Unilever and TKDF Sign Meaningful Cooperation Agreement

Unilever and TKDF: A Meaningful Partnership **Unilever is raising its corporate voice further in the fight against domestic violence and positioning itself as a model for business by becoming an advocate for this cause.** Unilever has signed a protocol with the Turkish Women's Associations Federation to ensure that its employees who are victims of domestic violence have access to the psychological and legal support they need. While creating a safe and inclusive workplace for its employees, the company aims to help amplify the voices of victims outside the company as well. According to the information provided, prior to the pandemic, globally one in three women was subjected to physical or sexual violence, mostly by their partner. This situation worsened during the pandemic, with one in two women experiencing direct or indirect violence. According to UN Women data, approximately seven out of ten women report that domestic violence increased during the pandemic. Moreover, women who experience violence often do not seek outside help due to shame. Determined to break this silence, Unilever announced its Workplace Policy on Domestic Violence and Abuse last year, focusing on creating a work culture where employees can seek help with confidence; where anyone who senses a colleague is at risk has basic training to respond appropriately. Last year on International Women's Day, the company launched its "Break the Silence" campaign for the first time, and this year has taken its efforts further by signing a protocol with the Turkish Women's Associations Federation (TKDF) to increase awareness among its employees about domestic violence and spread this consciousness throughout its ecosystem. Through this protocol, the company commits to: recognizing that the physical and psychological health problems caused by domestic violence will impact work life; taking all necessary measures to provide an environment where employees experiencing violence and/or colleagues who learn that violence has been experienced or perpetrated can share without hesitation.

"The Biggest Problem with Violence is the Silence of the Victim"

Commenting on the signed protocol, Unilever Turkey Board Member and Vice President for Sales and Customer Development Leyal Eskin Yılmaz said: "As Unilever, we published a protocol against domestic violence within our company. Over the past year, we reviewed this together with the federation. We have reviewed the protocol scope and are putting its new version into effect. Through this protocol, we have highlighted what women employees can request from their employer when experiencing domestic violence. These include: leave, relocation assistance, flexible work, financial and legal rights. Some support can also be obtained regarding psychological counseling. We have highlighted these. At the same time, the TKDF Emergency Hotline exists. We support this as a company. We communicate these to both our own employees and our ecosystem. The biggest problem with violence is the silence of the victim. The prolongation and worsening of this situation is another major problem."

"We Will Provide Training to 5,000 People in Our Company and Tens of Thousands in Our Ecosystem"

Emphasizing the importance of the signed protocol, Unilever Turkey Board Member and Director of External Relations and Corporate Communications Ebru Şenel Erim said: "We attach great importance to the 'Break the Silence' campaign that we began last year on International Women's Day, expanding it both within our company and throughout our ecosystem, and empowering women in this regard. We believe that through this protocol, the federation will be further strengthened, and by raising their voices, more women experiencing domestic violence will prevent violence from occurring. We will raise our corporate voice further and become an advocate for this cause. In this way, we aim to serve as a role model for the business world. We will provide training to around 5,000 people in our company and tens of thousands of people outside our company in our ecosystem. Actually, we can say that this training will expand and reach more people. I thank Canan Güllü and the federation teams."

"Our Goal is to Support Efforts to Prevent Violence in Turkey"

Turkish Women's Associations Federation (TKDF) President Canan Güllü said at the protocol signing ceremony: "I believe this is one of the most important days in our history. Because we have signed a protocol with a private sector company that has the highest market share in Turkey and with a company whose management includes women. Our goal is to support efforts to prevent violence in Turkey. For this, we aim to provide gender equality education training first to employees within the private sector and then to retail workers. In this way, we aim to achieve mental transformation in Turkey through a multiplier effect. We also aim to prevent abuse and violence and support the Emergency Hotline to maintain a call center where victims can trust to seek help at any time. According to the 2021 World Economic Forum Gender Inequality Report, gender inequality between men and women in Turkey ranks 133rd among 156 countries. Ten years ago we were ranked 105th, so we continue to move downward. Along with a mental structure that does not see women as individuals, there are also mechanisms that condemn women to violence. Girls marry at an early age, women cannot access education. In the 4+4 system, from the second 4 onwards they are withdrawn from school. When women enter employment, they face the care burden, which is the lack of daycare centers and nursing homes. Once these are addressed, a process that can prevent femicide in Turkey will come." Under the protocol, Unilever employees who experience domestic violence can call the Federation's Domestic Violence Emergency Hotline (0212/0549 656 96 96) and receive 24/7 professional support on male violence, harassment and abuse, including psychological counseling, legal information and guidance by phone. Through the protocol it signed, the company also provided financial support to the Federation's Emergency Hotline, which has become a very important tool in the fight against domestic violence.

The Company Works Toward a More Inclusive, Fair and Social World

In line with its Sustainable Living Compass, the company continues its leading role in overcoming the environmental and social challenges facing the world. It works to create inclusive and positive impact across its entire value chain. Through its business activities and social commitments, it contributes to building a more inclusive, fair and social world.