Gender and bribery, two key elements for sustainable development
Corruption in general, and bribery in particular, are phenomena that hinder progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 5: Gender Equality.
According to UNODC, “it is important to understand that gender inequality acts as a factor that contributes to the expansion of corruption networks, while at the same time generating new gaps in inequality between women and men. In this context, the gender perspective is a key tool for developing effective anti-corruption programs and projects, as well as for guiding strategies for sustainable development.”
Last week, we conducted an interview with the directors of Sofis Solutions and the head of the Anti-Bribery Management System on this topic.
“Since 2019, Sofis Solutions has had an Anti-Bribery Management System certified according to ISO 37001. Understanding the issues previously mentioned, we began working on how to incorporate a gender perspective into this system, focusing on three dimensions: prevention through risk analysis, internal training, and dissemination to our stakeholders,” said Gustavo Cirigliano, director of Sofis Solutions.
“It is identified that bribery risks may be linked to gender factors through different dimensions: the exclusion of one gender over another, which could involve some form of bribery, criminalization, or gender-based extortion, political exclusion of women in any phase or level, and in this regard we are initially working on evaluating these risks and subsequently on an action plan, if necessary,” stated Laura Viré, head of the Anti-Bribery Management System at Sofis Solutions.
Santiago Atella, director of Sofis Solutions, also noted that “it is important to adopt a broader inclusion approach, since studies show that corruption affects those living in poverty, the illiterate, or those unaware of their rights, and this is an area where our system can continue to evolve.”
Through these initiatives, the aim is to make visible the relationship between corruption (particularly bribery) and gender, the specific risks that may exist, and their impact on people, thereby improving the path toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
La Fundación Iberoamericana para la Gestión de la Calidad (FUNDIBEQ) anunció a Sofis Solutions como organización galardonada con el Premio Iberoamericano de la Calidad — Galardón Plata 2025, el máximo reconocimiento regional a la excelencia en gestión. Es el segundo gran premio institucional que recibe la empresa en menos de tres años.