Empowering UK Women: Champions in Business Sharing Empowerment Principles

14 Mar, 2024

Empowering UK Women: Champions in Business Sharing Empowerment Principles

The British Embassy collaborated with UN Women to disseminate the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in Guatemala, aiming to foster gender equality and empower women within the workplace and society. Representatives from major companies, business chambers, and the Guatemalan Ministry of Labour convened to explore strategies for advancing these goals within the framework of the WEPs.

During the event, participants exchanged insights on empowering business practices and strategies for their enhancement, emphasizing the pivotal role of women in driving prosperity and equality within Guatemala. The Guatemalan Government reaffirmed its dedication to recognizing and supporting women's contributions to national development.

UN Women highlighted the business benefits of gender equality, citing its positive impact on economic opportunities and overall societal advancement. The event centered on the seven key WEPs principles, including leadership commitment, fair treatment, safety, education, enterprise development, community advocacy, and progress tracking.

Globally, over 9,000 companies have embraced these principles, with 48 in Guatemala already implementing them. UN Women aims to extend support to more enterprises, including British companies operating in various sectors in Guatemala.

Aligned with the WEPs, the British Government's Women and Girls Strategy, launched in 2023, prioritizes initiatives to enhance the economic prospects of women through business interventions, competitiveness-building efforts for women-owned enterprises, and educational programs fostering professional growth.

Paul Huggins, Charge D’Affaires at the British Embassy, underscored the importance of investing in women's empowerment, highlighting its positive impact on both societal development and business success. The event signifies a crucial step towards fostering a more inclusive and prosperous future for women in Guatemala and beyond.