HeForShe Wrapped 2024

This year is extra special as we celebrated a decade of HeForShe, a movement that began in 2014 with a simple yet powerful call: to unite people of all genders as advocates for gender equality. Over the past 10 years, HeForShe has grown into a global force for change, empowering individuals, inspiring leaders, and fostering transformative action in communities worldwide.

In this year’s Wrapped, we reflect on the incredible milestones achieved in 2024 and over the past decade. From groundbreaking research to welcoming new members to the alliance, we take a moment to honor the progress we’ve made together and renew our resolve to build a more equal world for all.

Over the past 10 years, HeForShe’s advocacy work has contributed to UN Women’s larger strategic goal of changing social norms by engaging men and boys to challenge and transform discriminatory attitudes and behaviours, promoting gender equality and positive social norms. The HeForShe movement has sparked over 3 billion conversations, both online and in-person, with more than 200 million activistsin our community. Through direct advocacy campaigns, HeForShe’s messaging has reached over 1 billion people.

January:
To kick off the new year, HeForShe ventured into the realm of comedy with the launch of the #ChangeThePunchline campaign, a global social media campaign aimed at dismantling sexist humor. Seven male comedians led the charge, using their platforms to promote gender equality, inclusivity, and respect through humor. By challenging harmful stereotypes in comedy, this campaign highlighted how humor can be a powerful tool for social change and advancing gender equality. This innovative approach resonated widely, driving 2.6x more engagements than previous campaigns and reaching 11.2 million users, with a total of 20.2 million impressions across our social media channels. 

February: 
In February, UN Women Germany, a partner of the Equal Care Day-Festival, hosted a virtual panel discussion on the international “Equal Care Day”. Nora Teuma, board member of UN Women Germany, engaged in an insightful conversation alongside Francesco Merola, HeForShe Partnerships Management Consultant, and Vincent-Immanuel Herr, HeForShe Germany Advocate. Together, they delved into the crucial topic of men and care work, exploring the structural and individual barriers that keep men from taking on their fair share of care work.

March:
In March, under the umbrella of the HeForShe initiative, UN Women released groundbreaking research into how FTSE 100 companies support employees experiencing domestic violence and abuse. Supported by the Vodafone Foundation, the report "Small Steps, Big Difference" explores current workplace policies and identifies areas for further action.

Additionally, research conducted by the TEAM LEWIS Foundation in support of HeForShe revealed that conflict, poverty, climate change, and the aftermath of COVID-19 are hindering progress on gender equality worldwide. These findings underscore the need for continued commitment and innovative solutions to achieve lasting change.

April: 
In April, the NYU Stern Conference on Gender Equality brought together students and advocates dedicated to advancing dialogue and action on gender equality. Led by student organizers, the conference highlighted the importance of collaboration between UN Women and academic institutions like NYU Stern. Vesna Jaric, Global Head of HeForShe, gave a keynote address centered on the critical role of gender mainstreaming and youth engagement in driving societal change. These partnerships play a crucial role in empowering future leaders and amplifying efforts toward a more equitable world.

May:
In May, UN Women HeForShe welcomed the African Development Bank (AfDB) as the newest member of the HeForShe Alliance, marking a key milestone in the mission for global gender equality. With AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina as a HeForShe Champion, this partnership highlights the power of collaborating with international financial institutions to advance gender equality. The AfDB committed to integrating gender considerations into its investments through gender assessments, balanced project beneficiaries, and gender-responsive indicators.

June: 
In June, HeForShe Alliance member HCLTech launched their "She Powers Progress" campaign, reinforcing its commitment to diversity and gender equality in the technology sector. Through this initiative, HCLTech highlighted the achievements of women leaders and promotes equal opportunities for women in tech careers.  By fostering an inclusive workplace and advocating for gender balance in the industry, HCLTech demonstrated how corporate leadership can drive meaningful progress toward gender equality.

July: 
In July, HeForShe Alliance member MTN published its inaugural "People Report," highlighting the company’s commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace culture. The report showcases MTN’s progress in achieving gender balance and its dedication to empowering women through mentorship, leadership development, and inclusive policies. By prioritizing diversity and inclusion, MTN exemplifies how corporate culture can drive meaningful change and support HeForShe’s mission to advance gender equality.

August:
In August, the HeForShe Alliance launched the Male Allyship Toolkit, a practical resource designed to help companies build and sustain male allyship programs. This toolkit provides actionable guidance for encouraging men to actively support gender equality in the workplace. By equipping organizations with the tools to foster allyship, HeForShe continues to drive the creation of more inclusive and equitable workplaces.

September:
In September, HeForShe marked its 10th anniversary with the 2024 HeForShe Summit, a landmark event marking the 10th anniversary of the transformative HeForShe initiative. The Summit was set against the backdrop of the high-level week of UNGA79 and the Summit of the Future and was a pivotal moment for advancing gender equality and reinforcing global commitments to achieving sustainable development goals by 2030. 

HeForShe launched the 2024 HeForShe IMPACT Report, showcasing the remarkable progress made by Alliance Champions in advancing gender equality. The report highlights how coordinated action has led to transformative change for women and girls worldwide. 

HeForShe announced four new global leaders joining the Alliance: Pedro Sánchez, President of the Government of Spain; Hugh Evans, CEO and Co-Founder of Global Citizen; Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank; and Michelle Terry, CEO of Movember. These new Champions are committed to setting new standards for equality in their sectors, reinforcing HeForShe’s mission to ensure women and girls have equal opportunities globally.

October: 
In October, HeForShe Alliance member the International Tennis Federation (ITF) showcased its commitment to gender equality with a powerful campaign video created in collaboration with UN Women HeForShe. Featuring ITF President David Haggerty and tennis stars, the video highlights the importance of equal opportunities for women in sports and beyond. By using the global platform of tennis to advocate for gender equality, the ITF demonstrates how sports organizations can drive cultural change and inspire a more inclusive future.

November: 
In November, HeForShe joined UNiTE campaign to end gender-based violence. As part of the 2024 WEPs Deep-Dive Webinar Series, UN Women convened private sector partners in a webinar titled Private Sector Tackles Violence Against Women Head-On – Emerging Practices. The event highlighted the crucial role businesses play in addressing violence against women and girls. This pivotal session, held during the annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, showcased innovative approaches by private-sector organizations to address this global crisis. Among the speakers was Lisa Felton, Director of the Vodafone Foundation, who highlighted the transformative role of technology and workplace policies in addressing domestic violence.

December: 
In December, HeForShe Alliance member UK Policing announced the launch of the Gender Equality in UK Policing: Sixth Annual Report. This report not only reflects the progress made across the UK police forces but also highlights the critical need to remain steadfast and bold in the pursuit of equality. The data and good practice examples within this year’s report demonstrate that meaningful progress is being made.