UN urges businesses to make progress on women's sexual health

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🗞️ Driving the news: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has introduced metrics for evaluating workplace policies on women's sexual health
• These include financing contraception, preventing harassment, and offering free sanitary products as corporate targets
• The UN emphasizes that these measures can enhance productivity and reduce employee turnover

🔭 The context: Women's sexual health has been underrepresented in ESG reports that influence business decisions
• The UNFPA's new metrics aim to standardize the reporting on maternity leave, sexual harassment protocols, and access to fertility treatments and STI services
• This initiative is seen as the first of its kind to provide a comprehensive framework for tracking corporate progress in these areas

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Improving women's sexual health in the workplace aligns with broader ESG goals, fostering gender equality and well-being
• This can contribute to a more sustainable and equitable work environment, enhancing overall societal health and productivity

⏭️ What's next: Companies and investors are encouraged to adopt these metrics, which can guide decisions on suppliers and investments based on their performance in women's sexual health
• The implementation of these standards could set a precedent for global corporate practices

💬 One quote: "Women represent nearly 40 percent of the global workforce, yet the average workplace was not built with a woman in mind," said UNFPA Executive Director Natalia Kanem

📈 One stat: Investing in sexual and reproductive health can yield up to a 22% increase in productivity, a 62% reduction in absenteeism, and a 23% reduction in staff turnover

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