Mars CEO, Grant F. Reid, signed the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs). By signing the WEPs, we’re committing to take bold steps to advance gender equality in our workplace, marketplace and community by focusing our efforts to deliver on ambitions for women’s empowerment as outlined in the U.N.’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.  

“Unlocking opportunities for women lifts communities, increases performance and empowers people,” Grant said. “At Mars, we value gender diversity, and we’re working to make sure that women are empowered and able to thrive in our workplace, in our extended supply chains and the agricultural communities that produce our raw materials, and in the marketplace where our brands and veterinary services are provided. Supporting the United Nation’s Women’s Empowerment Principles is a way for us to demonstrate our commitment to doing business today in a way that creates the future we want to see.” 

The seven Empowerment Principles offer businesses guidance on how to promote gender equality and women’s strengths in the workplace, marketplace and community. They are: 

1. Establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality 
2. Treat all women and men fairly at work — respect and support human rights and non-discrimination 
3. Ensure the health, safety and well-being of all women and men workers 
4. Promote education, training and professional development for women 
5. Implement enterprise development, supply chain and marketing practices that empower women 
6. Promote equality through community initiatives and advocacy 
7. Measure and publicly report on progress to achieve gender equality 

At Mars, we understand the world we want tomorrow starts with all women being able to thrive today. While great progress has been made to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5 — Gender Equality — COVID-19 has highlighted ongoing inequities that women face around the world. Multinational businesses like Mars share in the responsibility to advance gender equality, especially in our workplace and supply chains.  

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, U.N. Women Executive Director, praised the important role we’re playing in unlocking opportunities for women to help them achieve their full potential.   

“We congratulate Mars for taking the first step on their WEPs journey,” she said. “We consider Mars a key partner in closing gender gaps in the workplace, marketplace and community and in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.”  

Lise Kingo, U.N. Global Compact Executive Director also shared her thanks. 

“Women represent half of the world’s population,” she said, “yet remain under-represented in the global workforce. Not only an affront to human rights and equality, barriers to women’s empowerment also hurt economic growth. That’s why we’re calling on business leaders everywhere to implement the Women’s Empowerment Principles and I want to thank you for joining the ever-growing community of WEPs signatories. We need ALL companies to get onboard, because gender equality is more than a moral responsibility. Equality means business.