New York - On June 12th the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) recognized ten public institutions from Chile, Peru, Colombia, Guatemala, Bosnia, Herzegovina and Mongolia at the UNDP Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions Global Awards Ceremony 2025, acknowledging their work and commitment in advancing gender equality within public administration. 

The Gender Equality Seal initiative partners with public institutions around the world to align their actions with the needs of the population, promoting gender equality at all levels. Notably, eight of the ten institutions honored at this year’s ceremony are from Latin America and the Caribbean, underscoring the region’s leadership in embedding gender equality into institutional structures, policies, and services. 

In Chile, two municipalities received global recognition: the Municipality of Peñalolén, which received the Gold Seal, and the Municipality of Ñuñoa, which received the Silver Seal, both for their commitment to using gender equality as a tool to improve the quality of public services. 

In Colombia, the National Road Safety Agency and the National Roads Institute earned the Silver Seal for implementing safety policies focused on human mobility and promoting women’s participation in transportation infrastructure. The Superintendency of Health was recognized for its efforts to support and protect women affected by human rights violations during the armed conflict, while the Superintendency of Industry and Commerce received the Bronze Seal for its work in monitoring and addressing gender-based discrimination in consumer protection. 

 In Peru, the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic was awarded the Gold Seal for its initiatives to improve services for women affected by violence. It is the first Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) globally to receive the Gender Equality Seal, highlighting the critical role SAIs play in policy development and oversight. 

The UNDP Gender Equality Seal is an innovative and unique tool of its kind: the first comprehensive management tool designed specifically for public institutions. It aims to strengthen governance by linking institutional mandates to gender equality, promoting more inclusive and effective policies and services. Currently, 81 public institutions across 15 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean are implementing the tool. 

For more information read the Policy Note (in spanish): Sello de igualdad de género en instituciones públicas: Una herramienta para la consolidación democrática en América Latina y el Caribe | Programa De Las Naciones Unidas Para El Desarrollo   

About the Gender Seal  

The UNDP Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions is a pioneering flagship initiative and a public administration reform comprehensive tool, helping create a new generation of public policies and policymakers to diminish discriminatory norms, enhancing public institutions skills and capacities for delivering gender responsive public policies and services. It is a global voluntary awarding program, specifically designed for public institutions that aims to support, recognize and champion public institutions that commit to and improve on advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment within their institutional mandate.  

About UNDP  

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization in fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet.   

For more information, visit the Gender Equality Seal for Public Institutions.