Spotlight Initiative

“Women don’t simply endure barriers, they challenge them, break them & widen the path for others.” – @AminaJMohammed at @GlobalSpotlight event about trailblazing women & the fight against gender-based violence.

"Ending discrimination cannot wait." At UN HQ, women in science, sports and arts honored trailblazers at a @GlobalSpotlight's event, highlighting the impact of gender-based violence on the lives of women & girls worldwide. #GenerationEquality

Impossible is just an opinion 🙌 Astronauts Katya Echazarreta, Dr. Sian Proctor, Amanda Nguyen & Paralympic athlete Tatyana McFadden join trailblazers at the @GlobalSpotlight & @RiseNowUS Women Breaking Barriers event to call for a world where women & girls can thrive

Des pionnières. Des voix qui comptent. Un message fort. Des leaders de la science, des affaires et des médias réunis à l'ONU avec @GlobalSpotlight pour célébrer des femmes novatrices et rappeler l'urgence de mettre fin aux discriminations et aux stéréotypes.

Closing Women’s History Month, leaders from science, business & media gathered at the UN with @GlobalSpotlight to celebrate trailblazing women. From confronting violence to breaking stereotypes, the message was clear: ending discrimination in all its forms is urgent.

En la sede de la ONU, líderes de la ciencia, el deporte y el arte compartieron cómo han enfrentado la violencia y la discriminación — y cómo están abriendo camino para otras. Sus voces desafían estereotipos y amplían oportunidades. El mensaje es claro: poner fin a la discriminación no puede esperar. — evento coorganizado por @GlobalSpotlight

Last day of #WomensHistoryMonth, 🇸🇪 proudly co-hosted “Women Breaking Barriers” with @RiseNowUS , @GlobalSpotlight, 🇻🇳 and 🇺🇾. Thanks to all who shared experiences of overcoming violence and expanding opportunities. Progress must be built, protected, and renewed each generation.

Líderes de diversas áreas reuniram-se na ONU, em #NY, para um evento que homenageou mulheres pioneiras no🌎. Coorganizado pela @GlobalSpotlight, o evento "Mulheres Rompendo Barreiras" evidenciou o impacto da violência de gênero nas trajetórias de mulheres e meninas no mundo.

Деятели науки и культуры собрались в штаб-квартире ООН в Нью-Йорке на мероприятии, организованном совместно с @GlobalSpotlight в честь выдающихся женщин. Участники подчеркнули острую необходимость покончить с дискриминацией во всех ее формах. Подробнее: spotlightinitiative.org/news/women-bre…

Leaders from science, business & media joined a UNHQ event co-organized by @GlobalSpotlight celebrating trailblazing women. They reflected on overcoming violence & challenging stereotypes, highlighting the urgent need to end discrimination in all forms. spotlightinitiative.org/news/women-bre…

At the conclusion of Women’s History Month, Spotlight Initiative and @RiseNowUS convened “Women Breaking Barriers,” a high-level event recognizing trailblazing women across industries and regions. 🔗 Full story: bit.ly/WBB-webstory #WithHer #EVAWG @UN @VietNam_UN

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed // @AminaJMohammed @UN - "We know that when girls are respected and supported and women are equal partners in our homes, parliaments and peacebuilding, everyone wins. Our societies become more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous. So, let's keep pushing boundaries until equality is the norm and not the exception, and the only limitation women and girls face is their own imagination." #WomenBreakingBarriers at the #UnitedNations @GlobalSpotlight & @RiseNowUS

H.E. Stavros Lambrinidis // @EUAmbUN, @SJLambrinidis, @EUatUN - "Speaking out is not enough. Commitment is measured by actions, not by words alone. [...] The world will not change until we change it. So let's change it." #EuropeanUnion #WomenBreakingBarriers at the #UnitedNations @GlobalSpotlight & @RiseNowUS

H.E. Laura Dupuy Lasserre // @UruguayONU - "It is the women breaking barriers generation after generation that makes it possible for women like me to have the opportunities that I've had." #Uruguay #WomenBreakingBarriers at the #UnitedNations @GlobalSpotlight & @RiseNowUS

H.E. Nicola Clase // @NicolaClase, @SwedenUN - "Opening doors is important. Keeping them open is the real work." #Sweden #WomenBreakingBarriers at the #UnitedNations @GlobalSpotlight & @RiseNowUS

H.E. Đỗ Hùng Việt // @dohungviet, @VietNam_UN - "Most barriers are invisible... this is why breaking barriers is not about extraordinary achievements,[...] it's about creating a safe and just and enabling space to allow women and girls to thrive and succeed." #Vietnam #WomenBreakingBarriers at the #UnitedNations @GlobalSpotlight & @RiseNowUS

At the conclusion of Women’s History Month, Spotlight Initiative and @RiseNowUS convened “Women Breaking Barriers,” a high-level event recognizing trailblazing women across industries and regions. Supported by: @SwedenUN - @UruguayONU - @VietNam_UN #EVAWG #WithHer

Great collaboration today as UN agencies, Gender Division, and NGOs from Lusaka, Muchinga & Eastern provinces met to review 2025 progress on the Spotlight 2.0 Initiative—funded by the Govt of Ireland—and align priorities for 2026. Stepping up the fight against #GBV together.

Unable to join us in person? You can still be part of the conversation. The "Women Breaking Barriers" event will be available to watch live! 🗓 31 March 2026 ⏰ 10.30 a.m. – 12 p.m. EST 📍 UNGA Hall, NY 📋 RSVP: bit.ly/unga-wbb 📺 Watch live: bit.ly/wbb-watchlive

"I will choose my own husband" In Uganda, 15 per cent of girls are married by 15. Evelyn*, 16, is a rape survivor who narrowly escaped child marriage, speaks about her experience. Full story: bit.ly/3PwiQRS #EVAWG #WithHer