International Gender Champions Hub launched in Bonn

Bonn, Germany, 8 June 2026 – As women’s rights are under increasing pressure worldwide and climate-related crises deepen existing inequalities, International Gender Champions from UN Women, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), together with partners, today launched the Bonn Hub of the International Gender Champions (IGC), a network of senior leaders working to advance equality and representation across the multilateral system. 

The initiative also served as a call for broader engagement across and beyond the United Nations system to advance gender equality and inclusive leadership. 

The event took place during the annual United Nations Open House — a public event showcasing the work of the 27 UN entities based in Bonn — and brought together heads of agencies, representatives of the German government and development partners, members of the diplomatic corps and local authorities, including the City of Bonn. 

The initiative comes at a time of mounting concern over setbacks to women’s rights and participation. According to UN Women, nearly one in four governments worldwide reported pushback against women’s rights in 2024, amid shrinking civic space and persistent discrimination. 

Women and girls also continue to be disproportionately affected by climate change, land degradation, drought and food insecurity, despite playing a central role in managing natural resources and supporting community resilience. 

Women make up around 43 per cent of the agricultural workforce in developing countries, yet less than 15 per cent of landholders globally are women — underscoring persistent disparities in access to land, finance, resources and decision-making at a time when their contribution to sustainable development has never been more important. 

Against this backdrop, the United Nations entities and other key development partners in Bonn are strengthening cooperation on issues ranging from climate action and land restoration to food security, resilience-building and sustainable development. 

Established in Geneva in 2015, the IGC network now brings together more than 300 leaders from international organizations, governments and civil society committed to advancing equality through measurable actions and institutional change. The Bonn Hub is its newest addition. 

Through the initiative, participating organizations will exchange experiences and work together across areas including food systems, biodiversity, sustainable development, humanitarian affairs and environmental resilience. 

The collaboration will also promote practical measures such as gender-responsive events and assemblies, stronger accountability mechanisms and greater representation of women in multilateral decision-making spaces to help translate commitments into measurable change. 

“The IGC Network is a promise of leadership with accountability, peer learning, and delivery of concrete commitments to push forward for all woman and girls. By strengthening our collective commitments across the UN Bonn Campus, we can ensure that Bonn is not only a hub for sustainability, but also a visible and credible leader in advancing gender equality across the multilateral system,” said Kirsi Madi, Deputy Executive Director for Resource Management, Sustainability and Partnerships at UN Women. 

“At a time when hard-won gains for women’s rights are facing increasing challenges around the world, leadership matters more than ever,” noted Yasmine Fouad, Executive Secretary of the UNCCD, a founding member of the Bonn Hub.

“Women play a central role in food production, land stewardship and community resilience, yet they continue to face major barriers in access to land, finance and decision-making. This is not only a question of equality; it is a question of resilience, sustainable development, and our collective ability to respond to growing global challenges. The International Gender Champions network is about turning commitments into concrete action and accountability.” 

“By launching the Bonn Hub, we are bringing together leaders committed to ensuring that women are not only represented in decision-making spaces but are empowered to shape the solutions our societies need, and reaffirming our shared determination to ensure that women have an equal voice in shaping a more sustainable and resilient future.” 

The initiative also aims to broaden dialogue beyond traditional multilateral actors, including through collaboration with academia, civil society and, over time, the private sector, while safeguarding United Nations values and accountability standards. 

As one of the world’s largest centres for multilateral cooperation, Bonn hosts organizations working across climate, sustainability, development and humanitarian issues. The launch of the Bonn Hub further reinforces the city’s role as a platform for international cooperation and dialogue on gender equality at a time of growing global challenges. 

“Bonn is Germany’s UN City of 30 years, home to both UNCCD and UN Women, and a place for international cooperation and dialogue,” said Ursula Sautter, Deputy Mayor of the City of Bonn.

“The launch of the International Gender Champions Bonn Hub strengthens Bonn’s role as a centre for multilateral action, reaffirming our shared commitment to gender equality, inclusion and sustainable development. We are proud to support an initiative that brings leaders together to turn commitments into meaningful change – unfolding the true potential of gender equal communities and societies.” 

Activities of the IGC Bonn Hub will begin in 2026 with a programme of exchanges, joint events and commitments aimed at advancing equality and supporting the Sustainable Development Goals. 

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About the International Gender Champions 

The International Gender Champions (IGC) is a global leadership network bringing together decision-makers committed to breaking down gender barriers and making gender equality a working reality in their spheres of influence. Established in Geneva in 2015, the network includes leaders from international organizations, governments and civil society organizations across multiple hubs worldwide. All Champions commit to the IGC Panel Parity Pledge and undertake two personal, measurable commitments to advance gender equality within their organizations and areas of work. 

About UNCCD    

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is the global vision and voice for land. We unite governments, scientists, policymakers, private sector and communities around a shared vision and global action to restore and manage the world’s land for the sustainability of humanity and the planet. Much more than an international treaty signed by 197 Parties, UNCCD is a multilateral commitment to mitigating today’s impacts of land degradation and advancing tomorrow’s land stewardship to provide food, water, shelter and economic opportunity to all people in an equitable and inclusive manner.