Community insights

On 4 February 2026, UN Women and the UN Global Compact co-hosted a global WEPs 101 webinars, introducing companies and interested parties to the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) and their practical application across leadership, workplace culture, supply chains, and community engagement. 

2025 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995). Beijing +30 calls on member states and other stakeholders, including the private sector, to act upon the unmet goals set thirty years ago. 

Can you believe that 1 in every 10 women is living in extreme poverty? By 2030, an estimated 8 per cent of the world’s female population will still be living on less than $2.15 a day, if this trend continues. That is approximately 342 million women and girls.

“Women live longer than men,but spend more time in poor health." This powerful statement, made by Anna Falth, Global Head of the WEPs Secretariat at UN Women, set the tone for the 14th session of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) webinar series. Hosted by UN Women, the session focused on Principle 3, which calls on companies to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of all employees, with particular attention to women’s needs.

Gender equality is good for business. It boosts productivity, expands markets, and strengthens economies. Yet, it remains one of the most underfunded areas in global development. Only a small fraction of global aid, private finance, and philanthropic capital is explicitly directed toward advancing women’s rights, leadership, and inclusion. 

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a global commitment to a world where women and girls live free from discrimination, violence, and inequality. Today, businesses worldwide are recognizing that gender equality is not only a matter of rights, but a powerful economic lever.

“How can we ensure that the shift to a green economy is not only environmentally sound, but also socially sound – with gender equality at its core?” – Anna Falth, Global Head, WEPs Secretariat

On May 7, 2025, UN Women and the UN Global Compact co-hosted the second WEPs 101 webinar of the year, offering companies practical guidance on engaging with the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). Designed for both new and existing signatories, the session emphasized the WEPs as a globally recognized framework for advancing gender equality across the workplace, marketplace and community.