ABU DHABI. 4th May 2023. (WAM). The UN Women UAE Liaison Office (Local Liaison Office) for the GCC announced today that the #WEPsinAction Campaign was launched in collaboration with the General Women’s Union. This campaign is a call to action for companies of all sizes within the private sector to sign the Women’s Empowerment Principles and/or increase their efforts towards the implementation of these principles.
The WEPs is a set of Principles that offer guidance to businesses on how to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment at work, in the marketplace, and in communities. They were developed through a partnership between UN Women, the UN Global Compact and 122 UAE signatories to date.
The campaign is aimed at establishing a partnership with the private sector in the UAE, to help create an environment that will be more conducive to women. This is an action call for women and the society to adopt sustainable, measurable solutions and best practices.
Noura Al-Suwaidi said on the occasion: “We believe businesses play a crucial role in advancing equality for women.” Signing up to the WEPs allows UAE companies to demonstrate their commitment to a just and equal society. We continue to expand women’s role in the economy under the wise leadership provided by the UAE rulers.
The World Bank’s “Women, Business and the Law Report” ranked UAE in the Middle East and North Africa, with a perfect score on 5 indicators, including mobility, workplace, wages, pension, and entrepreneurship. In the report, it was stated that the country had shown significant improvements in women’s empowerment. UAE is in fact one of the top countries in the entire world for the improvements documented by the World Bank in this area. The UAE has seen many laws and legislative changes aimed at empowering women in recent years. In recent years, the UAE has seen many laws and legislative amendments aimed at empowering women. These include Federal Decree-Law No. The Federal Law No. 8 of 1980 governing the organization of labour relations was amended by Federal Law No. 6 of 2020.
These principles serve as a vehicle to help corporations deliver on the gender equality aspects of the 2030 Agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The principles are intended to provide a guide to good practice, by exploring the gender dimensions of corporate responsibility and the role that business plays in sustainable development.
Dr. Mouza al Shehhi said: “We know when women flourish, businesses prosper. Signing up to the WEPs will help create a more enabling and inclusive environment for women at work, in the marketplace, and within the community. “We encourage the private sector to sign the WEPs, and join the 122 companies that are already actively working towards this important goal.”
By signing up for the WEPs principals, CEOs signifying their commitment to the WEPs agenda at the highest level of the company as well as to collaborate in multi-stakeholder networks that foster business practices which empower women. Women’s leadership, equal pay for equal work, work-life balance, and gender-responsive supply chains are all part of these practices. These principles are based on real-life corporate practices and feedback from around the world. They emphasize the business case of corporate action in order to promote gender equality.
In order to empower women, there are seven key principles: First, establish high-level leadership in companies, then ensure that women and men alike are treated equally at work, respecting human rights and nondiscrimination. Second, promote education, training, and professional development among women. Fifth, develop business enterprises, the supply chain, marketing, and supply that are geared towards empowering women. Sixth, promote gender equality by focusing on community initiatives. Seventh, measure progress and share it with the public.
The WEPs consist of 7 principles: principle 1: Establish high-level corporate leaders for gender equality; principle 2: Treating all women equally at work, respecting human rights, and supporting non-discrimination; principle 3 : ensuring health, safety, and well-being for all women and male workers; principle 4 promoting education, professional development and training for women; principle 5 implementing enterprise, supply chain, and marketing practices which empower women. Principle 6 promoting equality by community initiatives and advocacy. And principle 7 –
Companies with at least 10 employees can join. All interested parties are invited to begin the process by signing the CEO Statement of support, which commits their company to take progressive steps toward the realization of these principles.
