What it is
The BIAC project on Gender Equality is an initiative to ensure that business views and actions are reflected in work across OECD on Gender. Business recognizes that there are important equity and human rights issues associated with economic empowerment of women, but there is also an important business and economic case for promoting attracting and retaining female talent in business. Strengthening the economic, political and social positions of women is fundamental to future economic growth, innovation and competitiveness. These points are reflected 2012 BIAC/AmCham Report: Putting all our Minds to Work: Harnessing the Gender Dividend. basis BIAC has now launched a next phase of work addressing Women’s Entrepreneurship.
Why it matters
Advancing the economic empowerment of women is a top business priority. Companies and business organisations are taking action and assuming leadership locally and globally to implement practices and policies that open pathways to the highest level for women in business. Unleashing women’s talent and creative potential in the workplace bears significant and well-documented economic gains not only for companies, but for women themselves, as well as for their families. Strengthening women’s economic, political and social status benefits economies and societies as a whole.
How it impacts
The 2012 BIAC Gender Report provided a toolkit and public policy recommendations for advancing women’s economic empowerment in the workplace, which was widely disseminated and positively received by business, government and in regional intergovernmental forums making commitments to action in this field. As follow up, in fall 2013 BIAC conducted a survey, with the support of Deloitte to take stock of recent developments in light of the BIAC/AmCham report Recommendations. What is clear from the survey is that progress is slow, and that it requires the commitment of top management and government leadership to implement change. Current BIAC work on Women’s Entrepreneurship will aim to bring business leaders to OECD to present business actions advancing women entrepreneurs, and provide input to a new BIAC Gender Report focusing on this topic.
