LVMH commits alongside the French Ministry for Gender Equality
The LVMH group responded to a call from the French Minister for Equality, Diversity and Equal Opportunities
Every year, November 25th is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – a pressing issue that affects everyone. LVMH is fully committed to this fight, especially since the vast majority of its 163,000 employees are women (73%) and women are the target group for most of its products. The group therefore naturally responded to the call from the French Ministry of Equality, Diversity and Equal Opportunities.
In connection with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the LVMH Group responded to an appeal by the French Minister for Equality, Diversity and Equal Opportunities, Elisabeth Moreno. The minister has asked large corporations to help spread a public communication campaign – which is particularly urgent due to the Covid-19 crisis – both among employees and generally through their social networks to an external audience.
“To eradicate violence against women, we must involve all actors in society. LVMH's commitment will enable us to react immediately and very practically to a bad situation, ”says Elisabeth Moreno, French Minister for Equality, Diversity and Equal Opportunities.
Companies contributing to this effort will share and promote the ministry's embassies and help publicize the emergency numbers women can call to get help. Successive lockdown measures and the associated restrictions on movement and isolation have unfortunately led to an increase in acts of violence, especially domestic violence, and made it more difficult to protect victims.
LVMH also noticeably supports the campaign by funding 1,000 overnight stays in hotels for the charitable Fondation des Femmes to provide emergency shelter for women and children who are victims of domestic violence.
The position of women in society and in the workplace in particular has always been at the center of LVMH's human resources policy, which is reflected in the international EllesVMH program launched almost 15 years ago. This global women's community at LVMH takes up social issues and promotes career growth for women through personal and professional mentoring.
The program is complemented by Shero's internal online platform and community, which includes a range of content (articles, videos, podcasts and more) as well as specific resources to help women LVMH employees thrive in their careers. Shero currently has over 42,000 members, 30% of whom are men.
Many LVMH Maisons are directly involved in combating violence against women. Sephora has partnered with Women & Safe Children, a multidisciplinary association specializing in victimology and psychotraumatology that helps women, children and adolescents who have been victims or witnesses of violence. For the past two years, volunteers from the beauty retailer have organized “solidarity sales,” with all proceeds going to the association.
The in-house program Sephora Cares offers a range of resources for employees faced with domestic violence. The Sephora Stands Together Fund offers short-term financial support, employees can benefit from temporary vacation thanks to an internal time donation program, and professional mobility is made easier.
Hennessy Has supported the Soroptimist Club in Cognac for a long time and finances the essentials for equipping apartments in which women (often with children) are welcome who have to flee their homes due to domestic violence, as well as the non-profit Aserc (association Socio-Educative de la region de Cognac). who manages the apartments. Bvlgari is a partner of the Houston Area Women & # 39; s Center, which welcomes victims of domestic violence.
In the United States, LVMH and 11 of its Maisons, in partnership with the United Way of New York City, helped organize a workshop for women under the Coalition For the Homeless First Step program.
In 2019 LVMH launched the Une Journée Pour Soi initiative with the French charity Secours Populaire to help women in vulnerable situations, many of whom are victims of physical or psychological violence.
The initiative gives them “their very own day” thanks to three activities that focus on their personal wellbeing: a make-up session, a photo shoot and a cultural excursion. LVMH is also a key partner in the film WOMAN, directed by Anastasia Mikova and Yann Arthus-Bertrand, which addresses the issue of violence against women around the world.
