Gender Equality

As Belenco, in collaboration with the Manisa Organized Industrial Zone Innovation Center and UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), we started our efforts within the scope of the “Technical Assistance Program for Gender Equality in the Workplace in Turkey (GETS)” this year by establishing the “Belenco Equality Committee” together with our teammates who will continue the project.

The aim of the program is to measure, evaluate, and rate the sensitivity of our company’s policies, processes, and practices to gender equality; to assess internal gender equality outcomes, the level of gender equality, and the implementation of affirmative action and positive discrimination practices; and to ensure that our continuous improvement activities in this field are carried out in a planned manner. Within this scope, through the “Belenco Equality Committee” leading the project, we are diligently continuing our efforts by analyzing our company from a gender perspective through trainings, employee surveys, and individual interviews, evaluating the results, and creating and implementing a one-year action plan. In addition, during this process, we adopt an approach that considers work-life balance by analyzing position-specific working conditions through our hybrid working models.

WHAT IS GENDER EQUALITY?

Sex refers to the biological differences between women and men. Gender, on the other hand, refers to socially constructed differences between women and men that are shaped by social norms and roles. An individual’s gender is not determined solely by biological factors, but largely by roles and characteristics imposed by norms and stereotypes. The roles, behaviors, actions, and attributes constructed by society for women and men are expressed by the concept of “gender.” Gender is a structure that varies over time and across cultures. Gender equality means that individuals, regardless of their gender, can benefit equally from opportunities and rights in all areas of life, access resources equally, receive equal treatment, develop their personal knowledge and skills in any field they choose, realize their potential, and make their own choices.

GENDER AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

It is widely accepted that sustainable development must simultaneously ensure ecological, social, and economic justice. Gender inequality, like all forms of discrimination, prevents the realization of social justice. Therefore, gender equality is not only a fundamental human rights issue but also one of the most critical components of inclusive development from a sustainable development perspective. Research shows that women's participation in economic processes positively impacts sustainable development. Moreover, throughout history, women have often led social change. Therefore, with women's participation, it becomes easier to eliminate poverty, develop sustainable consumption and production patterns, and ensure the sustainable management of ecosystems and natural resources.

The fundamental conditions of gender equality are as follows:
Equal economic independence for women and men
Equal pay for work of equal value
Equality in decision-making
Respect for dignity and an end to gender-based violence
Establishment of legislation to ensure gender equality