Women leaders are making a difference, every day. Across the globe, women are leading organisations and institutions carrying out effective and inclusive COVID-19 responses, from the highest levels of decision-making through to frontline service delivery. Women bring different experiences, perspectives and skills to the table, and make invaluable contributions to decisions, policies and laws that work better for all.

Despite this, we know that:

1/4 of parliamentary seats worldwide are held by women

1/25 CEOs appointed to lead ASX 200 organisations in the past year have been female

99.5 years Is the time it will take to reach gender equality at the current rate of change

Advancing women in leadership is central to creating more profitable and productive economies, flourishing businesses and a healthier and more peaceful planet.

There is a growing understanding and expectation that leadership in all facets of economic, political and social life must reflect communities for the benefit of all:

- Organisations miss out if 50% of the talent pool if women are not around decision-making tables.

- More diverse and inclusive groups have higher safety and operational performance.

- More women on boards and senior leadership roles results in improved company performance, profitability and productivity.

- When women are at the negotiating table, peace agreements are more likely to last 15 years or longer.

- Recent research indicates that female-led countries are handling COVID-19 more effectively than their male counterparts.

Women are disproportionately affected by a range of issues including poverty and climate change, but they also possess assets and talents to work towards solving them. UN Women's overseas projects make a tangible difference to the lives of women and girls around the world.

Fundraising is a meaningful way to share your passion for gender equality and the work of UN Women with your friends, family, classmates and colleagues. By choosing to fundraise for UN Women Australia, you have joined a community of change-makers.

UN Women Australia relies on the generous support of individuals and groups, like you, to enable brighter futures, free from violence and full of opportunity, for women and girls around the world.

BY FUNDRAISING FOR UN WOMEN AUSTRALIA, YOU WILL BE SUPPORTING UN WOMEN'S WORK TO:

- Develop women as leaders in the community, politics and businesses;

- Run voter and civic education campaigns on gender equality;

- Encourage young men and women to engage in advocacy to make gender equality central to public policy-making;

- Promote women's rights, including their right to vote and to violence-free campaigning;

- Advance gender equality.

We ask all fundraisers to complete our registration form at the time of creating their fundraising page. Please contact us at fundraising@unwomen.org.au if you have any further questions.