Promoting gender equality through responsible business conduct: the role of governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations

Abstract

This brief aims to highlight how responsible business conduct can promote gender equality in the world of work. Achieving gender equality and women’s economic empowerment requires systematic, proactive and transformative change in a range of institutions and areas of action. Women face multifold barriers and gender-based discrimination throughout the employment cycle due to inequalities, legal impediments, cultural mindsets and stereotypes. Governments, employer and business membership organizations (EBMOs) and workers’ organizations, as well as enterprises have a critical role to play in helping to eliminate these discriminatory practices.