Review and Analysis of Women's Economic Empowerment Policies and Programmes in India

In 2010, UN Women and UN Global Compact Network developed the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). Forged through an international multi-stakeholder consultative process, the WEPs provide a “gender lens” through which business can analyse current initiatives, benchmarks and reporting practices. Informed by real-life business practices, the Principles help companies tailor existing policies and practices – or establish needed new ones – to realize women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and communities. This study analyzes the policies and initiatives on promoting women’s formal employment and entrepreneurship by the government and corporate sector in India. It uses the WEPs as a framework to assess the extent select policies and programmes address gender inequalities, barriers and constraints in women’s access to employment and entrepreneurship.