UN Women and UN Global Compact invited Soroptimist International of Europe to join Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet to discuss Women’s Empowerment along with some 250 Global Business leaders.
New York, Wednesday 6 March 2013 – Ulla Madsen, President elect of Soroptimist International of Europe (SIE) and Anne Simon, Executive Director of the European Federation, were invited to participate in the fifth session of the UN Global Compact in New York, one of the activities marking International Women’s Day and the CSW 57th session. Along with over 250 Corporate CEOs and Senior Executives they celebrated the third anniversary of the Women’s Empowerment Principles, a collaboration between UN Women and the UN Global Compact that provides organisations with a roadmap to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community.
In her opening remarks, Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of UN Women, highlighted the urgency to achieve gender balance at all levels of business operations. “We need to support women’s leadership and equal opportunity because this is good for women, and it is good for democracy and a healthy and productive society,” she said.
Referring to the 57th Commission on the Status of Women meeting held simultaneously at the United Nations and focused on ending violence against women, Bachelet said: “There is no place for violence and discrimination against women in the 21st century. We need all segments of society to come together to demand zero tolerance, including in the workplace. I applaud our private sector partners that promote these values and set an example for others.”
During the all-day session at the Rockefeller Centre, speakers explained the importance of the Women Empowerment Principles, outlined in seven steps for business on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. They stressed that empowering women to participate fully in economic life across all sectors and throughout all levels of economic activity is essential to build strong economies; establish more stable and just societies; achieve internationally agreed goals for development, sustainability, and human rights; improve quality of life for women, men, families and communities; and drive business operations and goals.
Just before lunch, SIE participants Ulla Madsen and Anne Simon had also the great honour and pleasure to hear the speech given by HE Mrs Valerie B. Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama and Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls. She announced President Obama’s decision to support the CSW document, remarking: “This is not only about doing the right thing but the smart thing. Women have an important role to play and should be in a position to make a difference.”
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon highlighted the urgency to achieve gender balance at all levels of business operations. In his closing remarks, he said to the men and women in the audience: “We have to make this world sustainable. I count on your leadership, but you can also count on me and the United Nations.”
HE Ban Ki Moon invited members of the audience to contribute to the CSW 57th session. ‘Please challenge members states, by speaking in your own countries. By working together, we can raise awareness. By making noises, you can make the difference and make us heard.’
More information about the Women’s Empowerment Principles.