UN Women and Universal Postal Union (UPU) signal intent to work together

The Universal Postal Union (UPU) and UN Women have announced their intention to explore common avenues to empowering women within the postal sector, at the UPU and elsewhere.

“With a strong partner like UN Women at our side, the UPU will do its part to ensure that gender equality is increased both within and outside its walls,” said UPU Director General Bishar A. Hussein.

“We are committed to seeing more women take up senior positions at the UPU’s International Bureau,” said Mr. Hussein. “We will be guided by the principles of professionalism, merit and qualifications,” he added.

For her part, UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka said: “Without a doubt, our partnership with UPU can cement a commitment to greater gender equity in employment and supply chains in a sector that has tremendous reach and penetration in rural areas and across the world. This is a win for the Post and for women worldwide.”

Empowerment

Empowering women to be economically active and independent is crucial to reducing poverty throughout society.

“Women are able to make positive changes in their lives and societies when they participate in economic activities. With a livelihood and an income of their own, women have increased status, can provide for their families and become empowered in other parts of their lives as well, such as making decisions about education, housing, food choices, and medical care,” said Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka.   

The first joint project under the new agreement will be a study on how well the postal network serves the financial needs of women worldwide. The results – including recommendations on expanding access to postal financial services – are expected in early 2015. 

“The postal network is already helping more than a billion people access basic financial services worldwide, so it is well positioned to help even more women become economically empowered,” Mr. Hussein said.

The lack of equal wages for equal work and that one in three women is affected by physical or sexual violence during their lifetime are among the issues being highlighted during this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This is marked annually on November 25.

In 2010, the UN General Assembly created UN Women as the entity for gender equality and empowerment of women.

Cross-posted from Universal Postal Union.