Petrobras Endorses the Women's Empowerment Principles Defined by the UN

News provided by

Jun 21, 2010, 03:25 ET

RIO DE JANEIRO, June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Nations' Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the Global Compact announced on Monday (06/21) the list of global leaders who have endorsed the Women's Empowerment Principles, launched by the UN last March. Petrobras is one of the 39 companies that have endorsed the document, which lists seven principles that provide practical guidance to companies to promote gender equality in the workplace, in the market, and in the community.

The initiative has the support of 39 executives of national and global companies the world over, including the CEO of Petrobras, Jose Sergio Gabrielli de Azevedo. UNIFEM Executive Director Ines Alberdi said: "These initial signers of the CEO Statement are practicing the very first Women's Empowerment Principle that leadership promotes gender equality."

Women's participation in Petrobras has grown by the year. In 2003, when the Company joined the UN's Global Compact, it had 4,406 women on its own staff. In December 2009, that figure had risen to 8,296 female employees, growing women's participation in the Company's workforce from 12% to 14%.

With the greater integration of women in the company, we are putting into practice one of the values expressed in Petrobras' Strategic Plan for 2020, which is respect for human and cultural diversity, based on three principles: non-discrimination, equal opportunities, and respect for differences. To achieve these goals, Petrobras is part of the Pro-Gender Equality Action Plan. Coordinated by the Brazilian Government with support from UNIFEM and the ILO, this Plan aims to achieve gender equality in the labor market and to eliminate all forms of discrimination," said Petrobras' CEO.

Gabrielli also mentioned a few examples of actions that underpin the Company's commitment to the UN Global Compact and to the Women's Empowerment Principles: Among the initiatives Petrobras has already implemented the installation of breastfeeding support rooms in Company units and the extension of the maternity leave period to 180 days. Petrobras also participates in the National Pact to Combat Violence against Women.

The Seven Women's Empowerment Principles are:
1. Establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality;
2. Treat all men and women fairly at work - respect and support human rights and nondiscrimination;
3. Ensure the health, safety and welfare for all women and men workers;
4. Promote education, training and professional development for women;
5. Implement enterprise development, supply chain and marketing practices that empower women;
6. Promote equality through community initiatives and advocacy;
7. Measure and publicly report on progress to achieve gender equality.

INFORMATION, PHOTOS, AUDIO AND VIDEO RECORDINGS AT WWW.AGENCIAPETROBRASDENOTICIAS.COM.BR

Media Contacts
Petrobras Press Management
Telephone: 55 (21) 3224-1306 and 3224-2312
On-call telephone number: 55 (21) 9921-1048 and 9985-9623
[email protected]