Commission of Status of Women – March 4-15, 2013, NYC

Women’s Empowerment Principles–Equality means Business

 

The Women’s Empowerment Principles offer practical guidance to business and the private sector on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. Developed through a partnership between UNIFEM and the United Nations Global Compact, the Principles are designed to support companies in reviewing existing policies and practices — or establishing new ones — to realize women’s empowerment.

The private sector is a key partner in efforts to advance gender equality and empower women. Current research demonstrating that gender diversity helps business perform better signals that selfinterest and common interest can come together. yet, ensuring the inclusion of women’s talents, skills and energies — from executive offices to the factory floor and the supply chain — requires intentional actions and deliberate policies.

In brief, the Principles are:

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.

Empowering women to participate fully in economic life across all sectors is essential to build stronger economies, achieve internationally agreed goals for development and sustainability, and improve the quality of life for women, men, families and communities.

For more information please contact Laraine Mills at [email protected] or Lauren Gula at [email protected]

Commission will focus on tackling violence in 2013.

The fifty-seventh session of the Commission on the Status of Women will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 4 to 15 March 2013.

Bureau

The Bureau for the 56th and 57th sessions comprises the following members:

• H.E. Ms. Marjon V. Kamara (Liberia) of the African States Group, Chair
• Ms. Ana Marie Hernando (Philippines) of the Asia-Pacific States Group, Vice-Chair
• Ms. Irina Velichko (Belarus) of the Eastern European States Group, Vice-Chair
• H.E. Mr. Carlos Garcia Gonzalez (El Salvador) of the Latin American and Caribbean States Group, Vice-Chair
• Mr. Filippo Cinti (Italy), Western European and other States Group, Vice-Chair

Themes

Priority theme:

• Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls

Review theme:

• The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS (agreed conclusions from the fifty-third session)

Emerging issue:

• Key gender equality issues to be reflected in the post-2015 development framework

Organization of the session

In accordance with its multi-year programme of work (ECOSOC resolution 2009/15), the Commission’s two-week session will include the following activities: Organization of work
» First week » Second week   Print view