Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 04/2012

Gender equality: it's your business

March 2012

Oxfam Publishing

Abstract

This Briefing for Business is intended for senior managers in global and national companies, especially those retailing and producing food and fast-moving consumer goods, and which source goods or labour in developing countries. Although many companies already do much to protect human rights in their operations and value chains, there is more that they can and must do. In this Briefing for Business, we concentrate on gender equality and the responsibilities of business to uphold and promote it, recognising that business can have a positive impact on the lives and status of women as well as men, while enhancing companies’ own productivity and reputation.