On June 12, the global Seal community gathered virtually for the UNDP Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions Global Awards Ceremony 2025, a prestigious event recognizing public institutions certified with the Gold, Silver, or Bronze Gender Seal during 2024 and the first half of 2025. The ceremony highlighted their outstanding commitment and results in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in public institutions and policies around the world.
Honoring Excellence: The 2025 Awardees
The 2025 Global Awards Ceremony celebrated ten public institutions from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Chile, Guatemala, Mongolia, and Peru, certified at three distinguished levels of achievement – Gold, Silver, and Bronze – reflecting their progress in embedding gender equality policies and practices:
In Peru, the General Comptroller of the Republic was awarded the Gold Seal for its impact through targeted audits of Women’s Emergency Centers and the identification of challenges in services to protect victims of violence against women, including gaps in confidentiality and follow-up. As a result, the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations of Peru developed a national action plan to strengthen services for women survivors. Also awarded with the Gold Seal, the Municipality of Peñalolén in Chile used a participatory mapping to improve urban lighting in 748 high-risk areas to enhance women’s street safety. It further increased the quality and number of services attended by women survivors of gender-based violence at the Municipal “One Stop center”.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council was awarded with the Silver Seal for having expanded specially adapted spaces for women and persons with disabilities in prosecution offices. The number rose from 30% in 2017 to 85% in 2023, and for victims and witnesses from 55% to 90% over the same period. In Chile, the Municipality of Nuñoa expanded the Comprehensive Women’s Care Center, resulting in a significant increase in the support to survivors, from 70 to 450 cases per year between 2022 and 2024. This great achievement earned it the Silver Seal. The Superintendency of Health (SUPERSALUD) in Colombia was also awarded the Silver Seal for having played a key role in protecting women’s right to health by upholding legislation for women affected by human rights violations in the context of armed conflict. Next, Colombia’s National Institute of Roads (INVIAS) made the implementation of ethic codes, including the eradication of sexual harassment and gender-based violence, compulsory for road construction projects nationwide. By 2024, at least 16 road constructions met this requirement. This earned it the Silver Seal. The National Agency for Road Security (ANSV) in Colombia was also among the awardees of the Silver Seal. It increased women’s leadership in its National Network of Leaders for Road Safety and is actively promoting women’s access to road safety and transport jobs through its “Mobility Managers” program. In Guatemala, the Executive Secretariat of the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (SE-CONRED) was awarded the Silver Seal because it increased the participation and leadership of indigenous women in Disaster Risk Management to 30% – ensuring that disaster risk management plans respond to their specific needs. The last Silver Seal awardee – Mongolia’ General Department of Taxation (GDT) – has become a national leader in advancing gender equality in their tax system and supported the Ministry of Finance reviewing personal income tax provisions to advance women’s labour force participation. GDT improved its taxpayer education programs to respond to the differentiated needs of women and men.
Finally, the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce (SIC) in Columbia adopted a protocol to prevent and address gender-based violence and discrimination in the workplace and in public sector contracts. It also advanced women’s leadership in the organization – efforts that were awarded with the Bronze Seal.
Highlights from the Global Awards Ceremony 2025
The virtual event brought together 199 attendees from 61 countries, including UNDP leadership, representatives from the awarded public institutions, donor partners, and gender equality advocates. In his opening remarks, Haoliang Xu, Associate Administrator of UNDP, emphasized that
“responsive and inclusive governance is the foundation of sustainable development.” He added that “addressing gender inequality is essential to this effort—ensuring that every segment of the population is represented and empowered.”
A special highlight was the keynote address by H.E. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia and Nobel Peace Prize Winner. She underscored the importance of institutional commitment to gender equality and encouraged public institutions to remain steadfast in their transformative journeys:
“In today’s conflicting world, today’s uncertainties that we see around the world – that threaten global cooperation and multilateralism – strong institutions are required.”
President Sirleaf extended heartfelt congratulations to the awarded institutions and encouraged institutions to sustain and expand their work:
“I commend you for the awards you get today, and I urge you to continue on the path that you have taken so that your institutions continue to set the example that others will follow.”
Accepting the Silver Seal, Hajro Pošković, Deputy Director of the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council Secretariat of Bosnia and Herzegovina, emphasized that the
“the Gender Equality Seal is more than a symbol – it is a testament to our institution’s deep and ongoing commitment to promoting gender equality at every level.”
Choigunsuren Chimidsuren, Commissioner of Mongolia’s General Department of Taxation, and Claudine Olgaldes Cruz, Director of Guatemala’s Executive Secretariat of the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (SE-CONRED) echoed this sentiment, underscoring the importance of women claiming space in policy domains traditionally dominated by men.
In a thank-you speech delivered on behalf of the two institutions awarded the Gold Gender Equality Seal, Laura Fanny Quintanilla, Municipal Administrator of Peñalolén, highlighted the program’s transformative impact on institutional policies, workforce dynamics, and community engagement.
Finally, Samra Filipović-Hadžiabdić, Director of the Agency for Gender Equality of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Enkhbayar Tumur-Ulzii, Head of the Secretariat of the National Committee for Gender Equality in Mongolia, took to the virtual stage to highlight the support provided by the women’s national machineries. Ms. Filipović-Hadžiabdić remarked:
“One of the most important lessons from this process is that the real progress happens when a solid methodology is matched with the leadership that stands formally for the values of equality and inclusion.”
Progress in Action
The UNDP Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions Global Awards Ceremony 2025 not only celebrated the meaningful strides already taken toward gender equality, but it also reaffirmed the collective commitment to continue advancing progress. Public institutions are leading this transformative journey, setting powerful examples that inspire change across societies and help build more just, inclusive, and equitable futures.
