Transforming Workplaces, People, Communities

As part of the 57th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, ILR was honored for its work to eliminate violence against women and to engage men as allies with women to promote social change and gender equity.  

The recognition was made in March in New York City by the New York Metropolitan Chapter of the U.S. National Committee for UN Women.

KC Wagner, co-chair of the Worker Institute at Cornell's Equity at Work initiative, accepted the award for ILR.

Wagner is an expert in the prevention of sexual harassment, gender bias and bullying, and in building workplace inclusiveness.

UN Women was created in 2010 by the United Nations General Assembly.

The U.S. National Committee for UN Women is an independent, non-profit organization that supports UN Women and social, political and economic equality for women and girls around the world. It works to improve access to education, employment opportunities and sustainable livelihoods that enable them to live free of gender-based violence.

Kimberly Campbell, a member of the UN Women Board of Directors, nominated ILR for the award.

"We spend more waking hours in the workplace than anywhere else and businesses are very influential in our culture. Therefore, they are in a unique position to open up conversations on these issues and set an example," she said. "Cornell ILR and KC Wagner, in particular, understand that. Their work – their research and their training – has literally transformed workplaces, people and communities"

"ILR is getting people to see that violence against women is a social issue, a community issue, a public health issue and a business issue, and that we all have a role in achieving gender equality and eliminating violence against women," Campbell said.

The event, which was emceed by television news journalist Roz Abrams and former NFL player Don McPherson, a women's rights advocate.