Business urged to focus on gender equality at the United Nations

Speaking at a major UN conference convened by the UN Global Compact and UN Women in New York, Dr Elisabeth Kelan addressed representatives of the business world, governments and civil society on how they can support gender equality in their organisations. Opening the event the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said that global sustainability could not be achieved without empowering the world’s women.

The meeting marked the second anniversary of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), an initiative which provides a roadmap for business on empowering women in the workplace, marketplace and in the community. The 400 CEOs publicly declared their commitment to implementing the WEPs. Dr Kelan said: ‘I have been involved with the WEPs since their inception and it is wonderful to see that 400 CEOs have committed to implementing the principles.’