News

From September 17th to 19th, Lviv hosted a training session on the implementation of the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) for businesses and organizations working towards the development of entrepreneurship. The event was attended by 26 participants from all over Ukraine, including internally displaced persons (IDPs) and residents of frontline regions.

The training was conducted within the framework of the "Expanding Women's Opportunities in Business" initiative, which aims to raise awareness and improve the professional skills of private sector representatives regarding the implementation of WEPs.

The Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) are a set of seven principles designed to promote gender equality and empower women in the workplace, labor market, and society as a whole. Implementing these principles helps companies change their approaches to supporting women, protecting their rights, and ensuring fair treatment in the workplace.

Within the training program, participants explored issues related to:

• Creating space for the development of corporate leadership
• Using feminine forms and gender-inclusive language
• Ensuring the health, well-being, and safety of employees
• Organizing a gender-responsive workplace and balancing career and family responsibilities
• Business development, supply chains, and marketing practices
• Implementing gender-responsive marketing Implementing gender-responsive policies in the company
• Cooperation with public initiatives and advocacy
• Evaluation and reporting on WEPs implementation

As part of the training, a workshop "Synergy of Cooperation: Best Practices of Private Companies in Supporting Gender Equality" was also organized. Experts and business owners shared their own experiences in implementing WEPs using practical examples and case studies. Additionally, a board game "Women IN: Leadership and Business" was organized for the participants, which, using the example of world-famous personalities, demonstrates the importance of involving women in decision-making at different levels.

The workshop was attended by 27 participants, including representatives of state and private companies (at the management level), business associations, civil society organizations, and business owners.

Iryna Tytarchuk, UN Women National Consultant on Supporting Private Sector Partners for Implementing Women's Economic Empowerment Initiatives, Executive Director of the NGO "Ukrainian Center for Investment and Trade Promotion," emphasizes the importance of implementing WEPs:

"WEPs are crucial for improving the employment situation for women in Ukraine. They provide fairer working conditions, greater attention to women's professional development, and create real opportunities for their career growth. As a result, women have more chances to hold leadership positions and develop professionally."

The implementation of WEPs has the potential to become a powerful tool for economic recovery and development in Ukraine. Applying the principles in practice is an important step in implementing the state policy of ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men in Ukraine. The organizers hope that such events will become a catalyst for positive changes in the country's business culture and will contribute to the further promotion of gender equality at all levels of society.

Disclaimer:

The training on the implementation of the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) is implemented within the framework of the "Expanding Women's Opportunities in Business" initiative, which is carried out within the project "Transformational Approaches to Achieving Gender Equality in Ukraine," implemented by UN Women with the financial support of the Government of Sweden in cooperation with the Office Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine.

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Ukraine Investment and Trade Facilitation Center

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itfcua

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/itfc-ukraine/

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Background:

The Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) are a set of seven principles that serve as a tool to guide businesses in promoting gender equality and empowering women in the workplace, labor market, and society. Through their implementation, companies change their approaches to supporting women, protecting their rights, and treating them fairly in the workplace.

"Empowering Women in Business" is an initiative to raise awareness, conduct training, and provide informational support to representatives of the private sector to improve their professional skills in implementing the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) and implementing relevant programs, as well as to facilitate the creation of new partnerships with private companies, business associations, and NGOs to promote gender equality and expand women's economic opportunities.

"UN Women" is the United Nations entity for gender equality and the empowerment of women. It is the leading body coordinating the work of the UN system in the field of gender equality. It is a subsidiary body of the UN General Assembly, established by the Assembly's decision in 2010 to accelerate progress in meeting the needs of women worldwide, increase the efficiency of using available resources, and consolidate the mandates and functions of individual UN system units that dealt exclusively with gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Office Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine ensures the implementation of state policy to ensure equal rights and opportunities for women and men in Ukraine and the corresponding coordination of interaction between central executive bodies.

Ukraine Investment and Trade Facilitation Center is an independent non-profit organization specializing in supporting the development of small and medium-sized businesses, promoting the implementation of women's economic empowerment initiatives, trade, and export.