“When we talk about #GBV & #harassment, we’re … also talking about the workplace effects of #domesticviolence … all of these issues cost companies billions and it deprives women, men, including people from LGBT+ communities, of their livelihoods. “
Hermien Botes, Anglo American:
“In our year of consultation we received many messages, one of them was that…you cannot isolate a workplace response from something that happens in homes and communities.”
Thokozile Mcopele, ABSA:
“Financial education is an important pillar of financial independence, however you can educate women (on managing finances) but if there’s no money to be handled, then there’s no point.”
Jane Pillinger, Open University:
“#GBV is one of the contributory factors to the gender pay gap because women who experience sexual #harassment and #domesticviolence often don’t progress in their careers, they lose their jobs.”
Thokozile Mcopele, ABSA:
“It’s important for us to recognise that banking is in the fabric of our society, and it’s integral to how we operate, so it therefore becomes important in how we respond to societal challenges.”
Jane Pillinger, Open University:
“One of the things in helping businesses forge forward in their work on preventing #GBV is how they can forge #partnerships.”
Hermien Botes, Anglo American:
“Prevention work is intangible, it is difficult and it is long. It can take generations, and that runs counter to how business does things fundamentally.”
Hermien Botes, Anglo American:
“Work with partners who know what they’re doing, there are wonderful NGOs and you don’t have to build that capability internally; there’s a lot that can guide you already.”
Natalie Deacon, Avon International:
“A lot of our work has been around creating awareness to break down the wall of silence around #GBV. When we first started talking about this there was a lot of reticence because it’s an ugly issue.”
Natalie Deacon, Avon International:
“We rely heavily on experts in this (#GBV) space. It’s a complex, nuanced, highly sensitive issue. Our network of NGO partners is incredibly important to help us on where to focus, how to talk about this issue and how to approach it.”
Thokozile Mcopele, ABSA:
“I think we’d be shocked at how much people, even from a personal perspective, do not realise and recognise #GBV and the impact that it has.”
