1. Dr. Ewa Ruminska-Zimny Director, Gender and Economy Programme, UNECE “Property Rights – A Condition of Women’s Success in Business” Warsaw, 14 March 2008 WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND BUSINESS: HOW TO USE THEIR POTENTIAL IN A GLOBAL WORLD?

2. Role of women in economic growth Gender equality as a human right, but also a key factor behind economic growth and efficient allocation of resources Women are a major source of new labour in the context of ageing. They are also well educated and bring new ideas, priorities and tastes in developing new products and services to compete on global markets.

3. Preventing the decline in workforce (EU-27)

4. Improving innovation and competitiveness Over 50% share in total tertiary education in most ECE countries and up to 62 % (Albania, Latvia); also high- share of employment in service sector Ford Women’s Network (since 1999): inclusion of women into design teams for new cars pushed up sales and is now standard human resource policy The Global Banking Alliance For Women (among members: Bank of Scotland, Bank of America, RBC Royal Bank) The Global Banking Alliance For Women (among members: Bank of Scotland, Bank of America, RBC Royal Bank): increased market share as a result of better understanding of needs of female customers

5. Female Share of Researchers Source: UNECE Gender Statistics Database, 2004

6. Share of women in total number of researchers (headcount) Source: UNESCO, Science, Technology & Gender Report, 2007

7. Source: UNECE Gender Statistics Databases Employers and own-account workers, % employed selected countries Women in Business: women’s entrepreneurial potential

8. Policies matter Gender-sensitive legislative and institutional framework for SMEs US -- Equal Credit Opportunity Act (1974), office for women’s busines at SME Administration, Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (1994), support centers and targeted programmes In 1997-2004 number of women run businesses grew by 42% (23% all firms); now about 40% of privately held US businesses Partnership between government, private sector and civl society (business associations): gender budgets as a tool

9. UNECE: part of UN framework One of five UN regional commissions; 56 member countries (US, Canada, Western & Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Caucasus) A regional forum for dialogue and exchange of good practices among governments, but also private sector and civil society Raises the awareness on issues, develops norms and standards, recommends policies Collects data, initiates studies, prepares publications

10. UNECE role in promotion of gender equality Promoting regional dialogue on economics of gender as a key factor for sustainable growth: ECE 60 th Annual Anniversary Session Development of a gender disaggregated data: gender Statistics Website (http://www.unece.org/stats/gender/welcome1.htm)http://www.unece.org/stats/gender/welcome1.htm Knowledge hub on gender and economy (forthcoming) Assessment of business environment for women entrepreneurs in rural and urban areas (joint project with ILO) Preparation of manual on gender budgets (joint project with the Council of Europe)

11. Thank you ewa.zimny@unece.org http://www.unece.org/oes/gender/Welcome.htm l