SDG 5: Gender equality

Iberdrola and its firm commitment to gender equality

Women Gender equality Social transformation SDG

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 sixth year running, the company has been recognised for its equal opportunities and gender policies under the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index.

Goal 5: Gender equality. Video voice transcription (Spanish version) [PDF]

Our contribution to equality 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. In 2021, the ratio between the average pay of men and women is 93.32%, including in the calculation, in addition to the fixed salary, the variable salary and salary supplements.

Financial support promoting regional equality policies.

Extension of the Women's Universe External link, opens in new window. 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.

Annual publication, from 2020 onwards, of a Diversity and Inclusion Report [PDF] External link, opens in new window. 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 External link, opens in new window..

Recognised for its equal opportunities and gender policies under the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, for the sixth consecutive year.

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.

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.

SEE INFOGRAPHIC: Keys to understanding world gender inequality [PDF] External link, opens in new window.

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.