Response to the World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Index 2009

The World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Index confirms what everywoman has always believed, that engaging women equally with men in all aspects of life is imperative for future economic and socially prosperous societies.

At everywoman we have campaigned for 10 years to encourage and inspire more women into the economy recognising that if women started businesses at the rate of men that would mean an additional 150,000 companies contributing to UK Plc. We believe this in turn would show an increase in businesses that are founded on more sustainable and collaborative ethics, a theme that has come over strongly from the finalists of the 2009 NatWest everywoman Awards, the winners of which will be announced on 2 December.

As we embark on our tenth year we have launched a manifesto for change. If a positive can come out of the economic crisis, it is the realisation that more women-run businesses and a greater number of female board members will have a major impact on the country's economic recovery from the recession.

We find it disappointing that the UK has ped to 15 on the Global Gender Gap rankings for 2009 below countries including the Philippines, Lesotho and Latvia. The index continues to be topped by Nordic countries who in some cases have implemented minimum requirements for organisations with regards to their female talent pool. This is the first indication that these bold changes are making a positive effect on the respective countries economies.

Discuss the gender gap on the everywoman Network.