Commonwealth Business Communications
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • COUNTRIES
    • AFRICA
      • BOTSWANA
      • CAMEROON
      • GAMBIA
      • GHANA
      • KENYA
      • KINGDOM OF eSWATINI
      • LESOTHO
      • MALAWI
      • MAURITIUS
      • MOZAMBIQUE
      • NAMIBIA
      • NIGERIA
      • RWANDA
      • SEYCHELLES
      • SIERRA LEONE
      • SOUTH AFRICA
      • TANZANIA
      • UGANDA
      • ZAMBIA
    • ASIA
      • BANGLADESH
      • BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
      • INDIA
      • MALAYSIA
      • MALDIVES
      • PAKISTAN
      • SINGAPORE
      • SRI LANKA
    • CARIBBEAN AND AMERICAS
      • ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
      • BAHAMAS
      • BARBADOS
      • BELIZE
      • CANADA
      • DOMINICA
      • GRENADA
      • GUYANA
      • JAMAICA
      • SAINT LUCIA
      • ST KITTS AND NEVIS
      • ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
      • TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
    • EUROPE
      • CYPRUS
      • MALTA
      • UNITED KINGDOM
    • PACIFIC
      • AUSTRALIA
      • FIJI
      • KIRIBATI
      • NAURU
      • NEW ZEALAND
      • PAPUA NEW GUINEA
      • SAMOA
      • SOLOMON ISLANDS
      • TONGA
      • TUVALU
      • VANUATU
  • AREAS OF WORK
    • GOVERNMENT
    • EDUCATION
    • HEALTH
    • ICT
    • INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
    • NATURAL RESOURCES
    • SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
    • TRADE AND INVESTMENT
  • OUR PUBLICATIONS
    • CHOGM
      • COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT INTERIM REPORT 2020
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2018 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2015 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2011 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2009 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2007 REPORT
    • HEALTH
      • COMMONWEALTH HEALTH REPORT 2022
      • COMMONWEALTH HEALTH REPORT 2020
    • EDUCATION
      • COMMONWEALTH EDUCATION REPORT 2021
      • COMMONWEALTH EDUCATION REPORT 2019
    • MINISTERS
      • MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK COMMONWEALTH 2017
      • MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK COMMONWEALTH 2015
      • MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK COMMONWEALTH 2014
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2011
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2010
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2009
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2008
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2007
    • FINANCE
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REPORT 2012
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2010
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2009
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2008
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2007
    • TRADE AND INVESTMENT
      • AFRICA INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT REPORT 2013
    • QUEEN AND COMMONWEALTH
      • QUEEN & COMMONWEALTH: CELEBRATING HER MAJESTY’S PLATINUM JUBILEE
      • QUEEN & COMMONWEALTH: 90 GLORIOUS YEARS
      • QUEEN & COMMONWEALTH: CELEBRATING HER MAJESTY’S DIAMOND JUBILEE
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • CONTACT US
Commonwealth Business Communications
Commonwealth Business Communications
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
  • COUNTRIES
    • AFRICA
      • BOTSWANA
      • CAMEROON
      • GAMBIA
      • GHANA
      • KENYA
      • KINGDOM OF eSWATINI
      • LESOTHO
      • MALAWI
      • MAURITIUS
      • MOZAMBIQUE
      • NAMIBIA
      • NIGERIA
      • RWANDA
      • SEYCHELLES
      • SIERRA LEONE
      • SOUTH AFRICA
      • TANZANIA
      • UGANDA
      • ZAMBIA
    • ASIA
      • BANGLADESH
      • BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
      • INDIA
      • MALAYSIA
      • MALDIVES
      • PAKISTAN
      • SINGAPORE
      • SRI LANKA
    • CARIBBEAN AND AMERICAS
      • ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
      • BAHAMAS
      • BARBADOS
      • BELIZE
      • CANADA
      • DOMINICA
      • GRENADA
      • GUYANA
      • JAMAICA
      • SAINT LUCIA
      • ST KITTS AND NEVIS
      • ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
      • TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
    • EUROPE
      • CYPRUS
      • MALTA
      • UNITED KINGDOM
    • PACIFIC
      • AUSTRALIA
      • FIJI
      • KIRIBATI
      • NAURU
      • NEW ZEALAND
      • PAPUA NEW GUINEA
      • SAMOA
      • SOLOMON ISLANDS
      • TONGA
      • TUVALU
      • VANUATU
  • AREAS OF WORK
    • GOVERNMENT
    • EDUCATION
    • HEALTH
    • ICT
    • INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
    • NATURAL RESOURCES
    • SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
    • TRADE AND INVESTMENT
  • OUR PUBLICATIONS
    • CHOGM
      • COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT INTERIM REPORT 2020
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2018 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2015 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2011 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2009 REPORT
      • THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING 2007 REPORT
    • HEALTH
      • COMMONWEALTH HEALTH REPORT 2022
      • COMMONWEALTH HEALTH REPORT 2020
    • EDUCATION
      • COMMONWEALTH EDUCATION REPORT 2021
      • COMMONWEALTH EDUCATION REPORT 2019
    • MINISTERS
      • MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK COMMONWEALTH 2017
      • MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK COMMONWEALTH 2015
      • MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK COMMONWEALTH 2014
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2011
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2010
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2009
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2008
      • COMMONWEALTH MINISTERS REFERENCE BOOK 2007
    • FINANCE
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REPORT 2012
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2010
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2009
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2008
      • COMMONWEALTH FINANCE MINISTERS REFERENCE REPORT 2007
    • TRADE AND INVESTMENT
      • AFRICA INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT REPORT 2013
    • QUEEN AND COMMONWEALTH
      • QUEEN & COMMONWEALTH: CELEBRATING HER MAJESTY’S PLATINUM JUBILEE
      • QUEEN & COMMONWEALTH: 90 GLORIOUS YEARS
      • QUEEN & COMMONWEALTH: CELEBRATING HER MAJESTY’S DIAMOND JUBILEE
  • CONTRIBUTORS
  • CONTACT US
Shot of businessman and businesswoman advocating for gender equality against a grey studio background

INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENTS FOR GENDER EQUALITY

  • CBC News Team
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

A new report by UN Women and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) highlights how companies are responding to the pandemic with practices that support gender equality. The emerging practices that are shared in the report aim to curb inequalities women are facing as the pandemic radically transforms the world of work.

The pandemic threatens to push 47 million women and girls below the poverty line, the new report Titled “Bridging the Gap: Emerging and Innovative Private Sector Responses to Support Gender Equality During COVID-19” highlights how companies are supporting women in the workplace, marketplace and community during this critical time.

The report features emerging and innovative private sector practices across six main areas of action impacting women’s economic empowerment: well-being and mental health, flexibility and family-friendly policies, equal access and use of digital technologies and platforms, equal access to financial and non-financial services, strengthening inclusive supply chains and support for women-led businesses, and preventing and mitigating gender-based violence.

“The pandemic could have lasting negative impacts on women’s health, economic participation, and well-being,” said Anna Falth, Global Head of the Women’s Empowerment Principles secretariat. “Companies can look to this report for inspiration on how to protect and support their employees.”

COVID-19 is exacerbating pressure points in many people’s lives, particularly women. For companies, these new challenges can amount to lower productivity and job losses. Women’s employment is 19 percent more at risk compared to men. For women, the pandemic threatens gains made toward gender equality.

“The pandemic has a disproportionate impact on women. Their COVID-19 experience is shaped by rising domestic and workplace violence, higher care responsibilities, and precariousness of jobs, to name just a few. It is crucial to step up support for women and the private sector has a key role to play in preventing the gender gap from widening.” said Henriette Kolb, Manager, Gender and Economic Inclusion Group, IFC.

In the report, companies from around the world share how they are adapting to these challenges by:

  • Offering company helplines with psychologists to support worker’s mental health.
  • Using apps to ensure workers’ health and well-being, with a focus on pregnant mothers.
  • Providing flexible working hours to support parents and those with care responsibilities
  • Encouraging equal share of care responsibilities
  • Offering financial support to women entrepreneurs and women-led businesses and commitments to purchase from women-led businesses
  • Providing access to digital technology to ensure business continuity
  • Developing and engaging in awareness-raising campaigns targeting gender-based violence amid the pandemic.

Employers have a “duty of care” to their employees working remotely from home and are in a good position to support those who may be affected by domestic violence.

Many employers recognise their role and have been doing their part prior to and during COVID-19. Companies are encouraged to sign the WEPs to commit to gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, and utilise the WEPs framework when developing programmes and policies to support women amid the pandemic.

LEARN MORE: The Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) are a set of Principles offering guidance to business on how to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community. Established by UN Global Compact and UN Women, the WEPs are informed by international labour and human rights standards and grounded in the recognition that businesses have a stake in, and a responsibility for, gender equality and women’s empowerment.

RELATED ARTICLES: ADVANCING WOMEN LEADERSHIP

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
Related Topics
  • COVID-19
  • GENDER EQUALITY
  • un Women
  • IFC
CBC News Team

Previous Article

BIRMINGHAM 2022 PRAISED FOR “FLEXIBILITY AND RESILIENCE” IN FACING COVID-19 CHALLENGES

  • CBC News Team
Read More
Next Article
Commonwealth Futures Climate Research Cohort

ACU AND BRITISH COUNCIL ANNOUNCE THE COMMONWEALTH FUTURES CLIMATE RESEARCH COHORT

  • CBC News Team
Read More
You May Also Like
Malawi Independence Day
Read More
  • MALAWI

Malawi Independence Day

  • CBC News Team
  • 6 July 2022
Commonwealth cybercrime
Read More
  • Technology
  • Trade & Investment
  • AFRICA

Commonwealth Africa Cyber Fellowship launched to bolster cybercrime prevention

  • CBC News Team
  • 5 July 2022
Papua New Guinea elections get underway in close surveillance
Read More
  • Heads of Government
  • PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Papua New Guinea elections get underway in close surveillance

  • CBC News Team
  • 5 July 2022
Queen Baton Relay
Read More
  • Queen & Commonwealth
  • UNITED KINGDOM

Queen’s Baton Relay arrives in England

  • CBC News Team
  • 4 July 2022
Commonwealth cyber
Read More
  • Technology
  • Trade & Investment
  • UNITED KINGDOM

UK secures £15 million to combat cyber threats across Commonwealth

  • CBC News Team
  • 1 July 2022
Commonwealth Papua New Guinea
Read More
  • Heads of Government
  • PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Commonwealth’s election observers arrive in Papua New Guinea

  • CBC News Team
  • 30 June 2022
UK Commonwealth education
Read More
  • CHOGM Reports
  • Education & Youth
  • Equality
  • UNITED KINGDOM

UK invests in education programmes across the Commonwealth

  • CBC News Team
  • 30 June 2022
Commonwealth climate solutions
Read More
  • Heads of Government
  • Environment & Sustainability
  • CHOGM Reports
  • RWANDA

Commonwealth unveils project incubator for ocean-climate solutions

  • CBC News Team
  • 29 June 2022
OUR LATEST PUBLICATION

Subscribe to our Newsletter

PARTNER FOCUS
Recent Posts
  • Malawi Independence Day
    Malawi Independence Day
  • Commonwealth cybercrime
    Commonwealth Africa Cyber Fellowship launched to bolster cybercrime prevention
  • Papua New Guinea elections get underway in close surveillance
    Papua New Guinea elections get underway in close surveillance
  • Queen Baton Relay
    Queen’s Baton Relay arrives in England

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

Commonwealth Business Communications
  • HOME
  • About
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
© 2022 Commonwealth Business Communications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.