In celebration of International Women’s Day (8 March 2025), 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.
The SSE is working alongside the UN Global Compact, UN Women, International Finance Corporation: IFC and World Federation of Exchanges (the “Global Partners”) for the 11th 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).
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 2025
Currently over 70 exchanges and counting are registered, to participate in this years event please register here.
About the Ring the Bell initiative
The “Ring the Bell for Gender Equality” annual event series was first launched in 2015 by the UN SSE, UN Global Compact and UN Women, with just 7 participating exchanges. The group of global organizing partners was expanded in 2016 to involve collaborators from UN SSE, UN Global Compact, UN Women, IFC and the World Federation of Exchanges. By 2022, participation in this annual event included over 110 exchanges around the world. Beyond raising awareness for the role of women in business and finance, exchanges also support mobilizing finance for gender-equality-themed investment products, improving women’s access to financial markets and promoting greater levels of female participation in corporate board rooms. The SSE supports these efforts through an integrated programme of conducting evidence-based policy analysis, facilitating a network and forum for multi-stakeholder consensus-building, and providing technical guidelines, advisory services and training. To learn more about how the SSE supports exchanges to promote gender equality, visit our Gender Equality workstream page.
About our Partner Organizations:
The 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 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