the empowerment of women and girls....
, a composite entity of the UN, along with International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues (OSAGI), and Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW).
Executive Directors
- Inés AlberdiInés AlberdiInés Alberdi is the Executive Director of UNIFEM and has been a noted academic, policy advisor and policy maker on family and women’s issues.- Career :...
of Spain (2007–Present) - Noeleen HeyzerNoeleen HeyzerNoeleen Heyzer currently serves as the Executive Secretary of United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific . She was appointed to the position by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in July 2007....
of Singapore (1994–2007) - Sharon Capeling-AlakijaSharon Capeling-AlakijaSharon Capeling-Alakija, O.C. was a Canadian development administrator. She was born and grew up in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, where she completed her elementary, secondary and tertiary education, graduating in 1966 with a B.Ed. from the University of Saskatchewan...
of Canada (1989–1994) - Margaret SnyderMargaret SnyderMargaret E. Snyder is an American politician from California and a member of the Democratic Party. A former legal secretary and community volunteer, she served on the Modesto School Board from 1985 until 1992, when she won election to the newly created 25th district in the California State...
of the USA (1978–1989) - Mark GrantMark GrantMark Andrew Grant is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher and is the current color commentator for the San Diego Padres' television broadcasts.-Career:...
of the United Kingdom (2007-Present) - Phillip Parham of the United Kingdom (2007-Present)
External links
- UNIFEM website now redirects to UN Women website.
- Goodwill Embassy
- United Nations Rule of Law: The United Nations Development Fund for Women, on the rule of lawRule of lawThe rule of law, sometimes called supremacy of law, is a legal maxim that says that governmental decisions should be made by applying known principles or laws with minimal discretion in their application...
work conducted by the United Nations Development Fund for Women.