New York - The United Nations Development Programme today awarded ten public institutions with the UNDP Gender Equality Seal, recognizing their outstanding achievements in implementing public policy and administration reforms for advancing gender equality and women's rights between June 2024 and June 2025.
The awarded public institutions from Chile, Peru, Colombia, Guatemala, Bosnia and Mongolia received Gold, Silver and Bronze Seal certifications for their achievements in improving public policies and services in the areas of judiciary, disaster risk reduction, consumer service, taxation, audit, health, and transport. Two municipalities from Chile also received the Seal for advancing gender equality in local strategic planning and public services.
Addressing the winners, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and UNDP Associate Administrator Haoliang Xu said, "Real progress begins when we design policies and services that reflect the full diversity of our societies. Addressing gender inequality is essential to this effort. It ensures that every segment of the population is represented and empowered."
With the support of the UNDP Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions, notable examples of awardees' achievements include:
The High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council,of Bosnia and Herzegovina - the first Seal champion in Central Europe - improved access to justice for women, persons with disabilities, and victims of violence through designated premises and improved data management systems.
The General Department of Taxation of Mongolia, the first Seal champion in the Asia and the Pacific region, innovated tax payers' education initiatives to respond to the specific needs of women and promote their economic empowerment.
The National Agency for Road Security (ANSV), of Colombia, accelerated women's participation and leadership in road safety at the national and local levels and their access to jobs in the transport sector.
The Executive Secretary of the Coordinator of Disaster Prevention (SE-CONRED), of Guatemala, strengthened indigenous women's participation and leadership in disaster risk prevention and management.
"An efficient and inclusive public administration improves people's lives, enhances their socio-economic opportunities, and promotes more peaceful societies by addressing exclusion and discrimination. The institutions we honour today show what is possible and set a new standard for public service." - said Raquel Lagunas, Director, Gender Equality, UNDP.
Over 100 public institutions from diverse sectors across 30 countries - spanning Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, the Balkans and Central and South-East Asia - are engaged in UNDP's Gender Equality Seal initiative. Since 2020 when the initiative was launched, more than 260,000 public officers (46% women) have benefited from strengthened skills and capacities to integrate gender equality in policies and programs and improved working environments.
To achieve the Seal certification, public institutions must formally express interest, carry out a baseline self-assessment, prepare and implement an action plan for improvement, and go through a final assessment. Public institutions that achieve a minimum compliance score of 60% in the final assessment are eligible for the UNDP Gender Equality Seal, with distinctions awarded as follows: Bronze for 60% compliance, Silver for 70%, and Gold for 80% or higher. The Gold Seal is the highest level of recognition, awarded to institutions that have demonstrated transformative achievements and sustained leadership in advancing gender equality.
In partnership with the national gender equality institutions or mechanisms, UNDP supports the institutions at all stages of the process with capacity building, tailored tools, technical advice and peer-to-peer exchange through thematic communities of practices.
List of the 10 Award-Winning Public Institutions
GOLD SEAL
Chile - The Municipality of Peñalolén has strengthened the municipal program SOS Mujer, supporting an average of 189 gender-based violence survivors per month through comprehensive support measures.
Peru - The General Comptroller of the Republic (CGR) has strengthened the services for women survivors by putting into action the recommendations of their audit of the Women's Emergency Centers (CEM) with the Ministry of Women and Vulnerable Populations.
SILVER SEAL
Bosnia and Herzegovina - The High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council (HJPC) has increased the number of prosecution offices with specially designated premises, adapted to the needs of women and persons with disabilities from 30% in 2017 to 85% in 2023; and with specially designated premises for victims and witnesses from 55% to 90% in the same period.
Chile - The Municipality of Nuñoa has expanded the Comprehensive Women's Care Center (CIAM) resulting in a significant increase in the support to survivors, from 70 to 450 cases per year (2022-24).
Colombia - The National Agency for Road Security (ANSV) has increased women's leadership and representation in the National Network of Leaders for Road Safety and taken specific actions to promote women's access to road safety and transport jobs with the "Mobility Managers" program.
Colombia - The National Institute of Roads (INVIAS) has integrated a gender equality perspective and a zero-tolerance policy towards violence and exploitation of women and girls in road construction Ethics Code, as part of the strategy against violence toward women in public spaces.
Colombia - The Superintendence of Health (SUPERSALUD) has contributed significantly to protecting women's right to health in the context of armed conflict.
Guatemala- The Executive Secretary of the Coordinator of Disaster Risk Reduction (SE-CONRED) has strengthened indigenous women's participation in Disaster Risk Management. By 2024, 20 departmental coordination bodies were established, engaging 681 participants, of whom 32% were women.
Mongolia - The General Department of Taxation, the first Seal Champion in Asia and the Pacific, innovated taxpayers education initiatives to respond to the specific needs of women and promote their economic empowerment.
BRONZE SEAL
Colombia - The Superintendency of Industry and Commerce (SIC) has made significant progress in promoting women's effective participation at various levels of public administration, with women occupying 70% of decision-making positions.
