NEW YORK, March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The global partners, consisting of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the UN Global Compact, the UN SSE, UN Women and the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), are proud to announce the 11th annual "Ring the Bell for Gender Equality" event series. This global initiative brings together stock exchanges and their key stakeholders from around the world to host bell-ringing ceremonies, highlighting the critical role the private sector plays in advancing gender equality.
Since its inception in 2015, the "Ring the Bell for Gender Equality" has grown exponentially, starting with just seven participating exchanges and expanding to over 115 exchanges in 2025. This year's theme, "Ring the Bell for ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment," emphasizes the importance of inclusive actions to promote the rights and empowerment of women and girls globally.
Stock exchanges are uniquely positioned to influence their markets and promote gender equality. Beyond raising awareness, they play a pivotal role in mobilizing finance for gender-equality-themed investment products, improving women's access to financial markets, and promoting greater female participation in corporate leadership.
The "Ring the Bell for Gender Equality" initiative serves as a powerful platform to amplify the message that gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but also a business imperative. By participating in this event, exchanges and their stakeholders demonstrate a commitment to fostering inclusive and equitable economies.
Find the full list of participating exchanges here and feel free to contact the global partners for more information on how to participate in the initiative.
About the Global Partners:
- International Finance Corporation (IFC): IFC- a member of the World Bank Group - is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2024, IFC committed a record $56 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging private sector solutions and mobilizing private capital to create a world free of poverty on a livable planet. For more information, visit www.ifc.org. Follow us on Twitter: @IFC_org or any of our other social media platforms: www.ifc.org/SocialMediaIndex
- The United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative: The UN SSE initiative is a UN Partnership Programme organised by UNCTAD, the UN Global Compact, UNEP FI and the PRI. The SSE's mission is to provide a global platform for exploring how exchanges, in collaboration with investors, companies (issuers), regulators, policymakers and relevant international organizations, can enhance performance on ESG (environmental, social and corporate governance) issues and encourage sustainable investment, including the financing of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The SSE seeks to achieve this mission through an integrated programme of conducting evidence-based policy analysis, facilitating a network and forum for multi-stakeholder consensus-building, and providing technical assistance and advisory services. To learn more about becoming a Partner Stock Exchange or participating as a regulator or investor, visit sseinitiative.org Follow us on Twitter: @sseinitiative
- United Nations Global Compact: The ambition of the UN Global Compact is to accelerate and scale the global collective impact of business by upholding the Ten Principles and delivering the SDGs through accountable companies and ecosystems that enable change. With more than 20,000 participating companies, 5 Regional Hubs, 63 Country Networks covering 80 countries and 13 Country Managers establishing Networks in 18 other countries, the UN Global Compact is the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative - one Global Compact uniting business for a better world.
- United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women): UN Women is the UN organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. UN Women supports UN Member States as they set global standards for achieving gender equality and works with governments and civil society 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. In collaboration with the UN Global Compact, UN Women engages the private sector through the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) - a global framework and engagement platform to advance gender equality and women's empowerment in the workplace, marketplace, and community. As of 2025, WEPs has attracted over 10.000 CEOs and their companies in 190 countries to accelerate this agenda. UN Women also coordinates and promotes the UN system's work in advancing gender equality. Learn more at: www.unwomen.org and www.weps.org Follow us on Twitter @UN_Women, @WEPrinciples and on LinkedIn: UN Women,
WEPs.
- The World Federation of Exchanges (WFE): Established in 1961, the WFE is the global industry association for exchanges and clearing houses. Headquartered in London, it represents over 250 market infrastructure providers, including standalone CCPs that are not part of exchange groups. Of our members, 37% are in Asia-Pacific, 44% in EMEA and 19% in the Americas. WFE's 87 member CCPs and clearing services collectively ensure that risk takers post some $1.3 trillion (equivalent) of resources to back their positions, in the form of initial margin and default fund requirements. WFE exchanges, together with other exchanges feeding into our database, are home to over 51,000 listed companies, and the market capitalisation of these entities is over $110 trillion; around $140 trillion (EOB) in trading annually passes through WFE members (at end 2024). The WFE is the definitive source for exchange-traded statistics and publishes over 350 market data indicators. Its free statistics database stretches back 49 years and provides information and insight into developments on global exchanges. The WFE works with standard-setters, policy makers, regulators and government organisations around the world to support and promote the development of fair, transparent, stable and efficient markets. The WFE shares regulatory authorities' goals of ensuring the safety and soundness of the global financial system. Click here to view the WFE's website, sign up for the industry's Focus magazine or to visit the WFE on LinkedIn. Follow us on Twitter: @TheWFE
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