“[Online volunteering is] beneficial to women all around the world who wish to contribute their knowledge and experience as well as enhance their capacity.” Read

International Women's Day is marked on 8 March and is an opportunity to celebrate the economic, political and social achievements of women and to raise awareness about the struggles still faced in achieving gender equality.

The official theme for International Women's Day 2012 is Empower Rural Women - End Hunger and Poverty. UNV supports this through different activities and initiatives and through UN Volunteer assignments and collaborative projects. Visit site

Cambodia: “I am interested in using my professional skills in areas that can help influence the positive changes that are happening in Cambodia as young people become more educated.” Read

“I have a particular affinity with refugees and women’s issues and this assignment allowed me to contribute in a small way to the valuable work of this organization. I have also greatly benefited by learning new IT skills and a deeper understanding of the work of that organization.” Read

Livingstone, Zambia: A human rights presentation by Livingstone high school students and organized in part by a UN Volunteer, impresses UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon during his first visit to Zambia and encourages him about the country's future. Read

Vienna, Austria: To make the UN more relevant to young people, the UN Secretary-General announced that he will expand the United Nations Volunteers programme, to open its doors for young people, and will appoint the first-ever United Nations Special Adviser on Youth. Read

Bentiu, Unity State, South Sudan: “Most rewarding about my UNV assignment is that I participate in conflict mitigation and am part of the solution seeking team.  So saying, it is particularly interesting for me to see that most people we interact with know the causes and solutions of conflicts but continue engaging in bloody clashes that claim many lives.” Read

La Paz, Bolivia: Community Promoters for Human Rights are volunteers selected by their own communities to disseminate information about children’s rights and to report any rights’ violations. Part of their work focuses on promoting volunteerism as a tool to prevent violence in Bolivia. Read

Lake States, South Sudan: “As a UN Volunteer working with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) it is imperative for me to contribute my expertise and experience to activities that mitigate social exclusion in society.

I liaise with county government, local authorities and communities in an attempt to prevent or alleviate conflicts.” Read

Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: Bosnia and Herzegovina continues to experience high levels of youth unemployment, social exclusion and irregular youth migration. In response, UNV has joined UNDP, UNICEF, IOM and UNFPA to implement the Youth Employability and Retention Programme. Read