Equality (of women and men) Means Business
Hot off the press: EBBF joins UNIFEM and UNGC in call to action launching the Women’s Empowerment Principles
Seven Steps Are Identified for Companies to Empower Women in the Work- and Marketplace Drawing From Real Life Business Practices
United Nations, New York – March 17, 2010 –EBBF (www.ebbf.org) the European Bahá’í Business Forum, an international NGO representing businesspeople across 70 countries joined The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the UN Global Compact (UNGC) along with Member States, and representatives of other non-governmental organisations as the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) undertook a fifteen year review of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly.
Midway through the two week review, Inés Alberdi, UNIFEM Executive Director, called for business to help lead the way and to send the message that the time is now for women’s advancement and inclusion by implementing the seven steps identified in the Women’s Empowerment Principles. Developed in consultation with international business leaders and other experts, the Principles offer the right guidance at the right time:
1) Establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality.
2) Treat all women and men fairly at work – respect and support human rights and nondiscrimination.
3) Ensure the health, safety and well-being of all women and men workers.
4) Promote education, training and professional development for women.
5) Implement enterprise development, supply chain and marketing practices that empower women.
6) Promote equality through community initiatives and advocacy.
7) Measure and publicly report on progress to achieve gender equality.
Representatives from business expressed during the consultations that the Women’s Empowerment Principles can help lead the way. Equality Means Business calls on the business community to implement recruitment and retention practices that advance women’s empowerment and inclusion and urges them to proactively appoint women as managers, executives and board members.
“Seventy percent of the world’s poor are women, a statistic that hasn’t really changed in fifteen years” notes Dr. Wendi Momen, EBBF Secretary General and representative to the CSW. “Research demonstrates, however, investing in women, opening the door of business to them and welcoming them into partnership with men in all fields of human endeavour is an investment in an advancing civilization because women reinvest almost all of their income in their families and communities.”
In January this year, McKinsey the global management consultancy, published the white paper, The Business of Empowering Women, based on a global survey of 2,300 senior private sector executives. One-third surveyed said their investments in women have already resulted in greater profits and another third said their investments would soon show profit demonstrating that companies that are already focusing their efforts on women are reporting measurable business benefits.
ABOUT DR. WENDI MOMEN
Dr. Wendi Momen is an internationally recognised thought leader and social innovator on the advancement of women and their participation in decision-making at all levels. As EBBF Secretary General, and in her role as Secretary of the UK National Committee for UNIFEM, Dr. Momen represents both organisations accredited to the UN Commission on the Status of Women global framework. She is also a founder member and Treasurer of ADVANCE a Baha’i inspired international NGO dedicated to the partnership of women and men in all fields of endeavor.
In addition to her work within non-governmental organisations of social change, Dr. Momen serves at board level within a number of UK and international businesses. In parallel to her professional life as a writer, editor and business leader, her role as mother, and now grandmother, she has been a magistrate in the UK criminal, family and youth courts since 1982.
Wendi Momen holds a BSc in Economics and a Ph.D. in International Relations, both from the London School of Economics. www.wendimomen.com
ABOUT UNIFEM
UNIFEM is the women’s fund at the United Nations, dedicated to advancing women’s rights and achieving gender equality. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies that foster women’s empowerment. UNIFEM works on the premise that it is the fundamental right of every woman to live a life free from discrimination and violence, and that gender equality is essential to achieving development and to building just societies. Established in 1976, UNIFEM has touched the lives of women and girls around the world. UNIFEM maintains strong ties to both women’s organizations and governments, linking them with the UN system to join national and international political action, and to create momentum for change. For more information: www.unifem.org
ABOUT UNGC
The UN Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses that are committed to aligning their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. By doing so, business, as a primary agent driving globalization, can help ensure that markets, commerce, technology and finance advance in ways that benefit economies and societies everywhere. For more information: www.unglobalcompact.org
ABOUT EBBF
The European Bahá’í Business Forum is a network of over 400 women and men, a community of people passionate about bringing ethical values, personal virtues and moral leadership into their workplaces. Its membership is diverse and crosses generations, borders, sectors and belief systems. Founded in 1990 and now present in over 70 countries, EBBF partners and consults with other organisations and businesspeople around the world providing them with practical examples to evoke positive change in their own and the greater business environment. For more information www.ebbf.org or EBBF Frequently Asked Questions
EBBF Media Contact:
Tammara Anderton
+41763290359
tammara.anderton@ebbf.org
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You can view here the full Knowledge Centre that EBBF has dedicated to the theme of the Partnership of Women and Men.
