What are the WEPs?
Launched on International Women’s Day, the Women’s Empowerment Principles-Equality Means Business suggest seven steps for companies to take to empower women in the workplace and the market place. They were launched by UN Women and the United Nations Global Compact on March 8th, 2010 based on a multi-stakeholder consultative process.
BPW International supports the WEPs and encourages its federations and affiliated clubs to promote the WEPs within their countries and to invite CEOs to sign the CEO letter for the WEPs.
The Women’s Empowerment Principles are subtitled Equality Means Business because the full participation of women benefits business and by signing the Statement of Support, CEOs will demonstrate leadership on gender equality and women’s empowerment and will encourage fellow business leaders to do the same.
The 7 Principles
- Establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality.
- Treat all women and men fairly at work – respect and support human rights and nondiscrimination.
- Ensure the health, safety and well-being of all women and men worker
- Promote education, training and professional development for women.
- Implement enterprise development, supply chain and marketing practices that empower women.
- Promote equality through community initiatives and advocacy.
- Measure and publicly report on progress to achieve gender equality.
