Gender equality - principles and approach at Graphit Innovation Factory

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Graphit understands the importance and normality of permanent respect for gender equality (equal opportunities and treatment between women and men) which is one of the fundamental values of humanity.

Equally, gender equality is an essential component of economic growth and forms the basis of a fundamental principle of human rights, representing one of the prerequisites for economic growth based on innovation, social inclusion and sustainability.

Through everything it does, Graphit wants to help build a better world for all of us in which gender prejudice disappears and where all people have the chance to be defended and represented equally, to feel and live safely.

Inside the Firm, we have created a living and working environment focused on respect, balance, elimination of barriers and prejudices, appreciation/consideration of the capabilities, needs and aspirations of each person and their equal treatment regardless of gender.

The Firm ensures non-discriminatory access to employment and working conditions, the choice of positions/ activities, information / initiation, promotion, benefits as well as equal income for work of equal value, so that each person has the opportunity to contribute to the achievement of the objectives through their maximum potential, in an environment where, in the present, 43% of the workers inside Graphit are women.

Through this approach we implement in our daily activity both our philosophy and our principles of work and life, so that we have a climate of activity based on inclusion and gender equality, which constitutes a constant stimulus for the continuous development of the the Firm.

Of course, in order to ensure the necessary legal framework in order to promote and protect gender equality, at international, european and national level, a series of regulations have been adopted to state the importance and significance of this fundamental principle, such as:

• The Charter Of The United Nations¹ - affirms confidence in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and value of the human person, in the equality of the rights of man and woman;
• Universal Declaration of human rights² - shows the principle of non-discrimination and proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, and that every man may avail himself of all the rights and freedoms set forth in this document, without any distinction, especially of sex;
• The UN Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women- CEDAW³ - according to which the expression discrimination against women refers to any differentiation, exclusion or restriction based on sex, which has the effect or purpose of compromising or annihilating the recognition, benefit and exercise by women, regardless of their marital status, on the basis of equality between man and woman, human rights and fundamental freedoms, in the political, economic, social, cultural and civil fields or in any other;
• Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (The Istanbul Convention)⁴ - which recognises that achieving equality of law and fact between women and men is a key element in preventing violence against women;
• Law no. 202 of 19th of April 2002 (R)⁵ – on equal opportunities and treatment between women and men - which regulates measures to promote equal opportunities and treatment between women and men, with a view to eliminating all forms of discrimination based on the criterion of sex, in all spheres of public life in Romania.

In Romania, according to law no. 202/2002, equal opportunities and treatment between men and women means taking into account the different capacities, needs and aspirations of male and female persons, respectively, and their equal treatment⁶, and equal opportunities and treatment between women and men in labour relations means non-discriminatory access to:

• a) the choice or free exercise of a profession or activity;
• b) employment in all positions or vacancies and at all levels of the professional hierarchy;
• c) equal income for work of equal value;
• d) professional information and advice, programs of initiation, qualification, improvement, specialization and retraining, including apprenticeships;
• e) promotion at any hierarchical and professional level;
• f) conditions of employment and work that comply with the norms of Health and safety at work, according to the provisions of the legislation in force, including the conditions of dismissal;
• g) benefits, other than those of a wage nature, as well as public and private social security systems;
• h) employers' organizations, trade unions and professional bodies, as well as the benefits granted by them;
• i) benefits and social services, granted in accordance with the legislation in force⁷.

An important aspect at national level from the perspective of the principle of gender equality (equal opportunities and treatment between women and men) is the establishment of the National Agency for equal opportunities between Women and Men, promoting the principle of equal opportunities and treatment between women and men with a view to eliminating all forms of discrimination based on the criterion of sex in all national policies and programmes⁸.

The National Agency for equal opportunities between women and men, makes available to the public various information on gender equality( equal opportunities and treatment between women and men), documentary materials, studies, analyses and reports, as well as HELPLINE with unique number at national level, for victims of domestic violence, sex discrimination and human trafficking - Free Non-Stop hotline - 0800-500-333⁹ - on the website https://anes.gov.ro/.

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¹ https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocumentAfis/19362

² https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocumentAfis/22751

³ https://anes.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Conventia-asupra-eliminarii-tuturor-formelor-de-discriminare-fata-de-femei-cedaw.pdf

⁴ https://anes.gov.ro/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Conventia-Consiliului-Europei-210-Romanian.pdf.pdf

⁵ https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocument/35778

⁶ Art. 1, Para. 2) of Law No. 202/2002 - https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocument/35778

⁷ Art. 7, Para. 1) of Law No. 202/2002 - https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocumentAfis/19362

⁸ Art. 23, Para. 1) of Law No. 202/2002 - https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocumentAfis/19362

⁹ https://anes.gov.ro/