The business case for gender equality has been made, and it is clear. When women serve as leaders and employees within a company, it has a positive effect on the company’s bottom line. Gender Equality is good for business!
The World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Gender Gap Report 2022 estimates that it will take over 151 years for women to achieve full economic empowerment and participation, and 132 years to close the global gender gap. This is an unacceptable timeline robbing our marketplace of the vast contributions gender equality creates in the workplace.
Here are five ways companies can accelerate the advancement of gender equality in the workplace, marketplace and community.
1. Partner with the UN Global Compact during the Commission on the Status of Women (6 – 17 March 2023)
Every year, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) hosts a ten-day session where companies, academia, Governments and civil society gather to discuss critical topics related to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. This year at CSW, the UN Global Compact is convening business leaders from across the globe to explore how the private sector can accelerate gender equality and unlock leadership, technological change and innovation to tackle the world’s greatest challenges. It is not too late to take part. Learn more here!
2. Move from commitment to action by joining our countdown to International Women’s Day!
Through weekly activities leading up to International Women’s Day on 8 March, join UN Global Compact participants from around the world in a learning journey with both live sessions and on-demand courses in multiple languages and time zones to gain expert insight on gender equality. Regardless of your company’s location, size or sector, come together and unpack what corporate action for gender equality looks like in practice. You will also discover the tools and build the global networks necessary to help you make actionable developments on this journey of empowerment. Open to all! Join us today.
3. Commit your company to the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs)
Established by the UN Global Compact in partnership with UN Women, the Women’s Empowerment Principles are a set of guidelines for your company on promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. Join over 7,000 CEOs at some of the world’s most influential companies that have signed the WEPs and committed to advancing gender equality at the highest levels. Sign the WEPs today!
4. Do your due diligence for gender equality
The Women’s Empowerment Principles Gap Analysis Tool (WEPs Tool) helps your company identify strengths, gaps and opportunities to improve your performance on gender equality. Developed in consultation with over 170 companies, it is a free, easy and confidential online tool that will help you assess your company’s policies and programmes and improve your approach to gender equality. Incorporate the WEP into your corporate process today!
5. Join over 1,400 companies in the Target Gender Equality initiative
The Target Gender Equality initiative is a nine-month course for companies that consists of capacity-building workshops, peer-to-peer learning and expert dialogue. The guided semester supports the development of ambitious targets for women’s representation and leadership in the workplace. It will equip your company with the resources necessary to set your own ambitious and realistic corporate targets for gender equality. More importantly, it will give you a roadmap to meet these targets through actionable plans. Learn more here.
