Event Calendar

This webinar will introduce examples of innovative approaches to empowering women in the workplace, marketplace and community, focusing on women’s health initiatives in the private sector. These inspirational examples illustrate some of the concrete ways in which companies can and are taking action to implement the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). The WEPs are a joint initiative of UN Women and the UN Global Compact, with around 500 CEO signatories from all industry sectors and regions of the world.

Time - 11:00am (EST)

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Women's full economic partiicpation has shown to accelerate business development. Toshio Arima, Chair of the UN Global Compact Japan Network and Kimie Iwata, WEPs Leadership Group member, will discuss the significance of the UN Global Compact and the promotion of the Women's Empowerment Principles. The lecture is followed by a panel discussion introducing best strategies to multiply positive effects that women's economic empowerment has on corporate performance and the revitalization of local communities.

The event—held in observance of International Women’s Day—will focus on how inclusive business strategies and practices drive change towards realizing the Women’s Empowerment Principles and will feature innovative approaches the private sector is taking to overcome challenges to achieve gender equality in the workplace, marketplace and community. Participants will include business leaders and representatives from a wide range of sectors and geographical regions and other key stakeholders from civil society, government and academia.

Participation at this event is by invitation only. Priority will be given to companies that have signed the CEO Statement of Support for the Women’s Empowerment Principles.

Click here for more information and to view the agenda.

 LIVE WEBCAST:  Follow the conversation on 6 March at www.livestream.com/WEPrinciples.

Join us on Twitter at @WEPrinciples and #strategy4change.

Despite their significant participation in the economy, with over 34% of firms worldwide having female participation in ownership, it is estimated that women win less than 1% of corporate contracts. The Women’s Empowerment Principles seek to change this through emphasising the business case for corporate action to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.  At this meeting, speakers will share experiences in translating commitments into reality, underlining how this is creating opportunities for women business owners.

The meeting will open with an exploration of the added value of the WEPs. The corporate perspective will then be shared regarding outreach and inclusion of women. The International Federation of Business and Professional Women, with 30,000 members around the globe, will share on how they connect women to global supply chains, including through the ITC-lead Global Platform for Action on Sourcing from Women Vendors. The International Trade Centre (ITC) will elaborate on their role in catalyzing WEP 5 through building the capacity of women entrepreneurs to meet buyers’ requirements.

On the occasion of International Women’s Day and the 3^rd Anniversary of WEPs, UN Women, Global Compact Network India and CARE India will co-host a national consultation in New Delhi to deliberate on the Women’s Empowerment Principles and how the corporate sector can build a greater commitment to women’s empowerment; share “best practices” and salute business leaders on their corporate leadership in promoting gender equality. 

This event will bring together existing six WEPs signatories in India as well as key stakeholders from the business community across various industries as well as participants from civil society, government and academia.

Consultation Highlights:

Presentation on Status of Women in Corporate India

Presentations by existing WEPs signatories in India - Coca-Cola, HCL, Infosys, JSL, Paharpur Business Centre, Wipro

Roundtable Discussion on WEPs: Best Practices, Challenges and Way Forward

Join us on Twitter at @unwomenindia and @CAREIndia

Uniting the most influential business leaders from across Asia and the globe, the 3rd Annual WIL Forum Asia is held under the patronage of the Wife of the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Taking place at the Roayle Chulan Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 28-29 March 2013, it features inspirational speakers, educational conference sessions, regional business roundtables, practical think tank sessions, WIL Achievement Awards and international business development opportunities.

This year's edition focuses on advancing women in the economy, increasing their business opportunities in the workforce and best D&I strategies. During the two days, business experts are shairng their knowledge and expertise through dynamic conference sessions. 

Since 2009, the WIL series has connected over 3,000 successful business leaders to encourage contributions towards development and economic growth. Forums have been hosted in the United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, India, Malaysia and China.

Monthly meetings that the Global Compact Network India holds every month is dedicated to a particular GC principle inviting participants of the Local Network as well as any one who is interested in attending it. The event is open for one and all and is usually attended by 50-60 participants coming from business, NGOs, government, UN and its agencies and business chambers with a view to and objective of sharing knowledge and networking with participants in the meeting. We collate, collect and at the year's end publish a report of these meetings in a handbook.  

This Event was planned  to bring together representatives from business, government, civil society and other key stakeholders from Turkey, as well as neighbouring countries in the Middle East and Gulf Region, to take stock of efforts to raise awareness of the Women Empowerment Principles and share best practices and lessons learned on implementation of the Principles. The Women’s Empowerment Principles, (The Women’s Empowerment Principles)  a partnership initiative of UN-Women and UN Global Compact, provide a set of considerations to help the private sector focus on key elements integral to promoting gender equality in the workplace, market place and community.

AGENDA - Empowering Women in the Workplace, Marketplace and Community: Selected Cases from the Gulf Countries, Turkey and Iraq

Supply chains offer a unique opportunity and means for companies to promote human rights and have a positive impact on economic development by offering economically disadvantaged groups, including women, an equal opportunity to compete for business. Further, inclusive sourcing makes good business sense and is a key pillar of sustainable procurement.

Co-convened by the UN Global Compact, the International Trade Centre, WEConnect International and BPW International, this webinar will explore the "why" and "how" of sourcing from women-owned businesses. Principle 5 of the Women's Empowerment Principles (a joint initiative of UN Women and the UN Global Compact) which encourages companies to expand their business relationships with women-owned businesses will provide a starting point for discussion.

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This event will focus on the involvement of men implementing the Women's Empowerment Principles. The event will be held in German and English with simultaneous translation in German/English and English/German.

You can sign up for the event by e-mail to wep@unwomen.ch until 24 May, 2013. The registration becomes definitive upon receipt of the participant fee.

Please feel free to extend the invitation to other interested parties.

AGENDA - Women's Empowerment Principles: Equality Means Business

Companies and investors alike have been paying increasing attention to the business case for having robust diversity and gender equality policies and practices. The Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), launched in 2010 by UN Women and the UN Global Compact, provide a framework for action by outlining seven steps companies can take to empower women in the workplace marketplace and community.  To date, nearly 550 top executives have signed a CEO Statement of Support for the Women's Empowerment Principles, demonstrating leadership on gender equality and women’s empowerment and signaling support for the guidance provided by Principles.

This webinar will highlight cutting-edge research that supports the business case for women's empowerment and bring together Global Compact participants and signatories of Principles for Responsible Investment to take stock of the growth and impact of the Women's Empowerment Principles initiative to date and discuss how how the investor community can help advance gender equality and women's empowerment by encouraging companies to embrace the WEPs.

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Join women business owners and representatives of corporations, governments and trade support institutions at WVEF 2013. This global event provides buyers and sellers in select sectors the opportunity to explore business partnerships, build skills and engage with dynamic public and private sector leaders from around the world. Importantly, the WVEF provides a key opportunity to implement WEPs Principle 5, which calls on business to expand business relationships with women-owned enterprises.

The Platform is led by the International Trade Centre, with the support of WEConnect International. Partners for WVEF 2013 are the Government of India Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises; the National Small Industries Corporation, India; United Nations Global Compact; the International Federation of Business and Professional Women; Vital Voices Global Partnership; the International Women’s Coffee Alliance; Full Circle Exchange; Quantum Leaps; SPINNA; and the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association.

WVEF 2013 brings together buyers and sellers in:

• Information Technology, Telecommunications and Business Process Outsourcing;

• The Built Environment including Clean & Green Technology, Construction and Mining;

• Coffee;

• Garments and Apparel;

• Office Products and Services;

• Suppliers to Major International Events; and

• Shipping and Logistics.

For Criteria and Additional Information, please see here or visit the ITC's Global Platform for Action on Sourcing from Women Vendors website.