The UN is putting its muscle behind changing the game for global women, and is asking companies around the world to follow suit.
There has been so much talk, but so little action – around women’s leadership, gender equality, and curtailing violence against women. This year, however, efforts seem to be more serious, possibly fueled on the humanitarian front by such horrendous examples of violence around the world, and on the business front by Catalyst’s latest reportdetailing just how badly women’s progress in business has stalled (for at least 7 years, on boards, in top leadership, and in the highest paying corporate jobs.)
International Women’s Day
So this year, one day was not enough to hold all the activities of International Women’s Day – it took all of last week to hold the cornucopia of events in New York City alone. Corporations sponsored world-class conferences that were pickup up and amplified in offices around the world. (And none better thanAccenture’s star-studded celebration of success, and what it means to women – including appearances by CBS’s Gayle King, a panel of women technology experts moderated by Patti Sellars, and a spectacular presentation by Sheryl Sandberg on the eve of the launch of her new “Lean In” book and movement.)
Breakthrough held a stunning inaugural of its one million men stopping violence against women campaign, featuring dramatic remarks from Sir Patrick Stewart, Michael Bolton, and many others. And dinners galore were held, like the National Council for Research on Women, which honored trailblazers who have led the way for other women.
The UN
But it was the UN that showcased what in reality has the potential to change the landscape for women in the global labor force. UN Women and the UN Global Compact’s 5th Annual Women’s Empowerment Principles day honored the 540 corporate CEOs around the world who have already signed on to the principles, and made the case – in my view – for every CEO around the world to do the same.
In fact, corporate leaders were on hand to describe their commitment to the work, and they ranged from Dean’s Beans coffee company in the US to mobile phone company Turkcell in Turkey, from Coca-Cola in Brazil to Novartis in Switzerland.
I had not been aware of the Principles until this meeting, but it is clear that the UN is putting its full force behind them. Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of UN Women, opened the meeting, along with Georg Kell, Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama, appeared to convey the President’s support, the Honorable Linda Tarr-Whelan moderated two important panels of global business people, and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon closed the meeting with some lengthy remarks. He told the assembled audience that gender equity and alleviating violence against women were two of his most important goals. “Women’s empowerment,” he stated, “is my top priority.”
Pretty impressive.
As are, when you think about them, the Women’s Empowerment Principles. Of course, they are directional only. They carry no force of national or international law. And they are more general than specific. But, they do call for measurement. And we all know that measurement is the first step to change.
In fact, while the Principles do seem like aggravated common sense to many of us who have been doing this for years, they are a place to start, around the world. They coalesce years of research, experience, and best practices into one roadmap for the future. If adopted broadly, they could launch a powerful intention to change. And, they would allow companies around the world to send a message to their employees, customers, suppliers and shareholders that they are serious about implementing gender equality, not just talking about it.
The UN is hoping for global companies ranging from the largest corporations to the smallest entrepreneurial startups to sign these Principles. And frankly, I don’t see who would not want to do so. I certainly plan on signing them for my company. And I would like to urge every CEO on the planet to do the same — it certainly can not hurt, and may well do a lot of good.
So, for your consideration, the seven Principles follow, along with the link for CEOs to sign on here.
Less talk, more action. And it can start now:
Principle 1: Establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality
Principle 3: Ensure the health, safety and well-being of all women and men workers
Principle 4: Promote education, training and professional development for women
Principle 6: Promote equality through community initiatives and advocacy
Principle 7: Measure and publicly report on progress to achieve gender equality
As originally published on Forbes, by Davia Temin
