Happy International Women' s Day 2022!
8th March 2022
The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) celebrates International Women's Day 2022!
IWD 2022 campaign theme is #BreakTheBias and we express our will for a world free of bias, stereotypes, discrimination and inequalities against women.
Together, we can all break the bias in our workplaces, schools, homes, communities, on International Women's Day (IWD) and beyond!
Our Chairwoman' s (Britt-Marie Torstensson) words and wishes:
"WEP plays an important role in supporting and empowering women entrepreneurs from all walks of life, including those who are thinking about starting a business, and more experienced women business owners. It is in continuously persevering and working together toward our goals that we will be successful.
We wish to all women a wonderful day!"
IWD 2022 campaign theme is #BreakTheBias and we express our will for a world free of bias, stereotypes, discrimination and inequalities against women.
Together, we can all break the bias in our workplaces, schools, homes, communities, on International Women's Day (IWD) and beyond!
Our Chairwoman' s (Britt-Marie Torstensson) words and wishes:
"WEP plays an important role in supporting and empowering women entrepreneurs from all walks of life, including those who are thinking about starting a business, and more experienced women business owners. It is in continuously persevering and working together toward our goals that we will be successful.
We wish to all women a wonderful day!"
Free Webinar "Green and Digital Transition, the Potential of Women within the Green Deal'
The Green Deal, supported by the ambitions set out in the Climate Law, Biodiversity and Farm to Fork Strategy, paves the way for a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector.
The Women Entrepreneurship Platform, Copa Cogeca and AgriFoodNetworks invite you to an online dialogue about the potential of women within the Green Deal.
Join us on Tuesday, 1st June 2021, 14:30 - 16:00 CEST
WEP participates in WEGate Summit 2020
December 2020
December 2020
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WEGATE IS THE EUROPEAN GATEWAY FOR WOMEN’S ENTREPRENEURSHIP E-PLATFORM, LAUNCHED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION TO CREATE A COMMUNITY OF SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEURIAL WOMEN ACROSS EUROPE & BEYOND.
WEP BECAME A MEMBER OF THE WEGATE COMMUNITY COUNCIL IN SUMMER 2020. WEP WAS PROUD TO BE PART OF THE WEGATE SUMMIT 2020 - AN ONLINE DAY OF INSPIRING STORIES, SHARED IDEAS, EXPERIENCES AND NETWORKING. |
WEP participates in campaign '16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence'
Nov/Dec 2020
Nov/Dec 2020
WEP participated in Facebook EUs global virtual campaign 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.
WEPs webinar How Can Europe Do More To Help Women Achieve Financial Independence & Economic Empowerment can be viewed here.
WEPs webinar How Can Europe Do More To Help Women Achieve Financial Independence & Economic Empowerment can be viewed here.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
The United Nations grants consultative status to the Women Entrepreneurship Platform 🎉
September 2019
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This is our biggest news of the season! We are so pleased to announce that WEP has been granted consultative status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in order to promote and work on the advancement of women entrepreneurship worldwide. ECOSOC is the central platform to advance the three dimensions of economic, social and environmental sustainable development. Through ECOSOC and the United Nations Secretariat, WEP participates and collaborates with United Nations organisations and agencies and the UN ecosystem worldwide, on topics related to women’s issues and entrepreneurship. This includes the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), and regarding all upcoming 2020 events related to the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action on Gender Equality.
WEP attends UN WOMEN Beijing+25 Regional Review Meeting for the UNECE region in Geneva and discusses collaboration with International Trade Centre #GenerationEquality
30 October 2019
On 30 October WEP was invited to participate to UN WOMEN Beijing+25 Regional Review Meeting for the UNECE region in Geneva. We had the opportunity to review the Beijing+25 Platform and prepare for the Bejing+25 celebrations in 2020, as well as discuss how to implement new actions to move on according to 2030 Agenda. We had the opportunity to discuss key trends on gender equality, effective economic and social policies and education tools in the region. Here are the main conclusions of the meeting:
Our WEP board members also had the opportunity to meet Vanessa Erogdobo from International Trade Centre, an agency of the United-Nations. The meeting, which took place at the ITC headquarters, aimed at discussing our collaboration.
- Despite legislative advances, the implementation of the Conventions across the region - including the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention - remains weak. States are not guaranteeing their due diligence obligations. The emerging challenge of online forms of violence like cyber-stalking, trolling, and the distribution of intimate images continues to require adequate policy responses.
- Significant efforts were made to support women's inclusion into the workforce but gaps in policies and their effective implementation continue to impede progress. Women continue to experience lower employment rates and lower pay compared to men.
- Progress in women's political participation across the region remains uneven, and particularly low at the local level.
- Structural inequalities persist - policy responses need to be equally persistent and far-reaching. Gender equality policies are an investment for a better future.
- The lack of funding for gender equality and women’s empowerment is one of the greatest barriers to achieving gender equality. In several countries, the gender equality machinery remains weak and underfunded.
- There is a need to adopt comprehensive and equitable policies to prevent gender discrimination and to dismantle barriers to education and lifelong learning. More action is needed to tackle gender stereotypes that perpetuate segregation in both education and employment in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
- Insufficient gender dis-aggregated data collection constitutes a significant barrier to evidence-based policy-making.
- The need to ensure gender equality that is inclusive of all women was underscored in order to address multiple and intersecting forms of violence and discrimination and to leave no one behind.
- Changing social norms and unequal expectations remains critical. And for that, men need also to be involved.
- Environmental protection and climate change constitute the areas with the least advances across the region. Only a few countries within the EU have begun to adopt meaningful laws and policies in these fields and mainstreaming a gender perspective into these fields has yet to occur.
Our WEP board members also had the opportunity to meet Vanessa Erogdobo from International Trade Centre, an agency of the United-Nations. The meeting, which took place at the ITC headquarters, aimed at discussing our collaboration.
WEP supports member COPA-COGECA at the European Parliament
and encourages female education in agriculture #IRWD2019
15 October 2019
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On 15 October, our board member Diana Filip (JA Europe) moderated our member COPA-COGECA's event on female education in agriculture at the European Parliament. The event was hosted by MEPs Elsi Katainen and Anne Sander. WEP strongly encouraged the reinforcement of the need for rural women to access education & training, as their commitment to farming are just as strong as their male counterparts. "It’s been an honour to moderate the COPA-COGECA event on "Women's agriculture education - a fundamental stage to ensure gender equality and generation renewal in agriculture" and listen to experts from across Europe, from the university professors, to farmers and Ministry representatives and MEPs. We have a lot to do in this field to fight against gender stereotypes, educate and empower young women. As MEP Isabel Carvalhais said, being a farmer is as noble as being a writer or doctor!" -- Diana Filip, WEP board member and JA Europe Deputy CEO |
WEP meets UN WOMEN
2 October 2019
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This October, UN Women received our Vice-Chairwoman Isabel Raventos and Secretary General Charlene Lambert at their offices in Brussels to discuss our future joint collaboration. Indeed, the Women Entrepreneurship Platform was recently granted consultative status by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in order to promote and work on the advancement of women entrepreneurship worldwide.
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IGWE is back: WEP discusses female entrepreneurship at the European Parliament
with Sirpa Pietikäinen MEP and member KAGIDER
1 October 2019
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As the Secretariat of the Interest Group on Women Entrepreneurship at the European Parliament, WEP met with main supporter and chair Sirpa Pietikainen MEP to discuss the agenda of the group alongside our member KAGIDER.
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WEP will be attending the European Commission SME Assembly 2019 on 25-27 November 2019
September 2019
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The Women Entrepreneurship Platform will be present at the EU SME Assembly 2019 in Helsinki, Finland. Taking place on 25-27 November, our Chairwoman Grazia Rendo and Secretary-General Charlene Lambert will represent women entrepreneurs in Europe. If you are attending and willing to network and meet our representatives, don't hesitate to drop us an email at [email protected]. |
WEP reflects on female entrepreneurship with the Dutch Women’s Council
at the Dutch Parliament media centre
September 2019
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September in The Netherlands is a time of both cooling down (in temperatures), and heating up (in activity). At the occasion of Princes' Day, every year the Dutch Women's Council holds its own 'Princesses Day' to reflect on important topics facing women in the Netherlands. On 9 September, our Secretary-General Charlene Lambert attended the event at the Dutch Parliament media centre, where the chosen subject on the agenda was female entrepreneurship. Dutch government officials were present among the audience to take part in the conference and Q&As, to make the cause go forward. Issues regarding pensions, sick leave, and social programs for women entrepreneurs were high on the agenda. |
IGWE held its First Annual Meeting in the European Parliament
24 September 2018
Inviting its loyal WEP members and MEPs, the European Parliament's Interest Group on Women Entrepreneurs, whose Secretariat is WEP, announced its next event to be held on 24 September, at the European Parliament. The topics of discussion include:
- Discussion on the European initiatives on women entrepreneurship and exchange of views with European Commission
- Presentation by WEP and Sirpa Pietikainen MEP/Chair of IGWE on women entrepreneurship in the EU
- Upcoming EU Elections and highlights on the priorities and expectations at the EU level
- IGWE Calendar for 2018-2019
WA4E project survey published
The survey by the project 'Women Business Angels for Europe's Entrepreneurs', in which WEP participated, has been published on the WEGate website. The survey explored the reasons why women did or did not become angel investors, determining that positive reasons to invest included supporting entrepreneurs and new businesses, keeping-up-to-date with new businesses/technology and making a financial return. The survey reached out to 6 000 women across six partner countries, receiving 640 valid responses. Of these 310 women were already angel investing and 330 were not. An online research accompanied by a qualitative survey of 225 women gave a more detailed perspective on women's approach to angel investing. Read more...
5th International Women4Energy Conference: registration are open
6 December 2017
6 December 2017
6th December in Stuttgart, Germany. This year’s Women4Energy Conference will focus on cutting-edge solutions and technologies in the field of Renewable Energies. Speakers will discuss the implications and conclusions of the European Commission’s "winter package", presented in 2016 as a set of measures to facilitate the transition to clean energy and keep the European Union competitive in changing global energy markets. The conference will give female professionals active in energy-related fields a platform to discuss global challenges and exchange ideas on future trends and innovative energy solutions. The overarching goal is to enhance knowledge transfer and market access for new products and services. Read more here.
WEConnect annual leadership conference
11/12 October 2017
11/12 October 2017
WEConnect annual leadership conference: promoting and connecting women-owned businesses on the 11th to 12th October in London. The two-day conference will provide a unique networking platform to foster connections between women entrepreneurs and multinational corporations. Alongside the main presentations and discussions, the event will offer exclusive networking opportunities with other women business owners as well as pre-arranged matchmaker meetings with corporate representatives from IBM, Accenture, MetLife and more. Read more here.
European study on the Economic benefits of gender equality in the EU
The European Institution for Gender Equality has published a study on the methodology behind the theoretical framework and model used for the study "Economic benefits of gender equality in the EU" Read the report here.
Amway briefing in European Parliament "Entrepreneurial skills in the changing world of work"
27 September 2017
27 September 2017
AmwayGlobal organised panel discussion on "Entrepreneurial skills in the changing world of work - Are entrepreneurial skills the key to surviving digitalisation?". The event was hosted by MEP Marlene Mizzi, and had as speakers Kasia Jurczak, Deputy Head of Unit DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Imelda Vital, Government Affairs and Simone Felice, Research Fellow - CEPS. More info here.
WEP partners with Business Angels Europe for for WA4E Project
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WEP has partnered with Business Angels Europe and others for the EU project entitled “Women Business Angels for Europe's Entrepreneurs (WA4E)” which will run in 2017 & 2018. BAE and its partners is set out to increase the number of Women Business Angels by 10% and to generate 2.5 million € of fresh investment in start-ups across Europe. WEP’s role in the project will be to set the communication and social media strategy for WA4E with the aim to build up a solid European community of women investors by bringing on board Women Business Angels; stimulate women business angel investment in general; and strengthen and provide access to a community of new and existing female investors for members (for example through the programmes' modules, information, stories by role models, comments, access to tailored events, etc). Read more...
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Celebrating International Women's day with IGWE
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We celebrated International Women's day together with the European Interest Group of Women Entrepreneurs in the European Parliament and its Chairwoman, Ms Sirpa Pietikäinen, talking about women, their role in the European economy as well as European support measures for women entrepreneurship and innovation. Thank you to our speakers, our sponsors Deloitte and Seldia and all those inspiring women that joined our debate! See pictures here...
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WEP supports "Enterprising Women in Tech: Showcasing best practices" event
17 November 2016
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WeHubs is the first European community connecting business ecosystems and providing them with mentoring tools to support women entrepreneurs in the digital sector. The final event aimed at showcasing the best practices coming from business support organisations, local authorities, policy makers and women web entrepreneurs from all over Europe and beyond. The event included a policy roundtable, to discuss trends on the political agenda about this topic at EU and regional level with the participation of MEPs and relevant stakeholders. Read more...
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