Global Compact and UNIFEM to Address Role of Business in Empowerment of Women

The day-long event at UN Headquarters (and optional workshop on 6 March), held just prior to International Women’s Day, will bring together representatives of business, civil society, academia, labour, governments and the UN to develop a more coherent vision of the many ways in which business can help to empower women and advance gender equality. The meeting will address issues such as creating the optimal workplace, women and entrepreneurship, and public-private partnerships to advance women.

As a central part of the day's discussions, participants will explore how a set of Women's Principles – developed in 2004 by the investment firm Calvert in cooperation with UNIFEM –  might be useful to stimulate further progress in the advancement of women. The event will discuss the potential global application of the Women's Principles, and how they might be further enhanced to increase their international impact and reach.

"Our hope is that Advancing Women in the Global Marketplace and the process that it will launch will make a tangible contribution to the empowerment of women", said Georg Kell, Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact. "We hope that this event will foster a broader understanding that the empowerment of women is an essential and integral part of ensuring the long-term sustainability of business".