Turning Commitment into Change: Bangkok’s Gold Standard for Gender-Responsive Public Institutions On 24 April 2026, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) was awarded the Gold Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions at a ceremony convened by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The event marked a landmark moment in Bangkok’s institutional reform journey, showcasing how the Gender Equality Seal helps public institutions translate gender equality commitments into […]
TRANSFORMING PROMISES INTO PROGRESS: HOW GOVERNMENT AUDITING CAN LEAD THE WAY IN TACKLING GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE In the current landscape of Development Cooperation, public finance reform is often viewed through the lens of fiscal compliance. This is becoming more evident as the paradigm shifts from Official Development Assistance (ODA) towards Development Financing, and budget credibility makes its way back to the centre of development conversations. Against this background, as the dust settles on the CSW70 call for action on Gender-based Violence, there is urgency in moving from paper promises to […]
Colombia Strengthens Public Governance for all Colombia is deepening its commitment to inclusive, accountable governance. In March 2026, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through its Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions, recognized five national institutions for embedding gender equality into their management systems and organizational practices. This recognition marks a significant milestone in public‑sector transformation and supports Colombia’s commitments under the 2030 Agenda for […]
Advancing Women’s Leadership and Gender Parity in Justice Institutions On the margins of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) 2026, UNDP, together with the University of Pittsburgh’s Gender Equality Research Lab, convened a discussion on women’s leadership in justice institutions on March 17, 2026, at the Doha Room in UNDP HQ. The exchange brought together researchers and practitioners with a core message: advancing gender equality in justice is fundamentally a question […]
Transforming Justice Institutions from Within: Gender Equality Seal Insights from CSW70 On 10 March, during the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), public institutions from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and beyond gathered at the Bahá’í International Community UN Office in New York for the side event “Transforming justice institutions for gender equality: Results and accountability through the Gender Equality Seal.” […]
Timor‑Leste Launches the Gender Equality Seal to Strengthen Inclusive Public Institutions Timor‑Leste has taken an important step toward more inclusive and accountable governance by launching the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions, a globally recognized framework that helps public institutions embed gender equality into their policies, systems, and everyday practices. On 26 February 2026, the Government of Timor‑Leste officially launched the Seal and initiated its implementation […]
Uzbekistan’s State Customs Committee Leads Central Asia with Silver Gender Equality Seal Win Tashkent, 14 February 2026 — Uzbekistan has taken a landmark step in advancing gender responsive governance in Central Asia with the State Customs Committee (SCC) receiving the Silver Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions. The award was presented during the national “Gender Equality Activist – 2025” ceremony at the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, positioning SCC as the first public institution in the region’s Public Finance Management […]
Banco Panama, first bank in Panama to receive the UNDP Gender Equality Seal, sets the grounds for women’s financial inclusion Public banking is critical to accelerate gender equality by extending financial services to women in rural and historically excluded communities. Across Latin America, women continue to face barriers in accessing banking services, credit and savings products, and financial education. Only 66 per cent of women have a bank account, compared to 74 per cent of men, a […]
Mongolia Accelerates Gender-Responsive Governance: Civil Service Council and Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Adopt UNDP Gender Equality Seal Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) of Mongolia launches the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions, marking a major step toward inclusive and accountable public administration. Two flagship institutions commit to global standards for gender-responsive governance and climate action. Mongolia is setting a new milestone for inclusive governance. In December 2025, the Civil Service […]
