Sofis Solutions joins the international “Unite” campaign against violence toward women.

Montevideo, November 24, 2023. 

Organizations and companies around the world commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

This Saturday, November 25, marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, a date to raise awareness about gender-based violence, the problems it causes, and the importance of eradicating it to build more inclusive, safer, and fairer societies.

According to data from the United Nations (UN), one in five women and girls under 50 years old has experienced physical and/or sexual violence, and more than 45 countries lack protective laws for women against domestic violence. Additionally, practices such as child marriage, which are still observed in several cultures worldwide, prevent 15 million girls under 18 from enjoying their childhood.

This commemorative date was established by a proclamation of the UN General Assembly in 1999, considering that violence against women and girls is a human rights violation and one of the most widespread problems in the world.

At the international level, and for several years, the activism campaign against gender-based violence, “UNiTE,” has been implemented. During 16 days, from November 25 to December 10 (Human Rights Day), activities are carried out to raise awareness about the issue and promote understanding within organizations. 

Every year, this campaign has a central theme, and in 2023 it focuses on investment to prevent violence against women and girls. Under this concept, citizens worldwide are called to reflect on and demonstrate the importance of eradicating violence by showing concrete actions being taken. Governments are also encouraged to report on projects they are investing in to prevent this issue.

A social problem

Gender-based violence is a social problem that has been increasing over the years, not only in family life but also within institutions and workplaces. For this reason, different organizations, institutions, and companies work to prevent and eliminate it, many of them aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 5, which focuses on women’s empowerment and gender equality.

Promoting the inclusion of women in the labor market and economy is considered a key tool by the UN to achieve gender equality, and creating safe work environments for women, free from violence, harassment, and discrimination, is fundamental to reaching this objective.

Sofis Solutions has a gender policy aimed at contributing to equity by defining a strategic vision focused on inclusion and gender equality; promoting and respecting diversity as part of a strategic and competitive advantage; and incorporating a gender perspective across all its products and services, bringing equality to the workplace and to client projects.

Through the implementation of this policy, Sofis Solutions aligns with the SDGs, particularly Goal 5, and also Goal 16, which seeks peace, justice, and the development of strong institutions.

In addition to pursuing a philosophy that aims to eliminate gender differences and prevent insecurity for women in the workplace, Sofis Solutions has also developed projects related to this topic, understanding that innovation and technological development can contribute to equality and the elimination of violence against women.

An example of such projects is the Political Gender Violence Portal developed for Ecuador in collaboration with UN Women. This portal was designed and implemented to highlight issues related to political violence against women in that country, including information, data on reporting processes and case follow-ups, current regulations, and support services provided by public institutions and civil organizations.

The Political Gender Violence Portal in Ecuador was one of the projects presented by Laura Viré, Integrated Management Systems Coordinator at Sofis, in March 2023 at the event “Technology and Innovation for Gender Equality” organized by the Network of Companies for Sustainable Development in Uruguay. On this occasion, reflections were made on equity between men and women and the opportunities available to close gender gaps.