UN-INSTRAW’s Strategic Frameworks emphasizes the importance of articulating research, training and information distribution in a continuous cycle of analysis, learning and action, so that research results feed into the distribution of information and the design of training and capacity-building programmes, as well as the formulation of policy. Through its applied research programmes, the Institute aims to make policies and programmes gender-responsive on the basis of concrete research results, the application of lessons learned, and the replication of best practices. This approach allows for flexibility in responding to both existing challenges and new and emerging issues.

In all of its work UN-INSTRAW promotes an interactive dialogue between civil society, governments and international organizations through the creation of networks and the continual dissemination of gender-related information. The Institute has created networks, working groups and other associations of practitioners and stakeholders on various issues, including gender and security sector reform, ending violence against women, women’s political participation, gender and remittances and other issues.

2005-2006 was a time of change and progress for UN-INSTRAW, which saw the implementation of a new Strategic Framework and Programme of Work designed to renew and reinforce the Institute’s capacity to be a catalyst for gender initiatives and women’s empowerment worldwide. The revitalization of UN-INSTRAW has taken place within the context of a renewed support to the Millennium Development Goals, as well as the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Through the review and appraisal of these commitments, we learned that significant challenges remain for the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women. Though the new, globalized and interdependent world presents unprecedented opportunities for cooperation and change, it also presents new challenges to equity, social justice and the protection of women’s rights.

The INSTRAW Annual Report fulfils several objectives; first, it allows the Institute to systematize and reflect on its experiences over the past two years, celebrate its accomplishments and consider the challenges it faced along the way; second, it allows the Institute to report to a growing body of UN-INSTRAW stakeholders, supporters, and friends on the progress made in implementing its programme of work; and finally, it allows the Institute to concisely and comprehensively present itself as a United Nations entity to those who are new to UN-INSTRAW and its work.