last updated 14 May 2007

In 1976, ECOSOC created the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW) to carry out research and training. Its work is aimed at advancing women and gender equality. According to its mission statement, “…INSTRAW promotes applied research on gender, facilitates information sharing, and supports capacity building through networking mechanisms such as GAINS and multi-stakeholder partnerships with UN agencies, governments, academia and civil society.” In 1999, INSTRAW’s mandate was expanded to include information and communication technologies (ICTs), for which it has developed an operational methodology on gender information.   

INSTRAW’s Strategic Framework for 2004-2007 focuses on four primary goals: 1) applied research; 2) information sharing and dissemination; 3) capacity-building, and; 4) INSTRAW’s institutional development.