8 March, 2017

Less than 5% of CEOs at large, listed companies are women, and investors have an important role to play in engaging not only with companies, but also stock exchanges and policymakers on gender equality. At stock exchanges around the world today, on International Women’s Day, opening and closing bells will ring out to highlight the role the private sector can play in promoting equality. 

Gender equality is an issue that impacts everyone, from diversity in boardrooms and at the executive level, to equal opportunities for education. Studies show that empowering women is not only the right thing to do, but also the smart thing to do, leading to increases in GDP, higher productivity, return on investments and effective organisations.

Building on the 2016 SSE Report on Progress, which highlights five specific targets of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that exchanges are well placed to influence, a new report has also been released today which examines the contribution exchanges can make toward SDG target 5.5: ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic, and public life, as well as the gender-specific targets under the other 16 SDGs.

The report, How Stock Exchanges Can Advance Gender Equality, also complements the SSE co-organised Ring the Bell for Gender Equality global collaboration, held in 2015, 2016 and on 8 March, 2017; the objective of which is to have market opening and closing bells ringing across the globe to bring further attention to the importance of women’s economic empowerment to business growth and development, as well as highlight the role the private sector can play in creating opportunities for women in the workplace, marketplace and community.

Get more information and find out how to get involved here.

Download the report here.