Canada helps launch website for women’s economic empowerment

September 23, 2013 - Today the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State (Foreign Affairs and Consular), welcomed the launch of the global Knowledge Gateway for Women’s Economic Empowerment, a new online platform that will support women’s economic opportunities and leadership and further their contributions to local economies.

With support from the Government of Canada, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) developed www.empowerwomen.org, a knowledge gateway whereby women entrepreneurs and workers can connect, share best business and other practices, and access up-to-date information that is essential to women’s equal economic participation and improved livelihoods. The launch took place at a special event during the United Nations General Assembly.

“The global Knowledge Gateway will help women better prepare to participate in the economy as workers, entrepreneurs, and leaders so that they can take charge of their own economic futures,” said Minister Yelich. “This initiative demonstrates how innovation can enhance women’s economic empowerment.”

“It will give a push to women’s economic empowerment because this is essential to poverty eradication. I am so proud of our new online partnership platform to advance the economic empowerment of women. I encourage everyone to join us at www.empowerwomen.org, said Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women.

For more information on Canada’s contribution to the Knowledge Gateway , please visit the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development.

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For more information, media should contact:

Margaux Stastny, Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Development
Telephone: 819-953-6238
Email: margaux.stastny@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD)
Telephone: 819-995-1874
Email: media@international.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @DFATDCanada

Backgrounder

On September 23, 2013, Minister of State Lynne Yelich announced Canada’s support for efforts to enhance women’s equal participation in the economy.

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) – The global Knowledge Gateway for Women’s Economic Empowerment: $5 million

Canada, along with UN Women, hosted a conference on Women’s Economic Empowerment in 2011. It was during this conference that Canada made a commitment to collaborate with UN Women on the establishment of a global platform for women’s economic empowerment. As part of that commitment, Canada is providing $5 million.

The global Knowledge Gateway allows women entrepreneurs, policy makers and other users to:

connect with women who are entrepreneurs and policy makers across the developing and developed worlds;
share information, exchange lessons learned, and good practices;
drive innovation;
form partnerships and strengthen laws, policies, strategies, and programs; and
access a virtual library of the latest publications and resources on women's economic empowerment.