GREAT Women Project represents Philippines in global launch of knowledge gateway for WEE



GREAT Women Project Manager Luzviminda Villanueva of the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) represented the Philippines in the global launch of an online platform and knowledge gateway for advancing women’s economic empowerment, during a side event of the 68th UN General Assembly last September 23 in New York.

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the Government of Canada initiated the launch of www.empowerwomen.org, a website connecting private sector, civil society, governments and international organizations to encourage knowledge-sharing on women’s economic empowerment (WEE). It will provide up-to-date information, technical resources and good practices for women’s business and economic opportunities. Online discussions and a Learning Centre with regular e-courses and webinars are interactive features of the portal.

The online platform will bring together partners—such as UN system agencies, governments, civil society and the private sector—and connect them with women entrepreneurs, practitioners, researchers and gender activists from around the world. Partners already on board to drive women’s economic empowerment on the Knowledge Gateway include the UN Global Compact, the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, Microsoft, the Coca-Cola Company, Women’s World Banking, Women in Informal Employment Globalizing and Organizing, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the UN World Tourism Organization, the International Association for Feminist Economics.

The Knowledge Gateway came about as a result of the international conference on women’s economic empowerment jointly organized by UN Women and Canada in October 2011 in Ottawa, Canada, where a key recommendation was the need for a dynamic platform for knowledge-sharing and knowledge creation on women’s economic empowerment.

“Women have a right to equal opportunities and equal access to information, resources and training. This is why I am so proud of our new online partnership to advance the economic empowerment of women. When women are empowered, the benefits ripple outwards and strengthen societies and economies,” Under-Secretary-General Phumzile Miambo-Ngcuka and Executive Director of UN Women said.

Other speakers in the launch were Minister of State and Foreign Affairs and Consular, Lynne Yelich of the Government of Canada, Academy-award winning actress Geena Davis, Ambassador-at-large Danielle Saint-Lot from Haiti, Microsoft Managing Director of Global Strategic Accounts Frank McCosker, GREAT Women Project Manager Luzviminda Villanueva and Dina Flowers Company Managing Director Dina Bina of Tanzania. Television news anchor Pat Kiernan moderated the session.

“Today’s launch of the Global Knowledge Gateway for Women’s Economic Empowerment marks an important milestone in promoting women’s economic empowerment,” said Lynne Yelich, Canada’s Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular). “Canada is proud to support women’s economic empowerment by focusing on initiatives that increase women’s economic leadership and advance the rights of women worldwide.”

“We would like to tell you that the Philippines supports the Knowledge Gateway, especially the pool of women’s economic empowerment (WEE) champions that we have built. We hope to multiply this pool of WEE champions with the Knowledge Gateway, ” GREAT Women Project Manager Luzviminda Villanueva imparted.

Government of Canada extends technical and funding support to the GREAT Women Project, a capacity development project on women’s economic empowerment implemented by the Philippine Commission on Women.