About

Who we are

The International Gender Champions (IGC) is a leadership network that brings together decision-makers determined to break down gender barriers and make gender equality a working reality in their spheres of influence.

The initiative was co-founded by former UN Geneva Director-General Michael Møller, former US Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Pamela Hamamoto and Women@TheTable CEO/Founder Caitlin Kraft-Buchman in 2015.

The network numbers over 300 active Champions and 500 Alumni who are the heads of International Organisations, Permanent Missions, and Civil Society Organisations.

Watch this short video to find out what the IGC is about!

To become a Champion

  • One must be the head of an organisation, permanent mission, or institution. 
  • One must be based in one of our six hubs (Geneva, New York, Vienna, Nairobi, The Hague or Paris)

To join the network, Champions sign the IGC Panel Parity Pledge, the IGC Gender-Based Violence Pledge and undertake two S.M.A.R.T. commitments per year to advance gender equality in their organisation or programmatic work. Champions report annually on their commitments. More information can be found here.

Collaboration and impact

  • Champions participate in bi-annual meetings of the IGC network to share experiences and strategise on how to best achieve our goals.
  • Each Champion assigns a Focal Point from their organisation to work on the implementation of the Champion’s commitments and represent the Champion within the larger IGC network. Focal Points attend quarterly meetings to keep abreast of and share best practices, policy developments and events.
  • IGC Impact Groups are led directly by Champions in order to create a strong mandate with a clearly defined set of actions and objectives in a specific sphere of influence. Current Impact Groups focus on Climate, Digital and New Emerging Technologies, Disarmament, Representation, and Women, Peace and Security.
  • IGC offers a platform for members of the network to amplify messages, campaigns and best practices including through our social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Youtube) and our resources section.

Governance

  • The IGC Global Board – currently composed of 9 Champions and chaired by Inter-Parliamentary Union Secretary-General Martin Chungong – provides strategic direction to the initiative in such areas as outreach, eligibility criteria, creation of new hubs and impact groups etc. 
  • The IGC Secretariat is hosted by the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) since September 2019. Its role is to support the Global Board, lead the initiative’s programmatic, outreach and administrative activities, as well as to support the network of Champions and focal points.
  • Each of the six IGC hubs is led locally by a Steering Group, traditionally composed of representatives of international organisations, Member States and civil society organisations.

IGC values

In joining the IGC network, as per the IGC's Code of Conduct, each Champion commits to: 

Adhere to the network’s stated values and act in accordance with the highest ethical standards consistent with international human rights standards, UN model policies and international civil service norms, including:

  • Treating every person with respect, fairness and dignity, and refraining from any form of discrimination or harassment. 
  • Valuing diversity of gender, race, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion, disability, and other attributes. 
  • Creating and maintaining safe, inclusive, and harassment-free workplaces through appropriate workplace policies and procedures, including whistleblowing procedures which have survivor-centred approaches. 
  • Working collaboratively with other Champions in a spirit of openness, honesty and transparency.  

Uphold and implement the Panel Parity Pledge by declining participation in single-gender panels and by actively supporting intersectional diversity in panel engagements, in line with the IGC’s Panel Parity Pledge. 

Uphold the IGC’s Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Pledge to stand for zero tolerance of all forms of gender-based violence, sexist attitudes and behaviour.   

Actively promote gender equality within their sphere of influence and make two S.M.A.R.T. commitments annually. 

Contact us

admin[at]genderchampions.com