SDG 5: GENDER EQUALITY

Iberdrola and its firm commitment to gender equality

#social action #society #gender equality

Iberdrola is firmly committed to achieving the goal set by the United Nations for gender equality and the empowerment of all girls and women. For the fourth year running, the company has been recognised for its equal opportunities and gender policies under the 2021 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index.

OUR CONTRIBUTION TO QUALITY EDUCATION

 To maintain a firm commitment to our human capital as our main asset.

 To maintain a favourable framework of labour relations, based on: equal opportunities, non-discrimination and respect for diversity.

 Pushing for pay equality between men and women, meaning equal remuneration for the same job and common criteria in salary reviews for both sexes. As of today, the average total remuneration for men is no higher than it is for women and by 2025 Iberdrola intends to have reduced the salary gap to less than 2 %. The company has also committed to increasing the percentage of women in senior positions, with a target to increase the number of female executives to 25 % in 2022 — compared to 21.5 % currently — and to 30 % in 2025.

 Financial support promoting regional equality policies.

 Extension of the Women's Universe program to promote and develop women's sport.

 We encourage our employees to achieve a healthy balance between work and family life and we are at the forefront of Spanish companies.

 It is a benchmark company in the Ibex 35 in women presence on the Board of Directors.

 In 2020, the first Diversity and Inclusion Report [PDF] was published with the aim of contributing to the company's social dividend and advancing towards a fairer and more egalitarian society.

 In 2019 Iberdrola adopted the United Nations Women's Empowerment Principles.

 Recognised for its equal opportunities and gender policies under the 2021 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, for the fourth consecutive year.

 Elektro, the Neoenergia* group distributor, received the title of Best Company to Work For in Latin America, awarded by Great Place to Work (GPTW) for the fourth year running.

Women at Iberdrola group
Acting for effective gender equality

WHAT IS GENDER EQUALITY?

Gender equality is a basic human right and is also an essential factor for building a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world, according to the United Nations.

In recent decades, gradual progress has been made with aspects such as schooling of girls, which has the effect of ensuring fewer and fewer girls are forced into early marriage, and the presence of more women in parliamentary and leadership positions. Laws are being reformed to promote this gender equality. In spite of all this, there are still difficulties and the data shows that there is still a long way to go. For example, according to United Nations data, women are still under-represented at all levels of political leadership, and one in every five women and girls aged 15-49 reports sexual or physical violence by a partner in a 12-month period.

WHY IS GENDER EQUALITY SO IMPORTANT?

Based on UN data, women and girls account for half of the world's population, which means they account for half of the world's human potential. If we manage to improve quality of life with real gender equality, we will gain benefits that will have a global impact on society as a whole.

A decent job, basic rights, and a series of regulations based on salary would lead to improvements in education and health, which in the long term would have a positive impact on girls and those who depend on them (SDG 2, 3 and 4).

Iberdrola aligned with the sdg

Keys to understand world gender inequality

Who does it affect?

Throughout the world, women are paid
23 % less than men.
1 in every 5 suffers physical or sexual violence at the hands of their partner.

They spend 4.3 hours a day on domestic chores compared to 1.6 hours for men. 49 countries have no laws to protect women against violence.

How is this distributed around the world?

The 10 countries with the greatest gender inequality are concentrated in Middle East and north of Africa (61 % parity); followed by Southern Asia (66 % parity).

80

60

40

20

0

Yemen

Iraq

Pakistan

Syria

Congo Dem.
Rep.

Iran

Chad

Saudí Arabia

Lebanon

Oman

Main causes

Austerity measures caused by the financial crisis, public sector cuts and inequality in the distribution of family and domestic responsibilities, that mostly affect women.


How can we put an end to it?

We need to increase financial support to promote equality policies at regional,
national and global level, introduce legislation to promote gender equality and give a higher profile to the opinions and visibility of women and girls.

Source: UN Women (2018) and World Economic Forum, Global Gender Gap Index (2020).

 

 SEE INFOGRAPHIC: Keys to understanding world gender inequality [PDF]

GENDER EQUALITY GOALS

Globally, as a society we have made some progress towards gender equality since the beginning of the century, but there is still a long way to go. That is why the targets for 2030 are:

  • Eliminate all forms of violence against women, such as human trafficking, sexual exploitation, child marriage and female genital mutilation.
  • Recognise and value unpaid domestic work through public services, infrastructures and social protection policies.
  • Guarantee the full and effective participation of women and equality of leadership opportunities at all decision-making levels of political, financial and public life.
  • Introduce and strengthen policies and legislation to promote gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls at all levels.

 

* Neoenergia, S. A. is 50 % + 1 share indirectly owned by Iberdrola, S. A.