Boursa Kuwait Participates in the United Nations’ “Orange the World” Campaign to End Violence Against Women
Wednesday, 25 November 2020Boursa Kuwait Posted
Kuwait, November 25, 2020: Boursa Kuwait lit up its office building in orange to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women designated by the United Nations, which occurs every year on November 25.
The bourse’s participation in the global initiative comes as part of its efforts to raise community awareness of the pivotal role that the private sector can play in achieving the goals of the campaign in accordance with the fifth of the UN’s 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to empower women and promote their rights, status and vital role in the development process.
Around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated key risk factors for violence against women and girls, such as unemployment, economic insecurity and school closures. Under the leadership of the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, the United Nations Secretary-General’s UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women campaign (UNiTE Campaign), calls for global action to increase awareness, galvanize advocacy efforts and share knowledge andinnovations. Governments, civil society, women’s organizations, young people, the privatesector, the media and the UN must join forces to address the global pandemic of violence against women and girls.
Companies that have committed to the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) recognize theimportant role of the private sector to support efforts to end violence against women. Harassment and violence incur high costs to women in terms of lost earnings, missed career advancement and overall wellbeing. On the other hand, companies are impacted by employee absenteeism and productivity losses.
The multi-year campaign is an initiative led by the Secretary General of the United Nations and UN Women and is celebrated globally starting from the 25th of November, the International Day to End Violence against Women, and concludes on International Human Rights Day on December 10. The campaign theme this year is “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!”, and buildings in Kuwait and all around the world, including the Boursa Kuwait building are illuminated in orange to symbolize a brighter future free of violence.
Commenting on Boursa Kuwait’s participation in the UN initiative, Mr. Naser Al Sanousi, Marketing and Communication Director at Boursa Kuwait, said, “Organizations around the world are embracing the United Nations’ 16 Days of Activism to End Violence Against Women, and Boursa Kuwait is proud to join the global efforts this year to create a safer world for women. The participation in this initiative aims to highlight the critical importance of protecting women and girls caught in the cycle of violence and works to empower them and safeguard their rights. Through its contribution, Boursa Kuwait seeks to achieve the fifth UN Sustainable Development Goal, in solidarity with the 2035 vision of a New Kuwait.”
Dr. Lubna Alkazi, Director of the Women’s Research and Studies Center in the College of Social Sciences at Kuwait University, also commented on Boursa Kuwait’s participation in the campaign: “It makes us proud to see Boursa Kuwait supporting the initiative by lighting up its building in orange, confirming the company’s continuous efforts to support and empower women through sustainable development. It is worth noting that Boursa Kuwait was the first exchange in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to ring the bell to empower women on International Women’s Day.”
In welcoming the lighting of iconic Kuwaiti buildings in orange to mark the 16 Days of Activism to End Violence against Women, Ms. Susanne Mikhail, UN Women Regional Director for the Arab States said, “The private sector plays a key role in preserving and promoting the health, safety and wellbeing of their male and female employees. UN Women welcomes this demonstration of support by members of the Kuwaiti private sector, including Boursa Kuwait, to raise awareness of the need of all of us to work together to end all forms of violence against women and girls.”
Boursa Kuwait is a champion of women’s empowerment and is a true pioneer in the inclusion ofwomen in the workforce. The company has been involved in several initiatives dedicated to empowerment and inclusion and was the first stock exchange in the GCC to participate in the‘Ringing the Bell for Gender Equality’ initiative, which it has participated in for the past threeyears.
Reaffirming the company’s commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity and inclusion inthe workplace, Boursa Kuwait signed the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) ‘Statement of Support,’ which aims to deliver on the critical role businesses can play in the attainment of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals outlined in the Agenda 2030
For more information about Boursa Kuwait’s initiatives and its latest developments, please visit www.boursakuwait.com.
