The 2024 WEPs Forum Germany, titled "Accelerating Business Action for Gender Equality," was successfully held 22-23 May 2024, at the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) in Berlin. The event was a collaborative effort organized by the Agency for Business and Economic Development (AWE), DIHK, and the UN Women National Committee Germany. The Forum brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from WEPs signatory companies in Germany, with a total turnout of more than 160 participants.
The main objectives were to accelerate business action towards achieving gender equality within the corporate sector. By fostering a collaborative environment, the Forum:
- Showcased Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) among German companies as smart business strategy.
- Shared emerging practices and innovative strategies to advance gender equality.
- Facilitated networking and partnership opportunities among representatives and gender advocates in business, government and other key private sector stakeholders.
Dynamic discussions were facilitated on the three pillars of the WEPs – workplace, marketplace and community alongside corporate leadership and transparency:
- Trends in the German labour market
- ESG, sustainability and gender equality as cornerstones of corporate leaderships
- SMEs leading the way to gender equality
- Gender equality in the value chain and marketing practices
- Corporate engagement in local communities
- Driving inclusive corporate workplace culture
- Transition to a care economy that works for all
An interactive training session focused increasing the knowledge and action around unconscious bias. Five parallel workshops facilitated deeper discussions on various aspects of gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community.
The 2024 WEPs Forum Germany was a significant milestone in the journey towards gender equality in the business sector in Germany. By bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders, the Forum not only highlighted the importance of gender equality but also provided practical solutions and fostered a collaborative spirit among participants.
In summary, key points made during the discussion were that implementing the WEPs….
- … requires strong, courageous and curious leaders as well as accountability of all employees across all departments. Advancing gender equality makes a company more sustainable and resilient
- .… is a journey that requires a whole of organization prioritization. It therefore cannot be tackled through “low hanging fruits”, a “box ticking exercise”, or a “one size fits all approach”. It needs to address systemic issues, such as social and gender norms, and therefore requires a long-term vision and approach.
- … needs a customized approach requiring consultations with diverse stakeholder groups. Men need to be part of the WEPs journey from the very outset. With a whole of value chain approach, collaboration with suppliers, vendors and other business partners are key to take action to scale
- .… requires tracking and reporting – a key driver of progress and impact.
The commitment, active engagement and enthusiasm displayed by participants at the Forum are promising indicators of the momentum generated by the Forum, and the continued progress in the pursuit of gender equality in the German corporate world.
Participants recommended to host follow-up events and similar Forums, including more frequent gatherings, expanded topics of discussion, and increased involvement of diverse stakeholders.
See the full agenda here.
Photo credit: Janine Escher