Community insights

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.

At the current rate, it will take almost 300 years to achieve gender equality.[1] This slow progress underscores the need for male allies to address gender disparities in the private sector.

“What we observe in high-income countries, low-income countries, and middle-income countries is that you have gender inequality everywhere.” - Hélène Périvier, Economist and Head of the PRESAGE programme at Sciences Pro in Paris, France. 

Accelerating progress towards advancing SDG 5 with ESG in the private sector 

In the realm of leasing, women often face multifaceted barriers that limit their access and involvement in financial transactions. From challenges in accessing capital to confronting gender biases in decision-making processes, these barriers underscore the need for a more inclusive and equitable leasing landscape. LeaseLine, a Belgium-based leasing broker with over 35 years of experience, recognizes the significance of addressing these challenges.

“We are not investing in women with a political agenda or motivation; but rather doing this on a “pure return” perspective” - Eva Halvarsson, CEO of Andra Ap-fonden (AP2) from Sweden, one of northern Europe’s largest pension fund.

Setting the scene – we need to speed up to achieve SDG 5 by 2030

Every year, the United Nations reviews progress made on gender equality through its Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).