Via Pontica Foundation took part in an event in support of the UN Gender Equality Program and organized by the UN Global Compact.
Target Gender Equality is an accelerator programme aimed at mobilizing business to set targets and take ambitious action to increase women’s representation and leadership. The programme was developed to drive business action in support of SDG 5.5, which calls for women’s full participation and equal opportunities for leadership, including in economic life, by 2030.
This accelerator programme is being rolled out at the country level in collaboration with Global Compact Local Networks, offered in over 40 countries around the world.
Registration is complimentary for all employees of UN Global Compact Participant and Signatory companies and non-business stakeholders as well as UN partners and affiliates and Government representatives. If you are unsure if your company is a UN Global Compact company please click here to search. For questions about registration, please email tgelive@unglobalcompact.org.
TARGET GENDER EQUALITY LIVE will showcase the work of Global Compact Local Networks and partner organizations, featuring a dynamic mix of live plenaries, on-demand programming, global networking and practical tools and resources.
Plenary sessions and select breakout sessions will be translated.
A live virtual platform for TARGET GENDER EQUALITY started on March 16, 2021 at 9 o’clock.
Organized on the sidelines of the International Women’s Day and Commission on the Status of Women events, TARGET GENDER EQUALITY LIVE demonstrated the leadership of UN Global Compact on gender equality by showcasing the Women’s Empowerment Principles, promoting the Target Gender Equality global impact initiative and engaging women-led businesses. This interactive virtual event seeked to inspire and engage business and other stakeholders to take concrete action to advance gender equality and help to build private sector support and momentum in advance of the Gender Equality Forums taking place later in the year.
After the opening and the special address from HE Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, were presented reports by prominent figures, such as Sanda Ojiambo, Chief Executive Officer of the United Nations Global Compact, HE Amina Mohammed-Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, HE Epsy Campbell Barr Vice-President of Costa Rica, Michel Khalaf, Chief Executive Officer of Metlife, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka- UN Executive Director – Women, Jameela Jamil – Lawyer and Founder of I Weigh, Ann Cairns – Executive Vice President of Mastercard and others.
The topics covered were:
- Target Gender Equality: Raising Business Ambition for a Better World
- Call to Action from Activist & Actress Jameela Jamil
- When She Leads: The Power and Potential of Women’s Entrepreneurship
- Women Rise for All: Financing a Future for Women
- Young Professionals & the Companies they Love
- Interrupting Attitudes, Tackling Stereotypes & Changing Norms
Secretary-General’s video message at “Target Gender Equality Live” event organized by the UN Global Compact
Excellencies, Business leaders, Friends,
It is a pleasure to greet you at Target Gender Equality LIVE.
Today’s event builds on more than a decade of hard work to achieve gender equality in the business world.
The UN Global Compact and UN Women launched the Women’s Empowerment Principles in 2010 to advance women’s leadership in the workplace, the marketplace and the community.
Translating those principles from business commitment into concrete, measurable business practice is the goal of Target Gender Equality.
Hundreds of companies across every region are participating in this initiative. I hope thousands more will join.
We must all act urgently, because the COVID-19 pandemic poses a dire threat. The social and economic impacts of the crisis are affecting women worst of all.
Backtracking on the path to gender equality is not just bad for women. It will undermine the resilience of entire economies and societies.
And it will prevent the world from fulfilling the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Gender equality is essentially a question of power. We live in a male-dominated world with a male-dominated culture.
This is true of the public and private sector alike.
For the private sector, women’s equal participation and leadership is both a moral duty and a business imperative.
When women have income and resources — including access to digital technology — they are more likely to invest in ways that benefit their families and communities.
Experience also shows that businesses with women well represented on their corporate boards are more stable and profitable.
The world needs the talents and perspectives of all women to solve our biggest challenges, from rebuilding the global economy to fighting systemic racism to tackling climate change.
That is why gender equality is a strategic priority for the UN Global Compact and for the UN system itself.
Gender equality means business. Let us unite to make it a reality.