In celebration of International Women’s Day (8 March 2021), the Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative is pleased to announce the continuation of stock exchanges around the world hosting a bell-ringing ceremony to raise awareness for gender equality. Click here to check the news release about the 2021 Ring the Bell for Gender Equality. 

The SSE is working alongside the UN Global Compact, UN Women, International Finance Corporation: IFC, World Federation of Exchanges and Women in ETFs (the “Global Partners”) for the 7th consecutive year to organise the “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” initiative.

These global ‘bell ringings’ aim to bring attention to the pivotal role the private sector can play in advancing gender equality to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and to raise awareness about the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). We are encouraged by the fact that 25 exchanges, up from 10 in 2019, are now signatories to the WEPs as part of their commitment to promoting gender equality. SSE members are also working to scale up their actions on gender equality by promoting transparency of relevant metrics, organizing training on board diversity, and encouraging their listed companies to sign the WEPs.

This year, the UN Women’s theme for International Women’s Day 2021 - “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world” celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Women leaders and women’s organizations have demonstrated their skills, knowledge and networks to effectively lead in COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. Today there is more recognition than ever before that women bring different experiences, perspectives and skills to the table, and make irreplaceable contributions to decisions, policies and laws that work better for all. 

Share Actions on Advancing Gender Equality

Stock exchanges are uniquely positioned to influence their market in a way few other actors can. Please visit our Gender Equality page to learn more.

Participating Exchanges – Ring the Bell 2021

In 2021, there are 104 exchanges planning to hold “Ring the Bell” events. You can find in the table below all exchanges that are planning their participation in this movement to raise awareness about the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs).

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Spanish Stock Exchange – BME Group

Bolsa de Valores de Panamá

Colombo Stock Exchange

Deputy Executive Director UN Women

Ghana Stock Exchange

Hong Kong Exchange – HKEX

Japan Exchange Group – JPX 

Kazakhstan Stock Exchange – KASE

London Stock Exchange Group – LSEG  (Password: IWD)

A replay of the whole ceremony, which can be seen here

Nasdaq

NEO Exchange

National Stock Exchange of India – NSE

Stock Exchange of Thailand – SET

Shenzhen Stock Exchange – SZSE  

TMX Group

Tunis Stock Exchange

Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange

Press Coverage

Bahrain: Bahrain Bourse 'Rings the Bell for Gender Equality'

Brazil: B3 Rings The Bell For Gender Equality - At The Event, The Exchange Announced Free Workshops To Help Listed Companies Attain Greater Diversity And Inclusion

Canada: NEO Rings the Bell for Gender Equality in Honour of International Women’s Day

China: Shenzhen Stock Exchange Holds Bell-Ringing Ceremony for Gender Equality

China: HKEX Celebrates International Women's Day

Costa Rica: Costa Rica Stock Exchange joins Ring the Bell for Gender Equality with tangible results of women's empowerment

Japan: JPX And TSE Hold International Women's Day Bell Ringing Ceremony

Kuwait: On International Women's day, Boursa Kuwait rings the bell for women's empowerment

Nigeria: Nigerian Stock Exchange Calls On Private Sector To Challenge Gender Inequality

Qatar: Qatar Stock Exchange Celebrates International Women's Day

Spain: The Spanish Stock Exchange Opens The Trading Session On Women's Day Ringing The Bell For Gender Equality

Sri Lanka: IFC partners with Colombo Stock Exchange to Ring the Bell for gender equality in Sri Lanka

About our Partner Organizations:

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 2020, we invested $22 billion in private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.

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. WFE exchanges are home to nearly 48,000 listed companies, and the market capitalisation of these entities is over $74.4 trillion (at end 2018). The WFE is the definitive source for exchange-traded statistics and publishes over 350 market data indicators. Its statistics database stretches back more than 40 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. Click here to view the WFE’s website, sign up for the industry’s Focus magazine or to visit the WFE on LinkedIn. For Twitter see: @TheWFE

United Nations Global Compact:

As a special initiative of the UN Secretary-General, the United Nations Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption.  Launched in 2000, the mandate of the UN Global Compact is to guide and support the global business community in advancing UN goals and values through responsible corporate practices. With more than 11,000 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries and 68 Local Networks, it is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world.  For more information, follow @globalcompact on social media and visit their website at www.unglobalcompact.org.

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, focusing on four strategic priorities: Women lead, participate in and benefit equally from governance systems; Women have income security, decent work and economic autonomy; All women and girls live a life free from all forms of violence; Women and girls contribute to and have greater influence in building sustainable peace and resilience, and benefit equally from the prevention of natural disasters and conflicts and humanitarian action. UN Women also coordinates and promotes the UN system’s work in advancing gender equality. Learn more at: http://www.unwomen.org and www.weps.org Follow us on Twitter @UN_Women @weps.org and on LinkedIn: UN Women

Women in ETFs (WE):

Women in ETFs is the first women’s group for the ETF industry. Founded in January 2014, WE is a non-profit organization that brings together over 5,000 members, including women and men, in chapters in major financial centers across the United States, Canada, EMEA and Asia Pacific to: 1) CONNECT: Create opportunities for professional advancement of women by expanding connections among women and men in the ETF industry; 2) SUPPORT: Offer guidance for the current and next generation of women in ETFs and 3) INSPIRE: WE achieves this by organizing events at our chapters globally that support our goals of education, networking, philanthropy and idea sharing across the industry and beyond. For more information, visit: https://womeninetfs.com/ to learn more, join, or sponsor. Follow us on Twitter: @WomeninETFs and on Linkedin: Women in ETFs