UN Global Compact Champions Women's Economic Empowerment in Business Sector Dialogue
On March 11, 2025, a pivotal dialogue focusing on women's economic empowerment took place at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. This event, orchestrated by the UN Global Compact in collaboration with UN Women and the Champions of Change Coalition, aimed to galvanize support from the private sector to expedite commitments aimed at women's economic inclusion by the year 2030.
This dialogue was particularly significant as it coincided with three important anniversaries related to gender equality efforts: 30 years since the inception of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 25 years since the UN Global Compact was founded, and 15 years since the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) were established. Despite the considerable strides made in advancing gender equality, a stark reality persists, highlighted by the International Labour Organization: women globally earn approximately 20% less than their male counterparts, leading to vast inequalities in lifetime earnings. Alarmingly, at the current pace, it is estimated that closing the global gender gap will take an additional 134 years.
The event gathered over 50 influential figures from different sectors including business leaders, policymakers, and advocates for change, all committed to accelerating efforts for gender equality in business. During discussions, participants explored innovative ways to integrate a gender perspective throughout the business value chain. This encompasses creating gender-responsive supply chains, investing in women-owned enterprises, engaging male allies to support these initiatives, and advocating for policies that address persistent gender disparities.
One of the pivotal programs introduced was the ‘Invest in Women Initiative,’ designed to enhance capital flow towards women-owned businesses and to foster gender-inclusive investment practices. Participating business representatives shared success stories about how they have successfully embedded gender considerations into operational strategies, underscoring the notion that such practices not only open diverse markets but also stimulate innovation and build stakeholder trust.
The dialogue also touched upon the role of male allyship in promoting women’s economic inclusion. A special fireside chat that involved prominent figures from the Champions of Change Coalition highlighted effective strategies for mobilizing male leaders to advocate for gender equality. Furthermore, a new resource called “Mainstreaming Male Allyship: An Action Guide for Business,” developed with Equimundo, was launched to provide actionable steps for corporations.
The Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC) was referenced as a model for regional coalitions driving significant progress. Their collaborative efforts, particularly regarding the Gender Statement released in Kigali, Rwanda, in May 2024, demonstrate how such alliances can produce impactful transformations across various sectors.
Business leaders were also urged to embrace the ‘Forward Faster’ initiative, a commitment aimed at achieving equal representation and leadership of women in all organizational levels by 2030. Furthermore, the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) were highlighted as a comprehensive framework for companies to ensure gender equality is woven into the fabric of workplace culture, market engagement, and community involvement.
Melissa Powell, the Deputy Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, encapsulated the session's ethos stating, “Accelerating women's full participation is not just a moral imperative; it's an economic one.” With the backdrop of crucial anniversaries, the prospect for a transformative shift towards gender equality in business appears more promising than ever. Participants pledged to disseminate insights from the dialogue within their professional networks and were encouraged to strengthen their commitment to the Forward Faster initiative and the WEPs by setting transparent and measurable targets for bridging leadership and pay gaps.
In closing, the UN Global Compact reinforced its mission to unify the business community towards achieving a sustainable future, with a specific focus on gender equality. With over 20,000 participating companies worldwide, the collective impact of these initiatives is expected to play a vital role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
This dialogue was particularly significant as it coincided with three important anniversaries related to gender equality efforts: 30 years since the inception of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, 25 years since the UN Global Compact was founded, and 15 years since the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) were established. Despite the considerable strides made in advancing gender equality, a stark reality persists, highlighted by the International Labour Organization: women globally earn approximately 20% less than their male counterparts, leading to vast inequalities in lifetime earnings. Alarmingly, at the current pace, it is estimated that closing the global gender gap will take an additional 134 years.
The event gathered over 50 influential figures from different sectors including business leaders, policymakers, and advocates for change, all committed to accelerating efforts for gender equality in business. During discussions, participants explored innovative ways to integrate a gender perspective throughout the business value chain. This encompasses creating gender-responsive supply chains, investing in women-owned enterprises, engaging male allies to support these initiatives, and advocating for policies that address persistent gender disparities.
One of the pivotal programs introduced was the ‘Invest in Women Initiative,’ designed to enhance capital flow towards women-owned businesses and to foster gender-inclusive investment practices. Participating business representatives shared success stories about how they have successfully embedded gender considerations into operational strategies, underscoring the notion that such practices not only open diverse markets but also stimulate innovation and build stakeholder trust.
The dialogue also touched upon the role of male allyship in promoting women’s economic inclusion. A special fireside chat that involved prominent figures from the Champions of Change Coalition highlighted effective strategies for mobilizing male leaders to advocate for gender equality. Furthermore, a new resource called “Mainstreaming Male Allyship: An Action Guide for Business,” developed with Equimundo, was launched to provide actionable steps for corporations.
The Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC) was referenced as a model for regional coalitions driving significant progress. Their collaborative efforts, particularly regarding the Gender Statement released in Kigali, Rwanda, in May 2024, demonstrate how such alliances can produce impactful transformations across various sectors.
Business leaders were also urged to embrace the ‘Forward Faster’ initiative, a commitment aimed at achieving equal representation and leadership of women in all organizational levels by 2030. Furthermore, the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) were highlighted as a comprehensive framework for companies to ensure gender equality is woven into the fabric of workplace culture, market engagement, and community involvement.
Melissa Powell, the Deputy Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, encapsulated the session's ethos stating, “Accelerating women's full participation is not just a moral imperative; it's an economic one.” With the backdrop of crucial anniversaries, the prospect for a transformative shift towards gender equality in business appears more promising than ever. Participants pledged to disseminate insights from the dialogue within their professional networks and were encouraged to strengthen their commitment to the Forward Faster initiative and the WEPs by setting transparent and measurable targets for bridging leadership and pay gaps.
In closing, the UN Global Compact reinforced its mission to unify the business community towards achieving a sustainable future, with a specific focus on gender equality. With over 20,000 participating companies worldwide, the collective impact of these initiatives is expected to play a vital role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
Topics Policy & Public Interest）
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