This feature pays tribute to the work of women activists fighting for the protection of women's rights, which once again came under attack in many countries throughout the year

Year in Review 2022: Paying tribute to women fighting for their rights

photo_camera ONU Mujeres Ecuador/ Johis Alarcón - Encuentro de Mujeres Indígenas Voz, Cuerpo y Territorio. Puyo, Ecuador. March 16, 2022.

Standing up for women's rights often involves great courage. Committed to the empowerment of women and girls, the UN works tirelessly with activists and organisations around the world to protect them from abuse, support health initiatives and improve their lives. 

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Women living under Taliban rule in Afghanistan 

Last August marked one year since the Taliban regained control of power in Afghanistan, sparking widespread fear for women's rights, which were severely eroded during the regime's previous stint in power in the late 1990s.

Twelve months later, UN Women announced its commitment to continue the fight for women's rights in Afghanistan, the only country in the world where girls cannot attend secondary school and are effectively barred from political participation.  

To mark the first anniversary of the return of Taliban rule, we feature the stories of some of the women who decided to stay in the country, despite the changes in their lives.

They include Zarina*, one of Afghanistan's youngest entrepreneurs, who was forced to close her bakery amid increasing restrictions on women entrepreneurs; Nasima*, a pacifist and women's rights activist, who was forced to stop most of her projects but managed to restart some of them later; and Mahbouba Seraj, a veteran activist who chose to stay in Afghanistan and witness what is happening in her country.

Seraj's sobering message to those who think Afghanistan is an exceptional case is this: "What is happening to the women of Afghanistan can happen anywhere in the world.

She added that the court case "Roe v. Wade [the case that brought about a national right to abortion in the US and was overturned by the US Supreme Court in 2022] destroyed years of progress, taking away women's right to decide about their own bodies. Women's rights are being taken away everywhere, and if we are not careful, it will happen to women everywhere.

*Names changed to protect identities. 

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Mahsa Amini: the source of inspiration for Iran's protests 

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in November condemned the Iranian regime's response to demonstrators protesting the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in police custody in September after being arrested for improperly wearing the hijab, according to the so-called morality police.

Her death sparked demonstrations in many cities and included protests by schoolgirls. The Iranian government responded by arresting thousands of protesters, including women, children, youth and journalists.

On 22 November, the office led by Volker Türk put the death toll at more than 40, including two teenagers, during the first week of protests. Two days later, the Human Rights Council set up a fact-finding mission in connection with the demonstrations

"It pains me to see what is happening in the country," Türk told the audience at the session that voted to establish the mission. "The images of children being killed. Of women beaten in the streets. Of people condemned to death," he said.

Growing international revulsion at Iran's repression was reflected on 14 December when members of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) decided to exclude Iran from the Commission on the Status of Women, the main international intergovernmental body dedicated exclusively to the promotion of gender equality.

The resolution tabled by the United States received 29 votes in favour, eight against and 16 abstentions. 

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Women and the climate crisis 

The climate crisis has been shown to disproportionately affect women and girls. In the weeks leading up to International Women's Day on 6 March, UN News this year highlighted how women activists are improving their local environment and helping their communities adapt to an increasingly hostile climate.

One such woman is Mexican violinist Martha Corzo, "maestra Pati", who led and inspired a group of some 17,000 local environmental activists dedicated to protecting the Sierra Gorda. There is also a women's group in Niger that has integrated refugees and migrants in its attempt to prevent desertification by creating a thriving market garden; and an engineer in Kenya who had to fight gender discrimination to develop practical and affordable energy solutions.

In May, Cameroonian activist Cécile Ndjebet's efforts to improve the lives of those who depend on forests were recognised when she was awarded the Wangari Maathai Forest Champions 2022 prize, chaired by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

In Cameroon, about 70% of women live in rural areas and their livelihoods depend, at least in part, on harvesting wild forest products. However, in some communities, women cannot own forest land, inherit it if their husbands die, or even plant trees on degraded land.

"Men generally recognise the great role women play in improving the standard of living of families," she said at the ceremony, "but it is important that they also agree that for women to continue to play that role, and even improve it, they need secure access to land and forests". 

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Peacekeepers 

Women peacekeepers and UN police continued to serve with great dedication in some of the world's most dangerous places, facing challenges such as threats of terrorist attacks and violence fuelled by increasing disinformation, amid rising political tensions and deteriorating security situations.

On International UN Peacekeepers' Day in May, Major Winnet Zharare of Zimbabwe received the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award in recognition of her work with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), where she was a strong advocate for gender equality and women as leaders and decision-makers.

"Her diligence and diplomatic skills quickly earned the trust of local military commanders who sought her advice on women's rights and protection," said UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the ceremony. "Her approach helped UNMISS strengthen ties with local communities and fulfil its mandate."

In July, at a historic ceremony in South Sudan, members of Liberia's first deployment of UN peacekeepers, including several women, were honoured with the prestigious UN Medal. 

Their achievement symbolised a major turnaround in the fortunes of Liberia, which endured a brutal civil war in the 1990s and early 2000s before reaching a ceasefire, overseen by the UN Mission in the country (UNMIL), which also supported humanitarian and human rights activities and assisted in national security reform, including the training of the national police and the formation of a new and restructured army.

"Our experience of a 14-year civil war and the impact that UN peacekeepers had is real and tangible for the people we served on the ground," said UN Police Officer (UNPOL) Elfreda Dennice Stewart. "We benefit greatly from peacekeepers and it is an honour for us to now serve in this young nation under the iconic blue flag." 

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