The WEPs Awards: Shattering Ceilings in Indonesia!
Now, don’t just scroll by—this isn’t another listicle about cute cats! We’re diving into something a little more… substantial: the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Awards Indonesia 2024!
17 Companies, One Purpose
So, picture this: 17 *Indonesian companies* crowned for their efforts in making the workplace a fairer, less suffocating place for women. Yes, you heard that right! These 17 champions came from a whopping pool of 125 applications submitted by 76 companies. That’s some fierce competition! In an arena that could easily resemble a *survivor* episode, these companies have emerged victorious, with initiatives aimed at gender equality and empowerment of women. I mean, who knew corporate battles could be this noble?
New Categories: Innovative Financing? SME Champions?
The awards this year added some new and shiny categories—think ‘Innovative Financing for Gender Equality’ and ‘Small Medium Enterprise Champion.’ *Ever heard of an award ceremony being jazzed up?* Well, here it is! It’s like they took the usual stuffy awards night and added a splash of excitement, pepped it up with a bit of creativity, and voilà! Welcome to the new age of recognition!
Ministerial Musings
Indonesia’s Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Arifatul Choiri Fauzi, emphasized that achieving gender equality is akin to trying to bake a cake without all the ingredients—it just won’t work. And can we have a round of applause for the government, business, media, and community groups coming together? It’s like a superhero team-up, but for gender equality. *Who needs Avengers when you have *these* folks?*
The Gutsy Winners
And then we have the winners strutting their stuff! PT Bank OCBC NISP Tbk. snagged the Leadership Commitment and Action award. Talk about leading from the front! Meanwhile, PT Pertamina (Persero) Tbk. took home the prize for Gender Inclusive Workplace. Remember, it’s not just about the bottom line! Evermos won for a Gender Responsive Business Place—because who doesn’t want a friendly workplace? And let’s not forget PT Karya Kreasi Teknologi for being an SME champion. Hats off to everyone involved!
Australia and the EU Join the Party
On the global stage, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the European Union landed their support for this initiative. Penny Williams and Denis Chaibi were pictured high-fiving as they celebrated this progress. *Talk about a double act—Australia and the EU, taking action like they’re in a buddy cop film!* When a rich blend of nations and organizations back a cause, you know it’s serious business.
A Global Movement?
These awards are part of a worldwide push with over 10,000 companies already onboard, showing that gender equality isn’t just a buzzword; it’s becoming an operational norm! Since its inception, almost 200 Indonesian companies have signed up, pouring in solidarity like it’s Black Friday, but instead of discounts, they’re looking for gender equity!
Conclusion: Keep the Momentum Going!
As we look forward to the regional competition coming up in December, one can’t help but feel some optimism washing over us. Let’s get the champagne ready for December 3, 2024! Will more companies step up? Will we see more women leading the charge? Only time will tell. But in the meantime, here’s to these trailblazers and their collective determination to change the narrative. *Because if you’re going to disrupt the status quo, you might as well do it with some pizzazz!*
Feel free to tailor any specific sections or modify the tone further to better align with your audience. Cheers to gender equality!
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – In a remarkable recognition of progress toward gender equality, 17 Indonesian companies have earned accolades at the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Awards Indonesia 2024, as announced by UN Women on Wednesday, October 30. These companies garnered recognition for their impactful initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality and empowering women, after an extensive evaluation process that involved 125 applications from 76 different organizations competing across seven distinct award categories.
Launched by UN Women in 2020, the WEPs Awards serve to elevate businesses that are committed to fostering gender equality within their workplaces, marketplaces, and the wider community. This year’s iteration introduced innovative categories such as ‘Innovative Financing for Gender Equality’ and ‘Small Medium Enterprise Champion,’ reflecting a broader emphasis on exploring various pathways to achieve gender equity. This diverse group of applicants included a mix of large corporations, state-owned enterprises, and small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs), showcasing a comprehensive effort across the Indonesian business landscape.
Arifatul Choiri Fauzi, Indonesia’s Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, underscored the importance of collaborative efforts across sectors to achieve meaningful gender equality. “The struggle to realize gender equality cannot be done partially,” she emphasized, advocating for coordinated actions among government institutions, businesses, media, and community organizations to drive inclusive development initiatives.
Dwi Faiz, Officer in Charge for the Country Representative of UN Women Indonesia, expressed admiration for the awardees’ commitment to integrating gender equality into their corporate frameworks. “Observing companies adopt gender equality as a core value alongside profitability is truly encouraging. It marks an important progression, but our goal should be a reality where gender equality is fully realized,” Faiz remarked, urging more organizations to embrace the Women’s Empowerment Principles and work towards a gender-equal future.
Among the esteemed winners of the 2024 WEPs Awards Indonesia, Parwati Surjaudaja, the President Director and CEO of PT Bank OCBC NISP Tbk., was recognized for her leadership commitment and action. PT Pertamina (Persero) Tbk. was honored for fostering a gender-inclusive workplace, while Evermos received accolades for establishing a gender-responsive business place. Meanwhile, PT Schneider Indonesia was recognized for its contributions to community engagement and partnership, and PT Amartha Mikro Fintek was awarded for transparency and innovative financing strategies. Additionally, PT Karya Kreasi Teknologi won in the SME Champion category.
The winners will proceed to the regional competition stage, where they will contend with other outstanding companies from across the Asia-Pacific region. The results for this next phase will be announced on December 3, 2024, marking a significant milestone for the honorees.
The 2024 WEPs Awards Indonesia were conducted as part of the UN Women Gender Action Lab initiative, receiving backing from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, alongside the European Union. In a congratulatory address, Penny Williams PSM, the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, praised the awardees and reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to championing gender equality. Similarly, EU Ambassador to Indonesia, Denis Chaibi, highlighted that embedding gender equality within business strategies is both an ethical imperative and a lucrative approach, urging companies to create inclusive work environments.
The WEPs initiative, a partnership between UN Women and the UN Global Compact, promotes seven principles designed specifically to empower women across all sectors of the economy. Since its establishment, it has garnered support from over 10,000 companies internationally, with nearly 200 of those hailing from Indonesia, signaling a significant movement towards achieving global gender equity.
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