New York: The GSMA has adopted the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles as part of its commitment to promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women in the workplace, marketplace and community. GSMA Director General Mats Granryd signed the commitment to the Principles at a signing ceremony in New York yesterday in the presence of Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka,UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women. 

The seven Women’s Empowerment Principles, subtitled Equality Means Business, outline the business case for corporate action to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. The Principles support the delivery of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG #5 on Gender Equality. Click here to read the Principles in full. 

“Future global prosperity requires women to be at the forefront of the digital revolution, allowing businesses to benefit from the world’s smartest minds, regardless of gender,” said Mats Granryd. “The GSMA is committed to bridging the gender divide both in our operations and in the work we do around the world, where mobile technology can help empower women, making them more connected, safe, and able to access life-transforming information and services.” 

“I am very much looking forward to engaging with the UN’s global network of women’s empowerment champions to help make digital connectivity and opportunity a reality for every woman and girl – because when women thrive, families, societies and economies thrive.” 

Building on the GSMA’s commitment to gender equality
The GSMA operates a number of initiatives designed to encourage young women and girls to study STEM subjects and develop female leadership in the technology industry, including Women4Tech and Tech4Girls. It is also a supporter of the ITU’s Girls In ICT Day and a co-founder of the global EQUALS partnership.  

As part of the Connected Women programme, the GSMA works to reduce the gender gap in mobile phone ownership and mobile internet usage in low- and middle-income countries and unlock significant commercial and socio-economic opportunities as a result.

GSMA also has a specifically designated equality, diversity and inclusion employee-led forum called OneGSMA, which aims to maintain and promote a work environment that is representative of the rich diversity of GSMA’s employees.