Women’s Empowerment
Principles
Equality Means Business
Why Women’s Empowerment?
Equality between men and women is
a fundamental human right
Women’s Empowerment is a key
driver of sustainable development
Equality Means Business!
Photo Credits: Arne Hoel/ The World Bank, Scott Wallace/ The World Bank
Women’s Empowerment Principles Overview
The Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) is a joint
initiative of UN Women and the UN Global Compact
Launched on International Women’s Day 2010 following a
year-long international, multi-stakeholder consultation
process
Elaborates the gender dimension of good corporate
citizenship, the UN Global Compact, and business' role in
sustainable development
Why the Women’s Empowerment Principles?
The Women’s Empowerment Principles:
•
Provide a roadmap for business on
how to empower women in the
workplace, marketplace and
community
•
Help companies mainstream gender
equality throughout business
operations and other areas of
corporate sustainability
The 7 Principles in Brief
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.
Gender Equality: Impacts on the Macro Economy
If female
employment rates
were to match male
employment rates,
overall net GDP
would increase
by…
5%
5%
5%
6%
United States
United Kingdom
China
Spain
Japan
Brazil
South Africa
Italy
United Arab Emirates
Argentina
India
Egypt
9%
9%
10%
11%
12%
12%
27%
34%
0%
5%
10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
Source: Catalyst, 2011
Gender Equality: The Business Case
Companies with three or more women corporate directors
outperformed those with no women on the board
84%
60%
Reported increases in
46%
Return on Equity
Return on Invested Capital
Return on Sales
Source: Catalyst, 2011
WEPs: A Platform for Action and Engagement
“Investing in women and girls has a multiplier effect
on productivity and sustained economic growth.”
- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
“When you embrace these Principles, you join a
great and gathering movement to unleash the power
of women and change the world…By working
together based on shared values, we can advance
the common good.”
- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
CEO Statement of Support
We, business leaders from across the globe, express support for advancing
equality between women and men to:
• Bring the broadest pool of talent to our endeavours;
• Further our companies’ competitiveness;
• Meet our corporate responsibility and sustainability commitments;
• Model behaviour within our companies that reflects the society we would like for our
employees, fellow citizens and families;
• Encourage economic and social conditions that provide opportunities for women and
men, girls and boys; and
• Foster sustainable development in the countries in which we operate.
How to Engage in the WEPs
COMMIT
Leadership commitment to mainstream gender
equality throughout corporate sustainability and
other relevant strategies and operations
COMMUNICATE
ASSESS
Apply a gender lens
when assessing risks,
opportunities, and
impacts
Communicate
progress and
strategies while
engaging with
stakeholders for
continuous
improvement
DEFINE
Apply a gender
lens when
defining goals,
strategies, and
policies, and
metrics
MEASURE
Measure and monitor
impacts and progress
towards goals
IMPLEMENT
Implement gender
equality strategies and
policies throughout the
business and across
the value chain
WEPs Signers
To search our company database please visit: www.weprinciples.unglobalcompact.org/Site/Companies/1
WEPs Signatories Around the World
Number of Signatories
No signatories
1- 4
5 - 19
20 - 49
> 50
19 Companies listed themselves as global
As of 6 September, 2014
Making and Measuring Progress
Demonstrate Progress
Replicate Success
Detect Gaps
Gain Recognition
Track Progress
Benchmark
Participate in the Annual WEPs Event
2010
2011
Equality Means
Business: Launch
of the WEPs
Equality Means
Business: Putting
the Principles into
Practice
2009
Advancing
Women in the
Global
Marketplace
-
40 Signatories
140 Participants
- 181 Signatories
- 191 Participants
2012
Gender
Equality for
Sustainable
Business
- 393 Signatories
- 193 Participants
2013
2014
Inclusion:
Strategy for
Change
Gender Equality
and the Global
Jobs Challenge
- 557 Signatories
- 328 Participants
-
695 Signatories
300 Participants
2015
2015 WEPs
Annual Event
10-11 March 2015
UN Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon
Learn more at:
www.weprinciples.org/Site/MediaInformation
Anne-Marie Slaughter,
President, New America
Foundation
Spread the Word Take Action Build the Consensus
www.WEPrinciples.org
womens-empowerment-principles@unglobalcompact.org
@WEPrinciples
facebook.com/WEPrinciples