RTRS signs United Nations declaration to promote gender equality
As part of its ongoing commitment to continuous improvement along the soy supply chain, the Round Table on Responsible Soy Association (RTRS) has signed the United Nations declaration on Gender Responsive Standards and Standards Development.
This important declaration acknowledges Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals set forth in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Achieve Gender Equality and Empower all Women and Girls.
RTRS feels that this declaration plays an important role in shaping a truly sustainable soy chain that will help protect, in a balanced way, both human rights and the natural environment.
At the same time, RTRS recognizes the impactful and influential role of standards in society and, therefore, commits to refining approaches towards a gender-responsive standard development and implementation to contribute to a more sustained and inclusive growth, necessary for reducing inequality.
“We must value the roles played by women in rural areas”, says Gisela Introvini, RTRS Board Member representing Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Corredor de Exportação Norte (FAPCEN) and one of the founding leaders of the Women in Agribusiness Association in Brazil. “The RTRS certification standard is a perfect tool for empowering the women working at the farms, since the transfer of knowledge and information is central to the certification process and women play a key role in that regard”, Gisela explained.
“Women in producing countries are underrepresented in our industry. They have been waving the sustainability flag and must be more involved across the soy and corn supply chain. Human resources are scarce and failing to open the door to a part of the working population is not positive for food production and distribution worldwide. We embrace and promote gender equality”, says Marina Born, President of RTRS.
The declaration has been signed by over fifty standards organizations across the world and many more are expected follow.
For more information, visit: www.unece.org
