This year a number of global milestones – the twentieth anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action (PfA), and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – provide a unique opportunity to ensure that the business community is a key partner in achieving gender equality.

Held as part of the official CSW59/Beijing+20 programme, the 2015 Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Annual Event will bring together leaders from business, Government, the UN and civil society to reflect on the implications of the PfA and the SDGs, and project an action agenda driven by WEPs champions. Held on 10-11 March 2015 in New York, the event will also focus on concrete steps and actions that business can take to advance gender equality in the workplace, marketplace and community. 

Learn more about past WEPs Annual Events. LIVE WEBCAST here 

Breakout Session 11 March 2015

Title of the event: Principles into Practice: Market place and Value Chain
Date and time: 11 March 2015, 11.00 am to 12.30 pm
Venue: Wyndham New Yorker Hotel, 481 8th Avenue (@ 34th Street)

Short summary

The session will explore how companies leverage their value chains to create opportunities for women business owners and entrepreneurs, including those operating at the micro-level. This will include an overview of the market system and a discussion on high-potential women entrepreneurs and women’s collectives. It will also feature concrete engagement opportunities on EmpowerWomen.org.

Questions 

• What are innovative ways of engaging women entrepreneurs, workers and farmers within the value chain, including women generally excluded from the global marketplace? What is the benefit to the SMEs and what are the benefits to women?
• How can a focus on high-potential women entrepreneurs help create employment for women? What is the role of women’s collectives (cooperatives, associations, networks)?

Organizer(s)

EmpowerWomen Team, UN Women

Format

The event will be interactive and rather than formal presentation, the Moderator will be asking questions to each of the panellists.

Moderator: Meg Jones, Chief, Economic Empowerment Section, UN Women