To support the growth and development of women’s empowerment, De Beers has partnered with the United Nations to fast track their goal of enforcing equality.
As a partner of one of the world’s largest global initiatives, De Beers has invested $3 million in support of women who work within diamond-producing countries. The investment will help to fuel the success of female-owned businesses in places like South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia. De Beers, along with UN Women, will also provide funding for young women in poverty-stricken communities to study mathematics, technology, engineering, and science.
By 2020, De Beers also hopes to achieve an equal rate of men and women in top leadership positions within its organization. In order to open up the space for more women to acquire executive roles, De Beers will be developing the skills of their female employees early on in their career to set them up for success within the industry—a development that includes unbiased training and a thorough reevaluation of their recruitment criterion.
“Diamonds hold a unique place in marking the most precious moments in the lives of millions of women around the world,” explains Bruce Cleaver, the De Beers CEO. “At De Beers we believe it is our responsibility and privilege to stand with women, to lead in the pursuit of equality and to give even deeper meaning to the diamonds they are proud to wear and pass on to [the] next generations.”
In addition to their partnership with the United Nations, De Beers will be focusing on the marketing of their consumer brands in which women will be featured in various roles as a pledge to gender equality.
“We are delighted to have De Beers Group on board as a UN Women partner. With global organization like De Beers joining the United Nations movement to achieve gender equality, we are able to reach new and greater audiences to further build global awareness and support for advancing women’s empowerment,” says Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women.
Cleaver has also been named as a UN Women ‘HeForShe’ Thematic Champion—a committed advocate for gender equality worldwide.
