Codere launches initiative for awareness of gender violence
Codere is using its position as a prominent multinational gaming company to launch a social responsibility initiative which focuses on promoting the prevention of violence against women. The organisation’s first formal campaign to eliminate gender violence is called the “Red Bank” initiative. The Spanish gaming operator denounces violence against women together with customers and staff with the use of a new slogan: “violence is never love”. This action is designed to further the cause of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in the jurisdictions in which Codere operates. The company currently has interests in Spain and Italy and five countries in Central and South America. The Codere group aims to improve the wellbeing of individuals in communities where it does business. Increasing the awareness of gender violence is part of the plan to address the issue. The operator will play a role on 25 November, which is the symbolic day of action, by featuring red benches in its offices as inspired by Italian activist Tina Magenta who painted a bench red and Mexican artist Elina Chauvet who displayed red shoes to honour female victims of domestic abuse . The benches will not only be symbolic but will also create spaces for “reporting, memory, reflection and information” violence towards women. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is all about raising awareness and showing tolerance. It supports Codere’s recently introduced Equality, Inclusion and Diversity policy. The thinking is that small gestures can be effective and Codere is advancing genuine equality in the workplace. Álvaro de Ansorena, corporate director of people at Codere, said the organisation is committed to equality and diversity among its the staff. “Our company is made up of a very diverse workforce, made up of people of more than 43 nationalities. Forty percent of our 11,000 employees are women, so supporting actions of equality, diversity and respect is essential for the organisation.” Jorge Barreras, head of CSR for people, expanded on the objectives of the campaign: “The new framework of corporate social responsibility of the company is a perfect platform to channel and bring this social problem closer to employees and customers, as a company committed to the environments in which it develops its activity, and respect for gender equality and diversity.”