Gender Equality Policy

 

To achieve ISD’s vision and objectives, this Policy uses the following definitions:

Gender

Refers to the social, economic, political and cultural roles, behaviors, opportunities, and expectations that a given society at a given time considers appropriate for women, men and in some cultures a third gender. Gender also refers to the relationships between women and men, as well as those between women and those between men, that a given society considers appropriate.

The concept of gender is socially constructed, varies and changes over time and across culture, and these expectations, behaviors and roles are learned throughout the lifecycle from families, friends, communities, schools, governments, the media, or others in a given society.

In most societies there are differences and inequalities between women and men in responsibilities assigned, activities undertaken, access to and control over resources, as well as decision-making opportunities and power. Gender is part of the broader socio-cultural context, as are other important characteristics for socio-cultural analysis including age, race, disability, socioeconomic status, caste, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and others.

 

Sex

Refers to the physical, physiological and biological characteristics that generally define individuals as female or male. These characteristics are not mutually exclusive, as there are individuals who possess both male and female characteristics.

 

Gender Identity

Refers to a person’s innate, deeply felt internal and individual experience of gender, which may or may not correspond to the person’s physiology or designated sex at birth.

 

Gender Equality

Is the state or condition that affords women, men, transgender people, third-gender, intersex or any other gender, equal enjoyment of human rights, decision making power, representation, opportunities and resources. Gender equality does not mean that all individuals of all genders are the same, but that, regardless of gender, or sex at birth, all individuals are valued and treated equally.

 

Ideology

ISD recognizes that women and men are still treated differently and given different tasks, responsibilities, opportunities, and privileges in most societies. More often than not, men are given systematically superior positions compared to women.

Most societies practice (to different extents) discrimination against women economically, politically, sexually, and culturally.

Discrimination harms individuals, communities, and countries. It hampers development and economic growth.

Gender equality is a fundamental feature of a better world for everyone.

 

Engagement

ISD aims, through recruitment and training, to develop a staff dedicated and prepared to apply a gender perspective in the work and represent ISD’s gender sensitive values whether off or on duty.

ISD has policies, procedures and other tools to secure a gender sensitive staff, e.g. formal Code of Conduct and other ethical guidelines that include the prohibition of bribery, sexual harassment, abuse and exploitation.

ISD’s engagement towards that direction includes dedicated actions to:

  • Keep track of the male/female composition at all levels.
  • Enhance women in management positions and promote gender balance.
  • Treat men and women equally in recruitment, job assignment, training, opportunities for advancement, compensation and termination of employment.
  • equally reward men and women employees for work of equal value.
  • Provide working conditions that suit the needs of women as well as men.
  • Identify the differential impacts on men and women concerning workplace Health & Safety and act accordingly upon shaping the working environment.
  • Promote a working culture of respect, free from any form of social harassment.
  • Create an inclusive, tolerant, and accepting environment welcoming the expression of individual gender identities and non-discrimination on a gendered basis for those that do not conform to a gender binary.
  • Avoid silent complicity and create an atmosphere that promotes discussion and internal debate on gender-based discrimination, including violence.
  • Ensure competence and awareness on gender issues within the organization.
  • Ensure that the decision-making processes of the Company equally considers the needs of men and women in aspects such as:
    • Product / Service development,
    • Engaging with the community,
    • Acquiring and use of equipment and premises.

 

Objective

The overall objective guiding ISD’s gender equality policy clarifies that women and men must have the same power to shape society and their own lives. With this as its starting point, ISD is working towards nine principle-goals:

  1. Gender Equality is a Human Right
  • ISD commits to promote gender equality as an explicit, universal human right, in the workplace, in programs and operations, and externally as representatives of ISD participate in business meetings, scientific symposiums and other formal social interactions.
  1. Equity toward Equality
  • ISD commits to understand and where possible, address systemic and structural biases, and cultural and social norms and practices that lead to inequalities in opportunities, resources, representation, power and participation across the gender spectrum and other individual or sociocultural characteristics, in the workplace, in programs and operations, and externally as representatives of ISD participate in business meetings, scientific symposiums and other formal social interactions.
  1. Gender-based Violence
  • ISD will not tolerate any form of violence, exploitation, harassment, or bullying based on gender, sex, or individual or cultural difference in the workplace, in programs and operations, and externally as representatives of ISD participate in business meetings, scientific symposiums and other formal social interactions.
  • ISD commits to investigate and respond to violence, exploitation, or harassment both reported, and incidents suspected or observed.
  1. Gender Equality Monitoring, Evaluation, and Collaborative Learning
  • ISD commits to integrate monitoring, evaluation and formal organizational learnings specific to gender equality, in programs and to track progress towards gender equality and compliance of this policy in the workplace.
  1. Discrimination
  • ISD will not tolerate any form of discrimination, stereotyping or prejudice based on gender, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, caste, or other differences in the workplace, in programs and operations, and externally as representatives of ISD participate in business meetings, scientific symposiums and other formal social interactions.
  • ISD commits to investigate and respond to discrimination, stereotyping or prejudice both reported, and incidents suspected or observed.
  1. Cultural Sensitivity
  • ISD commits to awareness of cultural diversity of its staff, partners, and beneficiaries and will promote respect and sensitivity for cultural differences while maintaining a position of zero-tolerance for discrimination, stereotyping and prejudice.
  1. Do No Harm
  • ISD commits to integrate risk assessment and strategies for minimizing or eliminating risk related to gender equality in the workplace, operations, and programs.
  1. Partnerships
  • ISD commits to promote its collaboration with local and international organizations and beneficiaries that actively stand against the barriers to gender equality in their respective communities and beyond.

 

POLICY VIOLATION

Employees violating this Policy may be subject to disciplinary action at the discretion of ISD’s Management.