Training on the implementation of WEPs and a workshop on private-sector best practices have been completed in Kyiv

Training on the implementation of WEPs in Kyiv. Photo: Ukraine Investment and Trade Facilitation Center/Halyna Kuchmanych

From November 26 to 28, the final training session of the season on implementing the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) took place in Kyiv.

WEPs are one of the effective tools that can be used to expand the rights and opportunities of women in the workplace and thus bring gender equality closer to the professional environment. Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, 21 Ukrainian companies have signed WEPs, but the awareness of the Ukrainian business sector about these instruments remains quite limited.

Over the course of three days, 27 participants from different regions of Ukraine examined WEPs, in particular the importance of ensuring equal rights and opportunities in the workplace, access to education for women workers, ensuring their well-being, etc. The basis for this training is a guide on the implementation of WEPs, which all participants of the training also received at the event.

In addition to learning about the WEPs themselves, participants also learned how Ukrainian businesses can join the Alliance for a Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Recovery of Ukraine. It was launched at the 2024 Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin on the initiative of the governments of Ukraine and Germany, together with UN Women. The Alliance has over 60 members and brings together governments, international organizations and international financial institutions, civil society and the business community. Its goal is to jointly promote gender equality and empower women in Ukraine to ensure a gender-responsive and inclusive recovery. Signing the WEPs is a prerequisite for joining the Alliance.

Sabine Freizer Gunes, UN Women Representative in Ukraine. Photo: Ukraine Investment and Trade Facilitation Center/Halyna Kuchmanych

“The Alliance for Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Recovery in Ukraine addresses the impact of war on women and marginalized groups. Integrating gender equality into financing, decisions and prioritizing women’s rights creates the foundation for sustainable development. The use of WEPs allows for the implementation of gender-responsive approaches in the workplace, in collaboration with small and medium-sized enterprises and at the community level. Participation in the WEP training and their signing will help businesses become leaders in the gender-responsive recovery of Ukraine, and over 46 million euros in commitments confirm collective responsibility for the future resilience of Ukraine,” said Sabine Freizer Gunes, UN Women Representative in Ukraine.

The training also featured civil society leaders and gender equality experts. For example, Larysa Kobelyanska, a gender researcher, spoke about the challenges Ukraine faces on its path to implementing gender equality in the process of EU integration. Yulia Savelieva, a gender expert, taught how to create a gender-responsive workplace, and Olena Strelnyk, a doctor of sociological sciences, explained why women in Ukraine earn less than men.

Training on the implementation of WEPs. Photo: Ukraine Investment and Trade Facilitation Center/Halyna Kuchmanych

On November 29, the last workshop of 2024, “Synergy of Cooperation: Best Practices of Private Companies in Empowering Women” was also held. Representatives of Ukrainian businesses that have already signed WEPs shared successful cases of their implementation in the workplace. In addition, representatives of private companies, business associations, and civil society organizations shared their experiences in implementing initiatives to support women’s empowerment during wartime to ensure gender-responsive recovery. Traditionally, for these workshops, participants worked in groups using the “World Café” method. They offered ideas on supporting women in the workplace, ways to build cooperation between private companies, civil society organizations, and government agencies, and discussed how to implement WEPs in workplaces with a small budget.

Iryna Tytarchuk, Executive Director of the Ukraine Investment and Trade Facilitation Center. Photo: Ukraine Investment and Trade Facilitation Center/Halyna Kuchmanych

“Women’s economic empowerment is key to creating an inclusive society and a sustainable economy. Gender equality in the workplace is not only fair, but also economically beneficial. Providing women with more opportunities for professional growth increases the productivity of businesses and their competitiveness. By investing in women’s professional development, we invest in a future where everyone has an equal chance to realize their potential,” concludes Iryna Tytarchuk, Executive Director of the Ukraine Investment and Trade Facilitation Center.

The training on the implementation of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) and the workshop “Synergy of Cooperation: Best Practices of Private Companies in Empowering Women” are implemented within the framework of the “Empowering Women 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.

These events are part of efforts to promote awareness of the Alliance for Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Recovery in Ukraine and implement its commitments through the implementation of WEPs.