#FlexForEmpowerment – WE EMPOWER Programme encourages businesses to advance gender equality in the workplace
This week’s Feminist Friday marks the last day of Canada’s 2nd Annual Gender Equality Week! The theme for Gender Equality Week is gender equality benefits everyone, inspired by the vision of a gender equal society and the benefits of advancing gender equality to women, men and people of all gender identities. When we make progress towards gender equality, #EveryoneBenefits!
We wanted to take this opportunity to highlight an initiative in Canada that encourages corporations to commit to advancing gender equality in the workplace.
The ‘Promoting women’s economic empowerment through responsible business conduct in countries’ (WE EMPOWER) Programme is a partnership between the European Union (EU), UN Women and the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Taking place between 2018-2020, the initiative seeks to advance gender equality and women’s economic empowerment in G7 countries through multi-stakeholder dialogues and by leveraging the Women’s Empowerment Principles to bring together business leaders and other stakeholders from various sectors and industries to support the implementation of the G7 Roadmap for ag ender responsive economic environment.
The WE EMPOWER Programme recently launched the Flex for Empowerment Campaign! Flex for Empowerment is a public engagement campaign designed to increase awareness of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) while increasing the number of WEPs signatories in Canada and showcasing good practices in the workplace, marketplace and community. The campaign will run from 22 September 2019 through the end of December 2019.
You can register as an Ally for Flex for Empowerment here.
What are the Women’s Empowerment Principles?
The Women’s Empowerment Principles are a set of seven principles that offer guidance to companies on how to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment at the workplace, marketplace and community. The Principles contribute to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5 to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. The principles include:
- Establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality.
- Treat all women and men fairly at work – respect and support human rights and non-discrimination.
- Ensure the health, safety and well-being of all women and men workers.
- 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.
If you or your organization would like to sign on and #FlexForEmpowerment, contact Stephanie Dei, the National Coordinator of WE EMPOWER Canada at stephanie.dei@unwomen.org!
Check out the #FlexForEmpowerment Toolkit by WE EMPOWER Canada for more information and join the campaign for gender equality in the workplace and beyond!
