Pro Mujer, a social enterprise with more than 30 years of experience working to advance gender equality, and UN Women are proud to announce the signing of a memorandum of understanding to formalize their commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment in Latin America. The two organizations will work together to improve labor laws and work environments in Latin America, drive gender mainstreaming, and push for the implementation of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in the private sector, while actively encouraging the use of gender lens investing as a critical tool for closing gender gaps.
In Latin America, 24% of women live in poverty, and less than 50% of women participate in the labor force. Women also dedicate up to three times more time to unpaid care and domestic work.
Closing opportunity gaps and fully involving women in the economy has the potential to increase regional GDP by up to 6% and decrease poverty rates and inequality. This partnership between Pro Mujer and UN Women is a pivotal step toward creating sustainable change and building a more prosperous and equitable future.
As part of the collaboration, concrete actions will be taken to expand women’s financial inclusion, strengthen women-led MSMEs, and generate opportunities in the silver and care economies. In addition, joint programs will be developed to prevent and address gender-based violence, creating a safer and more equal environment for women in the region.
“Today, more than ever, it is critical to work together if we want to progress toward equality,” shared Carmen Correa, CEO of Pro Mujer. “This collaboration with UN Women is a unique opportunity to drive structural change that will change the lives of millions of women throughout Latin America.”
“Ensuring women’s economic and financial autonomy is critical to ensure that women aren’t left behind,” added María-Noel Vaeza, Regional Director for the Americas and the Caribbean at UN Women. “This partnership with Pro Mujer is vital in order to innovate and implement transformational activities that will increase women’s financial inclusion.”
This memorandum of understanding reaffirms the belief of both organizations that building more inclusive societies and closing the gender gap is only possible through collaboration and strategic partnerships. Pro Mujer and UN Women reaffirm their commitment to empowering women and recognize their critical role as drivers of sustainable development. When women thrive, all of Latin America thrives.
About Pro Mujer
Pro Mujer is a non-profit social enterprise that for over 33 years has provided services and tools to women in Latin America so they can reach their full potential, improve their living conditions, and transform them into agents of change for their communities.
It operates through a holistic and integrated model that seeks to expand the access of women in the region to health services, increase their financial inclusion, and provide them with training opportunities.
Through a deep understanding of the most pressing needs faced by women in Latin America, Pro Mujer designs innovative programs that seek to address issues such as gender-based violence and the digital gender gap. Pro Mujer is a pioneer in the region in promoting and raising awareness about Gender Lens Investing as an effective mechanism to close gaps and boost company productivity.
More information at www.promujer.org.
About UN Women
UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women worldwide. UN Women works with governments and civil society to ensure that they implement policies and programs that support women and gender equality.
UN Women supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality and to design laws, policies, programmes and services needed to ensure that the standards are effectively implemented and truly benefit women and girls worldwide.
It works globally to make the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals a reality for women and girls and stands behind women’s equal participation in all aspects of life.
