Your Excellency Mr. Ville Tapani Tavio, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Finland
Your Excellency Ms. Márcia Lopes, Minister of Women, Brazil
Your Excellency Ms. Toyin Saraki, President of the Wellbeing Africa Foundation,
Mr. Claus Runge, Senior Vice President, Bayer
Excellencies, distinguished delegates, esteemed colleagues and friends,
Good afternoon. I am pleased to welcome you to this discussion on an issue that is too often overlooked: menopause in the workplace. UNFPA is delighted to host this event, organized with our partners at Bayer as part of the mission of the Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Business.
By 2030, more than one billion women will be postmenopausal. Their health and contributions will profoundly shape families, communities, and economies.
Menopause is a natural transition. Yet, for many, it can be a profoundly challenging one. Hot flashes in meetings, insomnia that drains energy, brain fog that makes even routine tasks difficult, unpredictable and heavy bleeding – all are common realities. Too often, the silence and stigma surrounding menopause leave women to cope with these challenges alone.
The impact is measurable. Nearly one in five women have quit or considered quitting their jobs due to menopausal symptoms. This costs the global economy an estimated $150 billion annually. At the very stage when women’s experience and leadership should be most valued, they are sometimes forced out.
At UNFPA, we work to ensure every woman and adolescent girl realizes her right to sexual and reproductive health—across the life course. Addressing menopause, and the stigma surrounding it, is part of that mission. The workplace is one of the most powerful entry points.
Over 190 million women are employed in global supply chains, often in places where their health needs go unmet. This is not something that governments can address on their own. Businesses, too, have a critical role to play in advancing women’s health, not only for the women they employ, but also their customers, suppliers and the communities they serve.
That is why UNFPA and partners launched the Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Business. It brings together companies that integrate women’s health—including menopause support—into workplace strategies. Today we will hear from companies like Bayer and the Vodafone Foundation who are already piloting policies and raising awareness to ensure women do not have to choose between their health and their careers.
The financing context makes this urgent. Achieving global sexual and reproductive health goals – including ending preventable maternal deaths, unmet need for family planning, and gender-based violence and harmful practices – will require $264 billion by 2030. Traditional aid covers only a fraction of the investment needed. The private sector, with its reach and resources, can help close the financing gap—not just through philanthropy, but by embedding women’s health in business models. Research by UNFPA and Fordham University shows that if just 60% of S&P 500 companies implemented SRHR initiatives, they could generate $6.6 billion by 2030. Addressing menopause in the workplace takes us one step further.
Today, UNFPA is pleased to launch a new case study showcasing practical corporate leadership on menopause, drawing on examples from Bayer and Essity.
It highlights initiatives like Bayer’s Menopause Cafes and Essity’s Courageous Conversations. Both create safe spaces for dialogue. Another great example is the MenoVest, a heated vest men can wear to feel what it’s like to experience hot flashes at work, building empathy and understanding among colleagues. These activities are affordable and achievable, but they require vision and commitment.
UNFPA hopes this contribution will help set a new standard for women’s health in the private sector.
Colleagues, menopause has been neglected for too long. Here, today, during the United Nations General Assembly, we put it firmly on the agenda of health, work, and sustainable development. Because when women’s health is prioritized, women thrive, businesses grow, and communities and societies prosper.
I thank you.
