For the 4th year, a global collaboration across 59 stock exchanges around the world plan to “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality,” to celebrate International Women’s Day 2018 (March 8th). The events are a partnership between Women in ETFs, UN Global Compact, UN Women, the Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) Initiative, IFC, and the World Federation of Exchanges, 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.

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 boards, developing more gender-friendly policies, developing a gender-themed investment product, or improving transparency on gender policies and practices.

Out of the 59 bell ringing celebrations taking place globally from March 5th – 13th, Women in ETFs is the lead partner on 18 events of which 10 are in EMEA. In attendance will be WE leadership teams, corporate sponsors, and members, with host speakers presenting the business case for women’s economic empowerment.

Unleashing the full potential of women and girls by empowering them to be equal members of society has a multiplier effect on families, businesses, communities, and nations and is essential to achieving sustainable development. Research shows that empowering women is not only the right thing to do, but also the smart thing to do. It can lead to increases in GDP, higher productivity and return on investment, and better organizational effectiveness.

While the private sector is increasingly recognizing that advancing gender equality through business operations and value chains means better talent, higher productivity, more customers, and a stronger bottom line, progress remains slow. Research by the World Economic Forum suggests that, at today’s pace, it would take 217 years to resolve the economic gender gap globally.1 Thus, the time is now for business and markets to scale up actions and change practices.

Deborah Yang and Carmen Gonzalez Calatayud, co-Presidents of WE EMEA, explain: “There is a natural synergy for WE to celebrate International Women’s Day with bell ringings.. Our mission is to create opportunities for professional advancement of women by expanding connections among women and men in the ETF industry.

In celebration of #IWD2018, over 50 stock exchanges around the world will Ring the Bell for #GenderEquality. Let’s close the #GenderGap #GenderBell @GlobalCompact @WEPrinciples @UN_Women @SSEinitiative @IFC_org @WomeninETFs @TheWFE pic.twitter.com/JGB5stpp4e

— WFE (@TheWFE) March 2, 2018

Women in ETFs is the first women’s group for the ETF industry. Founded in January 2014, WE is a non-profit organization that brings together over 3,900 members, including women and men, in chapters in major financial centers across the United States, Canada, EMEA and Asia Pacific to further the careers of women by leveraging our collective skill and ambition. We achieves this by organizing events at our chapters globally that support our goals of education, networking, philanthropy and idea sharing across the industry and beyond. For more information, visit: www.womeninetfs.com to learn more, join, or sponsor. Follow us on Twitter @WomeninETFs and on LinkedIn.

Deborah Fuhr, Board member, a founder and External Liaison for WE, commented: “Women in ETFs globally has gathered over 3,900 members (women and men) of which 912 are in EMEA from the UK, France, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Israel and South Africa, and received the support of many industry participants. We have recently launched our second Mentorship initiative in London and are looking forward to keep extending our Organization via various events and dedicated initiatives in new countries.”

Source: Women in ETFs