Over 100 Companies Pledge to Advance Women’s Empowerment at a Groundbreaking MENA Regional Forum Organized by UN Women for Private Sector

[Press release]

Casablanca, Morocco – January 29-30, 2025 – In an unprecedented event, UN Women organized the first-ever Regional Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Forum in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with over 100 private sector representatives and professionals from different economic sectors and industries across the region. This landmark conference brought together CEOs, experts from human resources, marketing, communications, and corporate social responsibility sectors, addressing key issues such as masculinities that equalize between women and men, shifting social norms, and promoting women’s empowerment in the workplace.

The WEPs Forum marks a pivotal moment in the region’s journey to advance women’s empowerment, bringing together influential voices to champion gender-responsive marketing, and male allyship in business. The event showcased key initiatives from the UN Women’s Dare to Care programme, which engages the private sector and other stakeholders in the promotion of women’s empowerment at work in the region.

At the Forum, UN Women also launched the “Gender Equality in the Private Sector: A Toolkit for Male Allies in the Arab States,” a unique manual designed to engage men in private sector to drive inclusive practices and promote women’s participation and empowerment in their companies.

The UN Women’s WEPs are a set of seven principles established by UN Women and the UN Global Compact to guide businesses in promoting women’s empowerment in the workplace, the market, and society. These principles are grounded in international human rights and labor standards, providing a framework for companies to foster gender equity in their operations.

Since its inception, WEPs network has experienced remarkable growth, expanding by over 160 per cent to reach nearly 700 companies committed to implementing gender-equal practices in their operations.  This forum provides a platform for WEPs signatories to exchange insights, share their success stories, and explore strategies for driving gender parity in their organizations.

During the forum – which was funded by the Swedish and German agencies for international development-, UN Women also introduced the Gender-Responsive Marketing Toolkit, which equips businesses with the tools needed to create marketing campaigns that reflect gender equity. It emphasizes the importance of promoting positive portrayals of both women and men in a variety of roles, helping businesses ensure their marketing is inclusive and progressive.

“We are excited to bring together such a diverse group of private sector leaders to discuss actionable solutions for gender equality. Businesses play a crucial role in creating more inclusive and equitable workplaces and shaping social norms. Through initiatives like the WEPs Forum and the launch of the Male Allyship Toolkit, we aim to equip businesses with the tools and strategies needed to champion equality and drive transformative change in the region,” said Myriem Noussairi, Head of Office, UN Women Morocco.

With the support of governments and international partners, the private sector’s role is critical in the empowerment of women in the region.  By increasing women’s employment in the region, promoting work-life balance, and sharing the responsibility of unpaid care work between men and women, businesses can play a crucial part in driving societal transformation.