Even though gender equality for all is a key human right, equality for women in the labour market is not yet a reality. Women still interrupt their careers more frequently than men and for longer periods. Many work only part time in order to give them time to bring up children or care for elderly or sick family members. Women earn less than men and it is much rarer to find them at the top of the career ladder. And women run a far greater risk of spending the last years of their lives in poverty. The Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) developed by UN Women and the UN Global Compact address this issue and advocate equality of opportunity.
The WEPs are a set of seven principles intended to empower women in business. They include equality of opportunity at the workplace as well as equal pay for equal work. Worldwide, more than 860 household corporate names have added their names to the initiative. The Chair of GIZ’s Management Board, Tanja Gönner, signed the document during a recent event on gender equality, making GIZ the eighth German company to commit to the UN Women principles.
This makes us all very proud! Its a pleasure and an honor to work for GIZ knowing it is very serious about gender equality . Commiting to engage and work specifically on issues related to Women’s Economic Empowerment, advocating for equality of opportunity and rights. Empowering women in business by closing the gender gap in wage distinctions is a big move in our day and age. In this day and age, this seems so basic, and is yet so required!
The best news so far, this GIZ Gender Week! 🙂
In Solidarity, Scherry
Technical Expert – Gender and Cross Cutting Issues,
GIZ India