Improvement in the status of women in the United Nations system: Report of the Secretary-General (2025)

Thirty years after the Beijing Platform for Action and eight years since the launch of the “System-wide strategy on gender parity”, 2025 marks a historic milestone. Women now represent more than half (50.4 per cent) of staff in Professional and higher categories across the UN system.

This biennial report (A/80/260), mandated by the UN General Assembly, takes stock of progress made between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2023 and highlights key developments through mid-2025. Since the last report, the representation of women in the Professional and higher categories increased from 47 per cent in 2021 to 48.8 per cent in 2023. Parity in the Senior Management Group and among resident coordinators has been maintained since 2018, and gender parity at headquarters locations, first achieved in 2021, has also been sustained. However, challenges have persisted, particularly in mission settings and at the D-2 level, where women’s representation lags.

Drawing insights from 72 UN entities, the report goes beyond numbers, sharing practical solutions, success stories, and fresh ideas. From mentorship programs to bias-free recruitment, and from flexible work policies to stronger accountability, it highlights what is working and where more effort is needed. It encourages strong leadership, better accountability, and targeted actions to speed up progress.

Whether you are shaping policy or driving change on the ground, this report offers a clear, action-oriented roadmap to help the United Nations achieve gender parity goals by 2028. It is a must-read for anyone committed to building a more equal and inclusive workplace for everyone.