Regional Petroleum Trade Association Seeks More Women Leaders in Oil & Gas

The Regional Association of Oil, Gas and Biofuels Sector Companies in Latin America and the Caribbean (ARPEL) has announced last week its signature of the statement of support to the Women’s Empowerment Principles promoted by UN Women and the United Nations Global Compact.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Association, Mr. Carlos Colo, Vice-Chairman, Mr. Benito Piñeiro, the Executive Secretary, Mr. Izeusse Braga and the Downstream Director, Ms. Irene Alfaro, participated in the endorsement ceremony together with Ms. Teresa Pérez del Castillo, responsible for the Win-Win Program in Uruguay of UN Women.

Above photo, left to right: Carlos Colo, Teresa Pérez del Castillo, Izeusse Braga

“The commitment of organizations and companies with gender equality is key to implement transformations in the social and labor market in favor of women, thus benefiting the society as a whole. In this regard, the Win-Win Program contributes to women’s economic empowerment, recognizing them as beneficiaries and partners for growth and development. It is a program created in partnership between UN Women, ILO and the European Union, to which today ARPEL is added as our ally,” Pérez del Castillo said.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of ARPEL stated: “In ARPEL, as an association that brings together oil and gas companies in Latin America and the Caribbean, we consider of utmost significance the participation of women in companies in the sector, the commitment to the safety of all workers, both men and women, as well as the promotion of non-discrimination and of the dialogue with representatives of the communities surrounding the operations throughout the continent.”

With the signing of the statement of support, ARPEL undertakes to perform different actions, such as the promotion of the signature of the principles by member companies, the development of training courses and webinars on the topic and the monitoring of the contribution of member companies to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are closely related to this issue (for instance, Goal 5 refers to “Gender Equality”).

The 7 Women’s Empowerment Principles are:

1. – Establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality
2. – Treat all women and men fairly at work – respect and support human rights and nondiscrimination
3. – Ensure the health, safety and well-being of all women and men workers
4. – Promote education, training and professional development for women
5. – Implement enterprise development, supply chain and marketing practices that empower women
6. – Promote equality through community initiatives and advocacy
7. –  Measure and publicly report on progress to achieve gender equality

The Women’s Empowerment Principles – an initiative created in 2010 – are a platform and framework for action for companies regarding gender equality. Their purpose is to help companies modify their current policies and programs or create new ones to achieve the empowerment of women and girls in the workplace, the market and the community.

About 1,600 CEOs around the world have signed the statement of support to these principles.