The company announced new commitments at the P&G #WeSeeEqual summit that saw participation from international equality & inclusion advocates like Eddie Ndopu, Sarah Harden, Chieko Asakawa, and Elissa Frieha, among others
SINGAPORE, May 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) today announced new commitments aimed toward advancing Equality & Inclusion (E&I) across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa (AMA), at its fifth annual #WeSeeEqual summit for the region. The event saw participation from world-renowned advocates and personalities from the private and public sectors.
P&G President for Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa, Stanislav Vecera, announced new commitments to advance progress in the region:
1. Through its Always and Whisper 'Keeping Girls in School' program, P&G will educate more than 35 million adolescent girls on puberty and menstrual hygiene across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa, over the next 3 years.
2. Over the next year, P&G will set up a task force of certified 'Mental Health First Aiders' across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Held in partnership with the UN Foundation, the summit focused on emerging trends and insights in the DEI space including bridging the gap between generations, particularly focusing on Gen Z, as it becomes a prominent cohort in the workforce and consumer base; diversity in leadership styles and perspectives to foster innovation and creativity; and how different stakeholders can accelerate progress to serve consumers and communities. For the first time, the summit also shed light on mental wellness as an integral part to advancing E&I, highlighting biases that can lead to discrimination and exclusion, which can have a negative impact on mental wellness.
Stanislav Vecera, President – Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, Procter & Gamble said: "We know that everyone brings unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to the table that can unlock growth in businesses and society. We will continue to step up as a company, through our brands, and with our partners, to create value for our employees and communities." He added: "We are delighted to host the 'We See Equal' Summit, built on the theme of 'Unique and United' - it's a chance for us to connect with thought leaders and have open, honest conversations about how we can continue to advance equality and inclusion."
The company also shared strong progress on commitments across the AMA region made last year as part of the annual #WeSeeEqual summit in 2022:
The P&G 'We See Equal' Summit saw the participation of influential personalities and global leaders, including:
"Mounting evidence continues to show that gender equality is somewhere between about one to three centuries away, depending on the report you favor and what you want measured. Accumulating data points repeatedly reveal deepening disadvantage and discrimination and worrying outcomes", said Sia Nowrojee, Senior Director, Girls and Women Strategy, UN Foundation. "But our window to act is now. We believe that companies have a unique responsibility to See Equal, and those that do will join the global team of people who believe the dignity and opportunity of all people is worth fighting for."
To inspire corporates and society alike, the summit also hosted global P&G leaders including:
The #WeSeeEqual program demonstrates P&G's continued commitment to creating a more equal and inclusive world and is also a winner of the U.S. Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence for Women's Empowerment in 2019. As one of the world's largest advertisers, P&G and its brands will also continue to leverage their influential voice in media and advertising to drive further awareness, tackle bias, spark conversations, and motivate change.
About Procter & Gamble
P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands.