Other Stakeholders

Government

UN Global Compact Local Networks

UN Women Country and Regional Offices and UN Women National Committees

Civil Society

Academia

Government

The Principles also reflect the interests of Governments and civil society and provide a versatile platform to support cooperation among stakeholders.  Unleashing the benefits of women’s economic empowerment requires the participation of all actors and collaborations in country to publicize the WEPs and gather stakeholders together are gaining traction. In this context, Governments and civil society organizations can:

• Use the Principles as a general framework when engaging in dialogue with the private sector about their role in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.
• Refer to the Principles as a touchstone within the Government itself to encourage more women in leadership roles—review training and mentoring policies and activities.
• Encourage departments to integrate the Principles in their processes:  procurement is especially important,
• Take them into account in developing and revising public policies on gender equality and women's empowerment and corporate responsibility
• Consider corporate commitment to the Principles when making decisions about which businesses to partner with, procure from, or other such decisions.
• As an investor or regulator, raise the bar on requiring gender specific information within the government and by businesses.

Collaborations in country to publicize the WEPs and gather stakeholders together are gaining traction. UN Women country and regional offices, UN Global Compact Local Networks and UN Women National Committees collaborate with each other on national efforts that often include the WEPs Secretariat, governments, civil society organizations and others to raise awareness about the WEPs and support local businesses in their efforts to implement the Principles.

Collaborations in country to publicize the WEPs and gather stakeholders together are gaining traction. UN Women country and regional offices, UN Global Compact Local Networks and UN Women National Committees collaborate with each other on national efforts that often include the WEPs Secretariat, governments, civil society organizations and others to raise awareness about the WEPs and support local businesses in their efforts to implement the Principles.

Within UN Women, the WEPs are a platform to work with the private sector to advance women’s economic empowerment and rights and to improve the situation of marginalized women, both urban and rural, within the context of sustainable development.

Ideas for engagement:

• Work with Governments to incorporate the WEPs into reporting processes and strengthen the call for sex-disaggregated statistics.
• Collaborate with UNGC local networks and/or other organizations on an event to raise awareness about the WEPs.
• Form an ongoing WEPs-oriented multi-stakeholder group.
• Translate WEPs materials into the local language(s).
• Host, collaborate or participate on webinars on topics related to the WEPs.
• Collect examples of what businesses are doing to empower women and advance the goals of the WEPs.
• Foster peer review or discussion of what companies are doing on company efforts to implement the WEPs.
• Launch a CEO Statement of Support signature drive.
• Develop or adapt tools or resources related to the WEPs.
• Launch local initiatives related to the WEPs.

Collaborations in country to publicize the WEPs and gather stakeholders together are gaining traction. Civil society organizations can find common cause with others working with the WEPs as a platform for action and change. Bringing together all actors is one of the key functions that civil society organizations play.  Advocating for gender equality and sustainable development can bring together a compelling coalition of various stakeholders. Civil society organizations are working with. UN Women country and regional offices, UN Global Compact Local Networks and UN Women National Committees on national to raise awareness about the WEPs and support local businesses in their efforts to implement the Principles.

For many civil society organizations, the WEPs are a platform to work with the private sector to advance women’s economic empowerment and rights and to improve the situation of marginalized women, both urban and rural, within the context of sustainable development.

Ideas for engagement:

• Collaborate with other organizations on an event to raise awareness about the WEPs.
• Form an ongoing WEPs-oriented multi-stakeholder group.
• Publicize the WEPs on your website and engage chapters and organizational leaders.
• Translate WEPs materials into the local language(s).
• Host, collaborate or participate on webinars on topics related to the WEPs.
• Collect examples of what businesses are doing to empower women and advance the goals of the WEPs.
• Foster peer review or discussion of what companies are doing on company efforts to implement the WEPs
• Launch a CEO Statement of Support signature drive.
• Develop or adapt tools or resources related to the WEPs.
• Launch local initiatives related to the WEPs.

Preparing and training tomorrow’s business leaders to work successfully in a global and multi-cultural climate, requires an in-depth immersion into gender and cultural issues.  Inspired by the Women’s Empowerment Principles, in October 2011, Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME) launched a Working Group on Gender Equality. The mission of the Working Group is to bring together academics and employers in order to provide support and resources for integrating gender issues and awareness into management education, business school curricula, and related research to facilitate respect and support for the WEPs and PRME.

In June 2012, the Working Group launched a Gender Equality Repository to identify materials and resources that assist faculty in integrating gender issues and awareness into management education in that field. These include, for instance, specific case studies, syllabi, texts, and best practices that assess or otherwise address the roles of gender in various educational and workplace environments. The Repository also lists resources, including search engines, divisions/subgroups within professional academic associations, organisations such as the Aspen Institute’s Center for Business Education, etc. that are designed to help faculty and administrators incorporate gender-related topics into management education curricula.

Ideas for engagement:

• Contact PRME for up-to-date information.
• Use the WEPs to assess your institution’s operations, composition, policies and course offerings.
• Start a gender awareness and business group based around the WEPs and PRME’s initiatives.
• Organize interdisciplinary activities between management and gender studies.
• Initiate a speakers’ series to enhance dialogue.
• Develop a plan of action.

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