Community insights

The eighth session of the 2024 WEPs Deep-Dive Series on Private Sector Action to Advance Gender Equality in Times of Crisis opened with impactful remarks from Anna Fälth, Global Head of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Secretariat at UN Women. Anna underscored the vital role of businesses in addressing gender inequalities, particularly during crises.

As the global community works towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the need for women's leadership in climate action has become increasingly evident. This critical issue was the focus of the seventh session of the 2024 WEPs Deep-Dive Series on Women’s Leadership for Climate Action.

For the sixth WEPs deep-dive session “WEPs in the marketplace: Removing gender stereotypes in marketing and advertising”, the WEPs Secretariat invited two WEPs signatories – one B2C and one B2B company –  to explore how gender-responsive marketing and advertising strategies can be tailored to different types of companies. The webinar also featured a speaker from the Unstereotype Alliance, a thought and action platform that seeks to eradicate harmful stereotypes in all media and advertising content, convened by UN Women.

Adopting an intersectional approach in business practices is not just a matter of promoting diversity; it is a strategic move that can drive innovation, enhance market competitiveness, and improve the bottom line. This was the central theme of the recent WEPs Deep-Dive Webinar on Intersectionality, where experts discussed how intersectionality influences business practices and organizational culture. 

Care work encompasses both direct, personal, and relational activities such as feeding a baby or caring for an ill partner, as well as indirect activities like cooking and cleaning. Despite its critical role in sustaining economies and societies, care work remains largely unrecognized, undervalued, and underpaid.

Did you know that 25 April 2024 was the International Girls in ICT Day? To celebrate this day and to inspire and encourage girls and women to pursue a future in ICT jobs, the WEPs Global Secretariat joined forces with the International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB) to host a special session on the career path in software testing. The event aligned with this year's theme, Leadership, underscoring the urgent need for robust female role models in STEM careers. 

“Transparency is important so stakeholders know how a topic is managed. Transparency shows where you are today and where you are heading.” — Alyson Genovese, Vice President, Global Head of Corporate Sustainability at S&P Global.

Clearing the Path to Gender Equality with Transparency and Legislation

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.

“Building a diversity agenda that includes inclusive action is like building a house – with the foundation being the leadership commitment. In the middle, you have the pillars that support the house. This becomes your gender action plan. You must check [performance] in these areas. You must report so that decisions can be taken, which is [key] for the intervention.” — Beatrice Kiruri, HR Business Partner / DEIB Manager at Bamburi Cement Ltd.

“Our work continuously shows that men want gender equality and gender equality wants men. This is not a zero-sum game where some gain and some lose. We are working towards a goal in which everybody feels nurtured and live in a world that’s equitable.” – Chris Hook, Private Sector Engagement Lead at Equimundo.