UN unveils women's empowerment training for Ukrainian businesses and NGOs
Ukraine will host a three-day training on implementing the Women's Empowerment and Equality Principles (WEPs) for representatives from private and state companies, business associations, and civil society organizations, Rubryka reports.
What's the problem?
According to the "Portrait of Ukrainian Women Entrepreneurs" study conducted in 2021-2022, women often face biased attitudes towards their work based on gender. The challenges in work connections increased during lockdowns and the full-scale war, affecting 7% of those surveyed.
"Women frequently encounter gender biases and limitations in job opportunities. The study reveals that in 2022, 19% of women noted negative and biased attitudes towards their business activities. For instance, 13% face the stereotype that 'young women don't understand anything,' and 6% deal with the judgment that 'women cannot be leaders,'" says Irtna Titiarchuk, Executive Director of the NGO "Ukrainian Center for Investment and Trade Support." "The gender pay gap is 18.6%, which is lower than the global average but higher than in many EU countries. The training on implementing the Women's Empowerment and Equality Principles (WEPs) aims to change this, primarily by raising awareness of existing WEPs and how they can be implemented in society."
What's the solution?
During the training, participants will:
- Learn about approaches to ensuring gender equality in the workplace and organizations, including sharing experiences, collaboration, and partnerships with other companies and institutions.
- Acquire mechanisms, recommendations, and support for implementing WEPs in their organizations.
"The Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) are a universal tool that companies, regardless of their location or industry, can implement in the workplace to monitor progress towards gender equality. UN Women in Ukraine encourages and supports private companies in signing these principles to implement women's economic empowerment practices and increase business awareness of gender equality and resistance to workplace discrimination," says Halyna Meshcheryakova, a program specialist at UN Women. "Currently, 25 companies in Ukraine have signed the WEPs, and we welcome the expansion of organizations committed to supporting women and girls during the full-scale Russian aggression and in future recovery processes."
How does it work?
Educational seminars will take place throughout 2023-2024. The first wave is scheduled in Ivano-Frankivsk from November 30 to December 2, 2023. Business owners, representatives from state and private companies, members of civil society organizations, and representatives from business associations can apply.
Only 20 people will be selected. The results will be announced ten days before the start of the training. Selected candidates will receive a confirmation of participation via email, provided during registration.
The organizers will cover the costs of training, accommodation, and meals. Participants may arrange nanny services for children aged 3-12 during the training at their own expense.
The training on implementing WEPs is part of the "Expanding Women's Opportunities in Business" initiative under the Project "Transformational Approaches for Achieving Gender Equality in Ukraine," implemented by UN Women with financial support from the Government of Sweden in collaboration with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.
Information about the Training on Implementing the Principles of Women's Empowerment and Equality (WEPs) on social media:
NGO "Ukrainian Center for Investment and Trade Support"
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itfcua
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/itfc-ukraine/
About the training
The Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) are a set of seven principles that guide businesses to promote gender equality and expand women's opportunities in the workplace, labor market, and society. Their implementation changes how companies support women, protect their rights, and treat them fairly in the workplace.
The "Expanding Women's Opportunities in Business" initiative aims to raise awareness, conduct training, and provide informational support to private businesses to improve their professional skills in the WEPs and programs to expand women's rights and opportunities. It also promotes creating new partnerships with private companies, business associations, and civil organizations to popularize gender equality and broaden women's economic opportunities.
UN Women coordinates efforts on gender equality and expanding women's rights and opportunities. It was created by the General Assembly of the UN in 2010 to accelerate progress in meeting the needs of women worldwide, improve the effective use of available resources, and consolidate the mandates and functions of various UN departments dealing exclusively with gender equality and women's rights and opportunities.
Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Stefanyshyna ensures the implementation of state policies on equal rights and opportunities for women and men in Ukraine.
"The Ukrainian Center for Investment and Trade Support" is an independent nonprofit organization specializing in supporting the development of small and medium-sized businesses promoting women's economic empowerment, trade, and export initiatives.
The Ukrainian Government approved the National Strategy for overcoming the gender pay gap until 2030 and endorsed the operational plan for its implementation for 2023-2025.
