At a regional conference focusing on gender and domestic labour (1-2 September), leading Brazilian public and private companies – including Banco do Brasil, CPRM, Eletrobras, Embrapa, Petrobras, Serpro and Itaipu Binacional – reconfirmed their support for the WEPs and commitments to gender equality. President Lula was presented the WEPs by UNIFEM Regional Programme Director, Rebecca Tavares...20 leading private Japanese companies including Sharp, Shimano, Shiseido, and Teijin Ltd. – demonstrated their support for the WEPs and were recognized in a signing ceremony...UNIFEM and UN Global Compact Local Network outreach to public and private companies in Spain meets positive response from over 25 Spanish companies, including Endesa, ENUSA, BMC Maderas, FCC Construcción, and Gesproenergía S.L.