Livre 1.Indb 1 21/01/08 22:38:45 Building Trust in Our Societies Photo: Xavier Defaix, 2007
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Livre 1.indb 1 21/01/08 22:38:45 Building trust in our societies Photo: Xavier Defaix, 2007 AUDE ZIESENISS DE THUIN President and Founder Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society “Building trust in our societies” was the theme of this year’s Women’s’ Forum, and over 1,200 women and men answered the call to come and refl ect together on the many aspects of this issue. How is it that an erosion of trust is pervading the world, and how can women participate in making ours a more trusting one? We were honoured by the presence in Deauville of some of the world’s leading women – and men – who came from 70 different » countries to take a candid and forthright look at these problems, generating a wealth of interrogations, ideas, proposals and solutions. Globalisation, and the tremendous pressure of accelerating economic and technological change have undermined the trust Our Forum is not only we place in those who govern us, and the legitimacy of our a platform for refl ection and institutions. This central issue was the subject of several debates, and repeatedly the fact emerged that it was now in the power of debate it serves as evidence women, given the opportunity, to reverse the steep decline of trust that through collaboration in politics. They have the credibility essential to bridging the wide- ning gulf between civil society and government. Global corruption and concrete action, we in all its forms, in industrialised countries as well as in developing can build a better world nations, would be drastically reduced if more women were able to climb higher up the political ladder. 2 I WOMEN’S FORUM - 2007 WHITE BOOK Livre 1.indb 2 21/01/08 22:38:46 Yes, women have a vital role to play in resolving the trust defi cit, « but, as we were reminded during the Forum, trust is based on individual responsibility; and we have a responsibility to demand ethical behaviour not only from politicians but also from busi- nesses, the media and the food and drugs manufacturers. We have a responsibility in ensuring that scientifi c research, whose discoveries hold great promise but can open the doors to frigh- tening possibilities, does not transgress certain moral and ethical boundaries, and a responsibility in establishing where those boundaries lie. Again, on the issues of climate change and the fast pace of The pressing issue of our welfare systems was also on the development in certain parts of the world, to which the Forum agenda. We as women must uphold fairness, not as an optional devoted almost an entire day, the participants returned to theme nicety, but as essential ingredient to building the kind of wel- of collective and individual responsibility: If we as individuals and fare systems that can sustain our ageing populations. Similarly, consumers demand respect for the environment from govern- women can lead in working to create a balance between the ment and business, we must also look down at our own personal industrialised and developing nations, not through charity but as a “carbon footprint.” genuine requirement for ending exploitation. The fi ndings of three fascinating and critically important studies published recently were presented at the Forum by McKinsey, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ricol, Lasteyrie & Associés. Their incontrovertible conclusions in favour of a gender balance in top management were an affi rmation of points made at previous editions of the Women’s Forum. These can only incite us to continue to work for more women in top-level posts and also to encourage the younger generation to enter traditionally male-dominated fi elds such as fi nance, science and technology. With the help of our partners and sponsors we have been able to put some of these aims into action. New pro- jects were launched this year and others initiated at the Women’s Forum have already born fruit. Under what are called the Forum’s “Concrete and Long-term Initiatives,” over two hundred thousand dollars in prizes and grants were awarded at the Women’s Forum this year in support of exceptional individuals and projects from the fi ve continents. Our Forum is not only a platform for refl ection and debate it serves as evidence that through collaboration and concrete action, we can build a better world. Aude Zieseniss de Thuin Aude Zieseniss de Thuin 2007 WHITE BOOK - WOMEN’S FORUM I 3 Livre 1.indb 3 21/01/08 22:38:48 THE WOMEN’S FORUM 2007 WHITE BOOK Contents 2 Editorial: Aude Zieseniss de Thuin Part 2 I Trust and Sustainability 6 Editorial: Jean-Paul Bailly 61 Alternative energies: Getting the full picture Part 1 I Global trust issues 65 DISCOVERY CORNER A glimpse at Living Tomorrow 69 Sustainable cities where the environment meets 11 Rebuilding trust: An agenda for governance the individual 17 PROJECT Fifty of China’s leading women attend the 73 Green card to corporate legitimacy Forum 76 DISCOVERY CORNER Writer’s corner 19 PORTRAIT Long Jiangwen 77 PORTRAIT Abha Dawesar novelist, India 20 PORTRAIT Yan Lan, Lan Zhenzhen 79 Climate change and sustainable growth: What 23 What should women expect from political lea- will it take to face the challenge? ders in order to restore trust in our governance 82 PROJECT Rising Talents systems? 83 PORTRAIT Renata Pokupic 26 PORTRAIT May Chidiac 84 PORTRAIT Yseulys Costes 29 In the media we trust… or should we? 85 PORTRAIT Prudence Mutowo 33 PROJECT Sci Tech Girls 87 DISCOVERY CORNER Travel by Air France: Stress- 39 The values that should guide us in managing the free fl ying fast-expanding frontier of science and technology 42 DISCOVERY CORNER L’Oréal Corporate Foundation: Part 3 I Trust and Corporate & Women in Science Societal Issues 45 Trusting what we consume: Are we truly ma- 91 How are women shaping the business environ- naging the interface of technology, health and ment in the 21st century? safety? 95 The competitiveness picture 49 Transparency, trust and truth 96 Women Matter: A study by McKinsey & Company 52 Opening dinner 98 Plenary luncheon with Her Royal Highness Princess 55 DISCOVERY CORNER New consumers’ behaviour: In Astrid of Belgium design they trust! Nelly Rodi meets with Lenovo 101 Spare me the stereotypes 4 I WOMEN’S FORUM - 2007 WHITE BOOK Livre 1.indb 4 21/01/08 22:38:48 102 Women’s economic participation: 135 PORTRAIT Chekeba Hachemi Enablers, Barriers, Responses, a study by 137 How can we guarantee our welfare systems PricewaterhouseCoopers in this ageing world? 105 DISCOVERY CORNER Men's corner 140 PROJECT Women Actors of Leading Change 108 Too much money chasing too much risk 143 PROJECT Force Femmes 110 Women in power: Fostering the current and next 145 Filling the trust defi cit: The rise of civil society generation in fi nancial services 149 Strengthening social cohesion, building 112 DISCOVERY CORNER Well-being and fashion trust: Some ways ahead 114 Gender equality in the workplace: Women’s lawyers’ role 116 Global diversity in law firms Part 4 I Programme 118 The Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards and other highlights 119 PORTRAIT Angel Chang 154 Luncheon in parallel: Whistle-blowing 120 PORTRAIT Lucie Avoaka 156 Luncheon in parallel: A tale of courage 120 PORTRAIT Bettina Götzenberger 157 Luncheon in parallel: Social entrepreneurship 121 PORTRAIT Antonia Sanin 158 Luncheon in parallel: The Darfur crisis 121 PORTRAIT Nandini Pandhi & Yasmina McCarty 123 Sustaining corporate loyalty 159 Luncheon in parallel: Helping manage globalisation 160 Plenary luncheon: A values-added foreign policy 126 DISCOVERY CORNER Vaccinations: A new therapy for cancer? 162 People & Atmosphere 129 Cultural identity in a global context: Women’s 164 Project Student Delegation/Blog crucial role in imaging new futures 166 Programme 132 DISCOVERY CORNER Women for Education: 173 Acknowledgements Education and the fight against child exploitation 174 Sponsors 2007 WHITE BOOK - WOMEN’S FORUM I 5 Livre 1.indb 5 21/01/08 22:38:49 A question of trust JEAN-PAUL BAILLY President of Groupe La Poste It was to be expected that, given the crisis of trust and the search for recognition and appreciation in contemporary society, and in a menacing and uncertain world, the theme of the third edition of the Women’s Forum, « Building trust in our societies » would generate intense debate. The series of discussions in which company directors, fi nanciers, experts and sociologists participa- ted was indeed fascinating. For we live in a society that is threatened by disorientation, that is in economic, social and environmental peril, and has an increasin- gly uncertain future. Society needs to regain a sense of trust: Trust is becoming progressively rare. » In these circumstances, individual people (be they employees, citizens, business people, parents etc.), have a yearning for trust. There is a psychological, personal need for self-esteem and a social, collective need for recognition. People need more than With the redeployment of gender roles, women have now taken their full place beside men 6 I WOMEN’S FORUM - 2007 WHITE BOOK Livre 1.indb 6 21/01/08 22:38:51 « ever to know where they are heading, and how to get there. In other words, their lives need orientation and meaning. More than ever, people need: We also saw the extent to which women have shown courage 1 to be appreciated, and tenacity in the face of calamity, and an infrangible will to speak 2 to be given personal attention, out whatever the risks and consequences. 3 to be trusted in their capacity to move forward, and in Restoring trust also involves strengthening the ties between deve- their resilience in the face of unforeseen diffi culties.