Making the World a Safer Place for Women

Around the world, 1 in 3 women experience physical and/or sexual violence at some point in their lives. That means 35 percent of our sisters, 35 percent of our friends, 35 percent of our coworkers—or maybe you’ve even experienced it first hand.

Sodexo announced a new Commitment to Action today at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting in New York called Girls, Women and the Global Goals: Workplace Strategies to End Violence Against Women. This is an effort to raise awareness about and curb gender-based violence, something no one should have to experience – ever.

Gender-based violence has been recognized as both a cause and a consequence of gender inequality, with no geographical boundaries. All around the world, it affects and impacts the rights of women despite their economic, social or political standing. It undermines development and peace. And it has become a serious obstacle to public health and human rights.

Business leaders can make an important contribution to addressing gender-based violence, through workplace strategies that raise awareness of the issue, through providing support to employees who have suffered or who are currently suffering, through training employees to prevent violence and through providing employment opportunities for survivors.

As a company where diversity and inclusion is embedded into its corporate culture, Sodexo strives to promote gender equality, no part of which is more important than ending gender-based violence.

Over the next three years, Sodexo will reach over 105,000 employees with this new Commitment to Action, expanding and developing education, counseling and employment opportunities that will improve quality of life and promote gender equality.

It’s a serious effort that builds on Sodexo’s 2014 Commitment to Action to create economic opportunity by sourcing $1 billion in goods and services from micro, small and medium-sized businesses with a significant focus on women owned and operated enterprises. The effort further advances Sodexo’s holistic approach to promoting gender equality in business.

Sodexo is proud to partner with the Clinton Global Initiative, and a committed advocate for ending gender-based violence.