2021 was a pivotal year for HeForShe. With the ongoing crises across our societies in health, jobs, and security, HeForShe remained steadfast in the work to rebuild better and engage men and boys for a gender-equal world. As we look forward to an even more impactful 2022, we wanted to take this time to celebrate the HeForShe milestones throughout 2021.  

Famous actor Kerem Bürsin became the first advocate for HeForShe Turkey, UN Women’s solidarity movement to advance gender equality through involving men and boys.

The second season of the HeForShe Lithuania Project, promoting gender equality in sport, was presented during the Lithuania Sports Film Festival. The National Olympic Committee of Lithuania (LNOC) joined the United Nations movement for gender equality a year ago and launched the HeForShe initiative in Lithuania. The project serves as an invitation to men to express their support for women, actively aspire for equal gender opportunities, and be a united and visible driving force of change.

In November, HeForShe kicked off a global social media campaign inviting men and boys to share their everyday actions to support gender equality. Just as many of us make a lifetime commitment to our partners, HeForShe invited men to make a lifetime commitment to end gender inequality by saying #IDo.

This year, the United Nations Secretary-General’s global campaign to end violence against women is themed “Orange the World: END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN NOW!” and will mobilize all UNITE networks, civil society and women’s rights organizations, the UN system, the Action Coalition on Gender-Based Violence, government partners, schools, universities, private sector, sports clubs and associations and individuals to:

Taking the HeForShe movement forward in Pakistan, UN Women Pakistan Country Office started a social media campaign celebrating HeForShe advocates in their own team. The campaign aims to convince other men to work towards gender equality by leading by example. The office held two group discussions with male colleagues to discuss gender equality and male engagement. As a follow-up to the discussions, the office ran a social media campaign with pledges and quotes from male colleagues with the aim of “walking the Talk” and leading by example.

November 4, 2021 – UN Women Tanzania held a ceremony to announce the President of Zanzibar, H.E. Dr Hussein Ali Mwinyi, as the newest HeForShe Champion. He joins other global leaders as a member of the newly formed HeForShe Alliance. Accepting the honour, President Mwinyi reaffirmed his commitment to advance women and girls' rights in Zanzibar and Tanzania in general.

It’s no longer enough simply to say you care - you have to show it. That’s why we’re relaunching HeForShe with a new campaign, moving into an era of action. Just as many of us make a lifetime commitment to our partners, we also need to make a lifetime commitment to end gender inequality.

There is no gender equality without allyship across society. That’s why we’re encouraging all men to commit to simple actions that further the cause. Share what you do for gender equality with #IDo and #HeForShe.

Discussing gender equality in Jordan can lead to difficult conversations, as Balqees Shahin, a volunteer for the UN Women gender equality campaign HeForShe, has discovered. Marking International Day of The Girl Child on Monday, Ms. Shahin told UN News that online games can help young people to address gender issues.

UN Women Germany developed the "HeForShe Journal" for allies. It is available in three languages: English, German, and Spanish.

An equal society must also be driven by proactive men willing to share their power and change their behavior. Since this is quite an intimidating undertaking, many men do not know where to start. The idea: Why not start with yourself?