(03/09/2017) Gender inequality is one of the most persistent violations of human rights today. Although we are moving towards a more equal reality between men and women, there is still a lot to build.

The International Women’s Day, March 8, this year promoted a lot of reflection in Paranapanema. Employees and third parties of the Company were invited to attend and discuss the UN documentary “Precisamos falar com os homens? Uma jornada pela igualdade de gêneros” (Do we need to talk to men? A journey for gender equality), produced by UN Women and PapodeHomem.

After the documentary was shown, a chat was conducted with the group, marked by many testimonials and suggestions for actions. Exhibition sessions were held at all Paranapanema plants in Brazil and brought together 300 women.

The movie “Precisamos falar com os homens? Uma jornada pela igualdade de gêneros” (Do we need to talk to men? A journey for gender equality) seeks to show that gender equality is an issue that affects everyone, and therefore is beneficial to both men and women. It investigates how stereotypes are formed, sustained and how can we deconstruct these harmful gender stereotypes that are part of our current scenario. The documentary is the result of qualitative research throughout Brazil and will be complemented by the online quantitative research still in progress.

The action is part of the #HeForShe campaign, the UN Global women’s movement for gender quality and women’s empowerment, whose goal is to engage men and boys into new gender relations without macho attitudes and behaviors.

Code of Ethics – Within Paranapanema, gender equality is more than a practice: it is the rule. Based on its mission, vision and values the Code of Ethics meets the Company’s principles, reflects its identity and directly collaborates to strengthen the relationship that the company establishes with society and the environment, acting in a fair, correct and respectful style. The document contains guidelines that directly promote the fairness of rights. See the section described in the chapter “Relationship with employees”:

“We believe in the diversity of employees to create a team that thinks of the organizational culture, the Company’s business interests and the sustainable development of the industrial sector and the communities in which we operate. Therefore, we promote the equity of rights regardless of cultural, ethnic, financial condition, age, gender, religion, political opinion and/or sexual orientation. We repudiate and do not tolerate moral and/or sexual harassment of any nature, regardless of the origin or part thereof being subject to the applicable legal measures of disciplinary measures.”

Following a suggestion from the employees themselves, Paranapanema will soon organize and launch a discussion group with periodic meetings for women to discuss their rights, duties and opportunities, both inside and outside work.

Click here and watch the doc. Come, with us, enrich this debate.