OREANDA-NEWS. Vale formalized its commitment to promote gender equality last Tuesday, May 21, adhering to the Women’s Empowerment Principles, a set of guidelines developed by the United Nations (UN) targeted at corporations. These principles offer guidance on how to empower women in the workplace and in local communities.

After Vale CEO Murilo Ferreira signed the protocol, Executive Director Vania Somavilla met with the UN Women representative in Brazil, Rebecca Tavares, at Vale’s headquarters in Rio de Janeiro.

According to Tavares, Brazil stands out as one of the countries with the most companies that have signed the protocol, coming in second, behind Japan. She congratulated Vale for the work it has done to promote this theme and the empowerment of women.

Minister for Human Rights talks to Vale employees

The Brazilian Minister for Human Rights, Maria do Rosario, visited Vale’s headquarters in Rio de Janeiro on May 23, to talk to the company’s employees about the rights of children and adolescents and the policies adopted to protect them. The topics discussed included the violation of sexual rights and the actions being carried out by Brazilian corporations to combat the sexual exploitation of children. Executive Director of Human Resources, Health and Safety, Sustainability and Energy Vania Somavilla and Community Relations Director and CEO of the Vale Foundation Isis Pagy also took part in the discussion.