The Women's Economic Empowerment Congress took place in Lviv, Ukraine

On 4–5 December 2023, in Lviv, UN Women Ukraine held the Women's Economic Empowerment Congress (hereinafter referred to as the Congress) for European integration and gender-responsive recovery. The Congress brought together more than 70 representatives of business associations, companies, state institutions, local self-government bodies, international development partners, and civil society organizations. During the two-day event, attendees participated in panel discussions, presentations, networking sessions, and a creative laboratory focused on empowering women in professional and social settings. Two Ukrainian companies, Burda Media Ukraine and Avenga Ukraine, signed the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) to demonstrate their commitment to promoting gender equality and expanding women's rights and opportunities in the workplace and supply chains. In general, the Congress created a unique space for dialogue and building cooperation between business, government institutions, international development partners, and civil society organizations to promote the implementation of initiatives, as well as projects and programs for women’s economic empowerment.

The Women's Economic Empowerment Congress is organized by UN Women in partnership with various government partners, including the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, the Apparatus of the Government Commissioner on Gender Equality Policy, the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, and the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine. UN Women also collaborates with the private sector and state companies to encourage and implement WEPs. The Women's Economic Empowerment Congress has been made possible due to financial support from Japan and Sweden.