Foundation commits 1 million dollars to gender equality and women’s economic empowerment
Mexico City 4 December 2014 – During an official visit to Mexico, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Under-Secretary General of the UN and Executive Director of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, UN Women, met with businesswoman and philanthropist, Angelica Fuentes to discuss the important role that private sector can play in accelerating women’s economic empowerment, ending violence against women and helping UN Women to reach its objectives by providing adequate funds and serving as advisors.
During the meeting Angelica Fuentes Foundation announced a donation of US$ 1 million dollars to fund programs dedicated to social, economic and political empowerment of women, a primary focus for Angelica Fuentes and her philanthropic endeavors. These funds will support four initiatives: the Fund for Gender Equality, the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform of Action; a study on women’s economic empowerment in Latin American and the Caribbean and the HeforShe campaign.
Angelica Fuentes Foundation contribution will bolster UN Women’s Fund for Gender Equality (FGE) in Latin America and the Caribbean region on a range of strategic issues, from national advocacy for decent work legislation and social protection services to engaging women’s collective action and participation in key political spaces and structures, where the Fund has already invested US$ 17 million on high-impact women’s initiatives since 2009.
The Executive Director expressed UN Women’s deep appreciation for Ms. Fuentes’s strong support and to the promotion of gender equality in Mexico, and regionally in Latin America. Ms. Mlambo-Ngcuka also commended the important contribution of committed business and foundations, such as Angelica Fuentes Foundation, as leaders and role-models, to empowering women, offering family-friendly work practices and working towards closing wages gaps between men and women.
About 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 stands behind women’s equal participation in all aspects of life, focusing on five priority areas: increasing women’s leadership and participation; ending violence against women; engaging women in all aspects of peace and security processes; enhancing women’s economic empowerment; and making gender equality central to national development planning and budgeting.
