The financial arm of the United Nations is to launch a gender finance charter at its annual general meeting in Dublin on Tuesday.
The United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Financial Centres for Sustainability Network said 21 financial centres have pledged their support and promised to take concrete actions throughout 2024 for advancing gender equality.
The charter defines 10 fundamental principles which form a framework encouraging member financial centres to implement a minimum of two principles through tailored action plans or initiatives within the next year.
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister of State at the Department of Finance, said the charter was “of global significance” in financial services.
“It has the potential to significantly advance gender equality, not just in financial services but more broadly across the globe,” she said. “I want to congratulate the representatives from over 40 financial centres around the world for demonstrating true leadership in being here to sign up and commit to the charter.”
The gender finance booklet will be a comprehensive resource that equips all members with the necessary tools and guidance for effective implementation of the principles.
Kali Taylor, community manager of Sustainable Finance Geneva and the gender working group chairwoman, said: “Gender has been a priority of the Geneva financial centre since 2021, so we are thrilled to join this broader movement of financial centres committing to this important topic.
“We see this as an excellent opportunity to learn from our peers, collaborate and push for gender equality in Geneva and globally.”
The group will conduct a survey by the end of 2024 to assess the progress and collective impact achieved by endorsing financial centres.
Additionally, it will provide ongoing support to its members in implementing the selected principles of the charter through capacity-building activities based on the 10 principles outlined.
