Business and Professional Women's Foundation

The Association of Business and Professional Women (BPW ) is a professional and multi-sector network for women in over 100 countries, which sees itself as a global voice for equality of working women and as a forum for mutual support and international networking.

Goals and demands of the BPW

• More women in senior positions in business and in politics.
• More skilled jobs for women.
• Reconciling work and family - for both women and men.
• More compulsory insurance coverage for all women.
• More female influence in political decisions.
• Worldwide cooperation, friendship and understanding between women at work and in business.
• Further expansion and maintenance of local, national and international networks.

Development of BPW

1930, the BPW International was founded on the initiative of the U.S. Attorney Lena Madesin Phillips in Geneva, Switzerland. The inaugural meeting attended 163 participants from 16 countries, including Germany and Austria. Phillips was elected as the first President. It was followed by 20 more today. After 1930, 25 international conferences were held, most recently in 2005 in Lucerne, Switzerland on the occasion of the 75th birthday of the international association. Today the BPW International 30,000 women belong in 100 countries on all five continents.

At BWP Europe includes virtually all countries in Europe with 23,000 women. The European Coordinating Committee was established 26 years ago. The first coordinator was Renata Blodow. The current coordinator is Gabriella Canonica, which was selected at the International Congress in Lucerne in 2005 for the term of 3 years. It is also Executive Board Member of BPW International.

BPW in Germany

Only one year after the founding of the International Federation of German national association was lifted out of the baptism in Berlin: Under the direction of the Attorney Marie Munk In 1931, the Association Professional Women in Germany. The organization, however, remained under increasing pressure from the Nazis. In 1933, the association decided against following the women's organizations of Hitler and chose the path of resolution.

On May 20, 1951, the post-war history of BPW begins in Germany: In Bonn, the German Association will re-founded under the presidency of Mary May. 1998 joins the Association of International naming and e in BPW Germany V. renamed. Train to train extends the BPW its regional activities in Germany. Today, the organization is represented in nationwide 40 cities and regions with a private club, where 1,650 members meet regularly to lecture and networking evenings. Each club has its own website.

Activities of the BPW

With intimate exchange, lectures, conferences and private mentoring program, the network provides socio-political lobbying at regional, national and international level. The BPW has consultative status in category 1 held at the United Nations and is represented, among others, a non-governmental organization in the Euro Europe. Play an important role in dialogue with the business community and representatives of other social groups, worked with those of BPW Germany issues of corporate responsibility and equal opportunities at work.

In spring and autumn the BPW Germany invites members and interested parties to nationwide conferences. Additional events will take place including in the framework of EU project collaborations, such as in 2005 women in the business community. The network also allows young women to 35 exchanges on the Young BPW with their own workshops and nationwide as local meetings.

Memberships of BPW

The BPW at European level is a member of the European Women's Lobby, at the German level in the German Women as well as regionally in the various State Women's Councils. In addition, the BPW is cooperating with four other major women's organizations in international aid projects ( Project 5-O ) and is active in Germany as a partner in future economic forum, an initiative of German media for corporate responsibility.