Stock Exchanges ‘Ring the Bell’ for Gender Equality across Asia
Date:
What: Over the course of two weeks in early March, stock exchanges across Asia, in partnership with the joint European Union-UN Women programme, WeEmpowerAsia, will hold a series of “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” events in a symbolic gesture to mark International Women’s Day (8 March).
The bell ringing ceremonies will start in Kuala Lumpur on 6 March, in partnership with Bursa Malaysia, followed by Manila on 11 March with the Philippines Stock Exchange. Four more stock exchanges have postponed their events to later this year over the COVID-19 concerns, including the Bombay Stock Exchange, National Stock Exchange of India, Indonesia Stock Exchange and Stock Exchange of Thailand.
As part of the events, stock exchanges will make commitments to improve gender equality in their markets, such as signing the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), promoting diversity in senior management and boards, adopting gender-friendly policies, developing gender-themed investment products, or supporting transparency on gender-related policies and practices.
Events will range from stand-alone bell ceremonies to panel discussions on topics in line with this year’s theme for International Women’s Day: “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights.”
This collaboration, an initiative of UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in partnership with the European Union, aims to promote business practices that contribute to greater equality and leadership of women in listed companies, as part of the global “Ring the Bell” initiative, hosted annually by over 80 stock exchanges worldwide.
WHEN: 6 – 13 March 2020
WHERE:
- 6 March - Bursa Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur [Internal event]
- 10 March - Indonesia Stock Exchange, Jakarta [Postponed]
- 11 March - National Stock Exchange (NSE) of India, Mumbai [Postponed]
- 11 March - Philippines Stock Exchange (PSE), Manila
- 13 March - Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), Mumbai [Postponed]
- 13 March - Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) [Postponed]
About WeEmpowerAsia
“WeEmpowerAsia” is a joint programme of the European Union and UN Women, aimed at increasing more women who lead and participate in private-sector businesses in China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Viet Nam, thereby advancing inclusive and sustainable growth along with stronger links between European and Asian markets through gender-sensitive trade and supply chains. The programme is strongly anchored in the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) and contributes to seven United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDGs 1, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 17.
About UN Women
UN Women is the United Nations organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, the organization was established in 2010 to accelerate progress on women's rights worldwide. UN Women's efforts are based on the fundamental belief that every woman has the right to live a life free from violence, poverty, and discrimination, and that gender equality is a prerequisite to achieving global development.
About the European Union
The European Union is made up of 27 member States who have decided to gradually link together their know-how, resources and destinies. Together, during a period of enlargement of 50 years, they have built a zone of stability, democracy and sustainable development while maintaining cultural diversity, tolerance and individual freedoms.
About Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs)
The Women's Empowerment Principles - Equality Means Business is a joint initiative of UN Women and the UN Global Compact. The Principles outline seven steps for business on how to empower women in the workplace, marketplace and community. The Principles highlight that empowering women to participate fully in economic life across all sectors and throughout all levels of economic activity is essential to build strong economies; establish more stable and just societies; achieve internationally agreed goals for development, sustainability, and human rights; improve quality of life for women, men, families and communities; and propel business' operations and goals.
About Ring the Bell for Gender Equality
"Ring the Bell for Gender Equality" initiative is aimed to raise awareness about the business case for women's economic empowerment and the opportunities for the private sector to advance gender equality and sustainable development. The theme for International Women's Day this year is, "I Am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights," aligned with UN Women’s new multigenerational campaign, Generation Equality, which marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Adopted in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, the Beijing Platform for Action is recognized as the most progressive roadmap for the empowerment of women and girls, everywhere.
As part of the events, participants are encouraged to make commitments to improve gender equality in their markets, such as signing the Women's Empowerment Principles, improving diversity in senior management and on the boards of directors, developing more gender-friendly policies, developing a gender-themed investment product, or improving transparency on gender policies and practices.
Follow the hashtag #WeEmpowerAsia for live updates on our social media channels.
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @unwomenasia
The official hashtags of the Ring the Bell events are: #GenderBell #IWD2020 #GenerationEquality #WomensDay
For more information, please contact:
Bovornpong Vathanathanakul (Mr. )
Communications Analyst, WeEmpowerAsia
UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Tel: +66 86 397 3369 | Email: b.vathanathanakul@unwomen.org