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Corporate Social Responsibility
News
3.25.2008 - 11:59pm ET
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BSR Launches HERproject Web Site
New Funding Strengthens BSR's Efforts to Improve Women's Health in Global Factories
(CSRwire) SAN FRANCISCO, CA – March 25, 2008 – Business for Social Responsibility
(BSR) has launched a new Web site dedicated to HERproject (www.herproject.org),
an initiative that addresses the unmet general and reproductive health
needs of the millions of women working along global supply chains.
The Web site for HERproject, which stands for Health Enables
Returns, highlights pilot project activities and results in China,
India, Indonesia, Pakistan and Vietnam. Companies and NGOs can learn how
improving women factory workers' health education and access to critical
services provides a demonstrated return on investment, including increased
productivity and reduced absenteeism and turnover.
"This project holds immense potential to enable economic and social
advancement for millions of women," said Aron Cramer, President and CEO of
BSR. "It focuses attention on a critical – and overlooked – question:
how to improve the distinct health needs of women who are producing goods
for export. We are proud to look at global manufacturing through the prism
of women's health, which has proven to be a key to economic development,"
he said.
As an example, BSR partnered with Nordstrom over the last year for
HERproject pilot programs in China, where women comprise more than half of
the manufacturing industry’s workforce. The pilot projects educated
female factory workers through peer awareness health training, with a
focus on HIV/AIDS prevention. As a result, about 5,000 female workers were
positively impacted through information sharing and awareness raising,
factory managers expressed strong support for the program and were pleased
with increased employee engagement, and workers demonstrated significantly
improved knowledge of HIV/AIDS infection and prevention.
HERproject is made possible through generous funding from the David and
Lucile Packard Foundation. In February 2008, BSR received an additional
$200,000 from the Packard Foundation to support the continued growth of
HERproject through 2010. This expanded funding will enable increased
company participation and the engagement of a growing number of local
factory owners. Most importantly, it will enable HERproject to impact more
female workers in the global supply chain.
Other brands currently involved in HERproject include Abercrombie &
Fitch, HP, Levis Strauss & Company, and
Timberland.
The HERproject Web site includes country-specific information and
materials, ROI tools and research, and links to additional resources.
Companies and NGOs that are interested in learning more about HERproject
should contact Chad Bolick, BSR Director, CSR Strategy, at cbolick@bsr.org or +1 415 984 3208.
About BSR
Since 1992, Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) has been providing
socially responsible business solutions to many of the world's leading
corporations. Headquartered in San Francisco and with offices in New York,
Paris, Guangzhou, Beijing and Hong Kong, BSR is a nonprofit business
association that serves its 250 member companies and other Global 1000
enterprises. Through advisory services, convenings and research, BSR works
with corporations and concerned stakeholders of all types to create a more
just and sustainable global economy. For more information, visit www.bsr.org.
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