Gender Equality as a Key Component of Corporate Sustainability

The 28th BPW International Congress

Jeju, 25 May 2014 Lauren Gula, Manager, Social Sustainability & Women‘s Empowerment

THE UN GLOBAL COMPACTThe 10 Principles

Anti-CorruptionPrinciple 10: Businesses should work against all forms of corruption, including extortion and bribery.  

EnvironmentPrinciple 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges; Principle 8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and Principle 9: encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies

Labour StandardsPrinciple 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; Principle 4: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour; Principle 5: the effective abolition of child labour; and Principle 6: the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. 

Human RightsPrinciple 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights; and Principle 2: make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses. 

THE UN GLOBAL COMPACT TODAYNetworks Around the World

Women’s Empowerment Principles – Corporate Sustainability through a Gender Equality Lens

The Women’s Empowerment Principles elaborate the gender dimension of corporate sustainability, the UN Global Compact, and business' role in sustainable development

Riding the Corporate Sustainability Wave

How can we leverage the

momentum behind corporate

sustainability to advance women’s

empowerment?

Corporate Sustainability = the delivery of long-term value in financial, social, environmental and ethical terms.

Breakdown the Silos

Cross-cuttingGovernance

Anti-Corruption

Rule of Law

Environmental

Climate

Water

Food &Agriculture

Social

Human Rights

Labour

Women’s Empowerment

Children

Indigenous Peoples

People with Disabilities

Human Trafficking

Education

Additional Areas

Supply Chain

Peace

Financial Markets

Social Enterprise

Responsible Investing

Social Investments

Urbanization & Cities

Land, Real Estate &

Construction

Business Schools

The MDGs and the Post 2015 Business Engagement Architecture

What can BPW do?

• Continue to be champions of the WEPs!• Collaborate• Promote gender equality as a key component of

corporate sustainability• Encourage women-owned businesses to learn about

corporate sustainability and the Global Compact• Participate in other Global Compact issue areas at the

global and local level• Help bring a gender lens to the Post-2015 Development

Agenda• Visit www.empowerwomen.org!

Thank You

www.unglobalcompact.orgwww.WEPrinciples.org

gulal@unglobalcompact.org