Discours de Sa Majesté la Reine à l'occasion de la Mission économique belge en Turquie

Address of Her Majesty the Queen

The business world and entrepreneurship:

Drivers of women’s empowerment

Istanbul Chamber of Industry, 11 May 2026

 

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The aim of an economic mission is to promote contact between companies from different countries so as to strengthen relations, facilitate investment, and share best practice.

But it also provides the opportunity to reflect on what economic model we want to develop together and the roles the different parties involved should play.

This is an ideal context for an exchange on “Women’s empowerment at work”.

It is acknowledged and, indeed, scientifically proven that empowering women in their professional journeys means strengthening tomorrow’s economy, resilience, and capacity for innovation, shaped by the entrepreneurs and leaders of the next generation.

In other words, when women are fully integrated into the economy at all levels, the whole of society reaps the rewards.

That is why it makes a great deal of sense to compare the measures taken by the business community, civil society, and public authorities in our two countries to promote women in the economic sphere. In that spirit, let me share with you three thoughts based on the Belgian experience:

First of all, the equal and meaningful participation of women in economic and political decision‑making is a prerequisite to inclusive economic growth, innovation, and societal resilience.

Belgium’s experience demonstrates that equality is not achieved by chance, but through deliberate and structural choices. And we have to act now if we want to shape the future.

Progress requires concrete measures, including legislative ones, to promote gender balance; initiatives on pay transparency and social dialogue; and also sustained investment in accessible, high‑quality childcare.  

At the same time, if true equality in education, mentoring, and professional networks is essential to empower women and girls, that is not enough; it must also go hand in hand with efforts to dismantle persistent barriers such as discrimination and stereotyping.

Secondly, women’s empowerment at work is inseparable from safe, respectful, and dignified working environments.

Violence and harassment at work, including gender‑based violence, undermine not only individual rights, but also trust, talent, and leadership potential within organizations.

Belgium adopts an integrated approach that combines prevention, protection, and accountability through a comprehensive legal and policy framework. Its legislation provides for strategies ranging from preventive obligations for employers; confidential counselling mechanisms; formal complaint procedures with safeguards against reprisals; informal dispute resolution procedures; and finally, access to labour inspectors and the courts where necessary.

In practice, the confidential and informal mechanisms play a crucial role: more than seventy per cent of workplace cases in Belgium are resolved through mediation or informal procedures, reflecting the importance of safe spaces for victims who may be reluctant to speak out.

At the international level, Belgium strongly supports mechanisms that strengthen prevention of violence or harassment at work and that protect victims. By promoting these objectives and sharing best practice, we will make progress towards safer and more inclusive workplaces across the world.That will benefit not only women but society as a whole.

After women’s participation in decision-making and the importance of a safe working environment, there is a third important point I would like to mention. The labour market is undergoing profound transformation. Digitalization, artificial intelligence, remote working, and the green transition are reshaping how we work, creating new possibilities, but also new risks.

These changes are not gender‑neutral. Without intentional and inclusive policy choices, they risk reinforcing existing inequalities, including unequal access to skills, insecure employment, and increased pressures on the work‑life balance.

A future‑oriented labour market is one that actively brings women into these transitions and creates opportunities for women to be future leaders through equal access to education, digital and technological skills, and lifelong learning. Inclusive approaches to flexible and hybrid work, as well as sustained attention to representation and career progression, are essential to ensure that talent is not lost.

By investing deliberately in women and girls today, we build a labour market that is not only fairer, but also better equipped for the future.

 I would like to conclude that women’s empowerment in the world of work requires vision, leadership and sustained commitment. Today’s panel brings together inspiring women leaders who not only reflect these qualities, but who are also actively shaping the future for the next generations, demonstrating the added value of women’s leadership in driving innovation, resilience, and inclusive growth.

Last week in Brussels, I opened an event dedicated to the importance of role models provided by women entrepreneurs for the next generation of women and girls. We all have a responsibility to show the path ahead towards a better world.

A genuine dialogue between the business world, civil society, and national authorities is the way forward.

When human rights‑based standards, public policy and business practices reinforce one another, and when we invest simultaneously in today’s realities and tomorrow’s leaders, meaningful and lasting progress becomes possible.