The call for the advancement and empowerment of women in the workplace will be enhanced by the launch of the United Nations (UN) Women Empowerment Principles, at the Wanderers Club on Monday, 4 July 2011. This will be done jointly by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti), and the International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW).Members of the media are invited to cover the event.
The Women’s Empowerment Principles will provide a set of considerations to help the private sector focus on key elements integral to promoting gender equality in the workplace, marketplace and community. The Women’s Empowerment Principles, forged through an international multi stakeholder consultative process led by UN Women and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), provide a “gender lens” through which business can survey and analyse current initiatives, benchmarks and reporting practices.
Chief Executive Officers from various corporate businesses as well as state organs will sign the UN statement of support for the Women’s Empowerment Principles. Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies, says that the statement will add value to gender streamlining and emancipation.
"By signing the statement, the participants will be pledging to promote the establishment of high-level corporate leadership for gender equality; and the treatment of all women and men fairly at work. This is going together with respect and support of human rights and non-discrimination’ said Davies.
Minister Davies said the launching of the programme is a step in the right direction as women advancement and empowerment is the responsibility of everybody including big businesses.
‘I invite big business together with the state organs to support this UN Women Empowerment Principles as we advance the cause of women in the country. The launch of the programme is a calling for big corporates to begin to appoint women in decision making position and to include them in the various programmes. We will together with the International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW) also announce programmes that will allow us to participate going forward’ added the Minister.
The International Federation of Business and Professional Women (BPW International) is a non profit organisation which was founded in 1930 in Geneva, Switzerland. BPW International has grown to become the most influential international network of business and professional women with affiliates in over 100 countries on five continents, including South Africa. Its network includes over 500 000 women leaders, entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, professionals and young career women.
RSVPs should be directed to:
Mamosa Dikeledi
Tel: 012 394 1680
Cell: 083 584 6856
E-mail: Mdikeledi@thedti.gov.za
Enquiries:
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 4921774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za
Source: Department of Trade and Industry
