International Day for Women and Girls of African Descent

“This 25 July 2025, we mark the first commemoration of the International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent , proclaimed by the General Assembly in August 2024. This momentous occasion serves as a call to prevent and eliminate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against women and girls of African descent, to honour their profound contributions throughout history, and, together, and to reaffirm our solidarity with their ongoing struggles as we enter the Second International Decade for People of African Descent (2025-2034) . We recall that in the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action , States acknowledged the distinct and compounded manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, women and girls face, and called for gender-sensitive approaches in addressing racism and for the empowerment and protection of women and girls. Throughout the centuries and despite facing oppression and marginalization, women and gir...

  On the first International Day for Women and Girls of African Descent, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk honours their courage, leadership, and contributions — and calls for urgent action to end systemic racism, sexism, and exclusion. #fightracism On this first international day of women and girls of African descent, we honor the courage, creativity, and contributions of this important community. And we call urgently and insistently for the advancements of their human rights. Women of African descent have been presidents, poets, physicists, and peacebuilders. and I've had the honor of meeting many of them throughout my work with the United Nations. The work of women of African descent sustains communities and economies. They are guardians of culture and traditional knowledge and they have led transformative movements against enslavement, colonialism and apartheid. In many countries, women of African descent are among the most consistent supporters of justice, of equality, and sus...

“Women and girls of African descent are not merely victims of an unequal system; we are also leaders, thinkers, writers, mothers, artists, students, lawyers, fisherwomen, guardians of ancestral knowledge — and anything else we choose to be,” said Franciele Silva, a Brazilian law student at the Federal University of Bahia. The International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent , observed for the first time this 25 July, is a call to move beyond statements toward bold, transformative action, including investment in education, dismantling stereotypes, and ensuring leadership representation. “This day serves as a way to make our struggles, our existence, and our contributions visible — things that are so often erased or silenced,” Silva said. For Hanadi Saad Al Farhan, a humanitarian and community development professional based in Basrah, Iraq and former UN fellow of African descent , this day reminds the world that women and girls of African descent matter. “Visibility is dignity. ...

Interactive multi-stakeholder hearing on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Opening segment Interactive panel discussion The President of the General Assembly, with the support of UN-Women, will organize and preside over an interactive multi-stakeholder hearing on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, pursuant to General Assembly resolution 79/288, entitled " Scope, modalities, format and organization of the high-level meeting on the thirtieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women ", as part of the preparations for the high level meeting of the General Assembly. Guiding questionsWhat is one concrete way your work is helping to deliver gender equality outcomes and contribute to broader SDG goals in your community, country or sector? What gaps do you see? How are partnerships and collective action enabling you to scale your impact? What is one actio...

In East and Southern Africa, the Generation Equality team is supporting the regional Africa Beijing+30 review by engaging commitment makers, empowering youth activists and champions, and leading monthly deep dives on the 12 critical areas of the Beijing Platform for Action.

We work to achieve the empowerment of all women and girls and the full enjoyment of their human rights in East and Southern Africa. As the only UN entity dedicated entirely to gender equality and women’s empowerment, UN Women has a special role to play in advancing the global development agenda. Our ability to partner with and engage a range of actors across governments, civil society, the private sector and media truly sets us apart. Building a Gender-Equal Africa - UN Building a Gender-Equal Africa (Beijing 30+).

The woman and girl child of African descent embodies strength, resilience, and untapped potential, yet they remain among the most marginalized groups globally due to the intersection of racial, gender, and socio-economic discrimination. From limited access to quality education and healthcare to underrepresentation in political and professional spaces, they often navigate systemic barriers that hinder their development and violate their rights. Despite these challenges, they continue to rise—leading movements, excelling in academics and careers, advocating for justice, and breaking generational cycles of poverty and exclusion. Their lived experiences highlight not only the impact of injustice but also the transformative power of opportunity and equity. Empowering women and girls of African descent requires a comprehensive approach grounded in human rights, cultural affirmation, and inclusive policy-making. Governments, institutions, and communities must commit to dismantling discrimin...

Call to action to Invest in education , skills training, and mentorship programmes for girls and young women of African descent.

Call to action to combat negative racial and gender stereotypes in media, policy, and education.

Call to action to Ensure representation of Women and Girls of African Descent in political, legal, and corporate leadership

  Call to Action to support data collection that is disaggregated by race and gender to inform targeted, just policies.

Call to Action to protect rights defenders, activists, and community leaders from violence and suppression.

The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) is a transformative, continent-wide movement that empowers women of African descent to lead in the political, economic, and social transformation of the continent. Supported by the African Union Commission and UN Women, AWLN aligns with Africa Agenda 2063 , particularly Aspiration 6: “The Africa We Want” , and Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality. Under the leadership of AUC Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, AWLN works to ensure women play their rightful role in all areas of life. Through regional consultations and national chapters, AWLN mobilizes women across Africa to become catalysts for inclusive and sustainable development.

Gender data gaps continue to hinder progress toward equality for women and girls of African descent. While data on intimate partner violence exists, critical gaps remain, especially in areas like online abuse, humanitarian crises, and intersecting issues such as race, disability, and migration. In many African countries, limited funding and weak gender statistics systems make these experiences invisible in policymaking. Without disaggregated, context-specific data, prevention and response efforts fall short. To truly advance gender equality and meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) , we must invest in robust, intersectional gender data systems that center the realities of women and girls of African descent and inform transformative action.  Learn about the way to close the gender data gap

Women and girls of African descent continue to face multiple and overlapping forms of discrimination, manifesting in higher rates of poverty ( SDG 1 ), barriers to education ( SDG 4 ), limited access to quality healthcare ( SDG 3 ), and underrepresentation in decision-making ( SDG 5 , SDG 10 , SDG 16 ). Despite these injustices, their resilience shines through. From grassroots organizing to professional excellence, their contributions are shaping communities, economies, and cultures. They are not just beneficiaries of development, they are leaders of it.