Baku, March 7^th, 2024. The Baku Stock Exchange in collaboration with the World Federation of Exchange organized the 10^th Annual Ring the Bell for Gender Equality ceremony. The event was held in partnership with the Women’s Economic Empowerment in South Caucasus project supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and implemented by UNDP. Mr. Mehman Ramazanov, the Member of the Management Board at the Baku Stock Exchange, Mr. Alberto Hernandez, the Deputy Regional Director of Cooperation and the Deputy Head of Mission at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Ms. Alessandra Roccasalvo, the UNDP Resident Representative a.i. in Azerbaijan, Mrs. Nani Bendeliani, the Programme Analyst on Women’s Economic Empowerment at UN Women, and other officials and representatives of the private sector participated at the event. 

During the event, wide-ranging discussions were conducted on gender equality and the empowerment of women, the gender-sensitive ecosystem that drives the gender equality agenda forward, as well as the sustainability of the Women Empowerment Principles (WEPs). 

Ms. Roccasalvo greeted the participants by noting the importance of initiatives to collaborate, innovate, and implement strategies that foster women empowerment and break down barriers hindering women's progress. 

At the end of the event the Ring the Bell ceremony took place. The event dedicated to the International Women’s Day was also a great opportunity in terms of networking and new partnerships. 

Media contact: 

Jeyhun Alakbarov, UNDP Azerbaijan 

jeyhun.alakbarov@undp.org