KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 – Corporate companies are urged to be more proactive in addressing issues of sexual harassment in the workplace, as it hurts job performance and the company’s image.
Therefore, Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO), the nation’s leading women’s rights organisation, has taken the initiative to create the We Pledge programme, providing knowledge and awareness to employees and employers in understanding and handling issues of sexual harassment in the workplace.
Malaysia ranks 13 out of 19 countries in the East Asia and Pacific region in the Global Gender Gap Index 2023, and 102 out of 146 countries globally, according to the World Economic Forum.
In recognising the pivotal role businesses and corporations play in effecting transformative change, the We Pledge campaign enables them to make an impact on women’s and children’s lives by addressing key areas such as economic empowerment, access to health care, child care, education, and subsequently enhancing the representation of women in political spheres.
There is a critical link between violence and its contribution to poverty, according to WAO. Violent conflicts not only cause immediate harm but also lead to long-term economic repercussions including damage to infrastructure, institutions, destruction of assets, forced displacement, increased unemployment, and inflation.
Topics covered under We Pledge include gender-based violence response and prevention, diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) awareness through addressing unconscious gender biases, and specialised training for human resource professionals, leadership, and management teams in line with the theme of Women’s International Day this year, Count Her In: Invest in Women.
WAO invites businesses of all sizes to take the pledge. By doing so, businesses not only align with their ESG goals but also actively contribute to building a more equitable society.
Email WAO at [email protected] to learn more about the We Pledge programme.
