Calvert News & Commentary

Launch of the Women’s Empowerment Principles: Equality Means Business

Calvert Women’s Principles® provide base for the Women’s Empowerment Principles launched by UN Global Compact and UNIFEM in celebration of International Women’s Day

3/9/2010

On March 9, 2010, the United Nations Global Compact and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) launched the Women’s Empowerment Principles during a day-long event at the Levin Institute in New York City.  Using the Calvert Women’s Principles® as a foundation, the Women’s Empowerment Principles were adapted for international application based on a multi-stakeholder consultative process, which began in March 2009. 

In brief, the Women’s Empowerment Principles are:

1. Establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality.
2. Treat all women and men fairly at work – respect and support human rights and nondiscrimination.
3. Ensure the health, safety and well-being of all women and men workers.
4. Promote education, training and professional development for women.
5. Implement enterprise development, supply chain and marketing practices that empower women.
6. Promote equality through community initiatives and advocacy.
7. Measure and publicly report on progress to achieve gender equality.

The event also honored International Women’s Day and brought together a wide range of representatives from business, civil society, academia, labor, governments and the UN to further explore the application of the Principles by corporations in every industry and region around the world.  Participants discussed the business case for women’s empowerment, how businesses can lead by example, workplace practices to empower women, the significance of gender in value chains, and transparency and reporting on gender equality. 

Since their launch in 2004, the Calvert Women’s Principles® have heightened awareness of workplace issues affecting women, as well as the role of business in ensuring women’s rights. Reflecting changes in the corporate diversity landscape in the intervening years, Calvert updated the CWP in 2009 to address salient emerging issues, particularly those concerning work-life balance.