International Women's Day 2023: Embracing Equity

Equity is a term that is often used, but not always truly embraced. Equity means creating a fair and equal world where everyone has access to the same opportunities, regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, or any other characteristic that makes them different from others.

In March, Hitachi is promoting gender equity via International Women's Day (IWD) month under the theme of "Gender Equity and Inclusion: Engaging Men as Advocates." We are partnering Catalyst to promote the concept of MARC (Men Advocating Real Change). This initiative recognises that gender equity is not just a women's issue - it is an issue that affects everyone. It is only by engaging men as allies and advocates for gender equity that we can create a world that is fair and inclusive for all.

Hitachi will provide a series of communication and training for all Hitachi employees for the whole month of March. We will kick off on 1st March with the first webinar, where Lorena Dellagiovanna, Chief Sustainability Officer and CDEIO of Hitachi, Ltd. will introduce Jose Romero from Catalyst to explore the opportunity to involve men as advocates for gender equity, why this is important, and what men stand to gain from greater equity and inclusion. We will look into barriers and enablers for men to be engaged in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts, and what actions organizations and individuals of all genders can take to build advocacy and gender partnership skills. We welcome colleagues from all genders to join the event, with the goal to learn how to set a safe environment to start the conversation and foster inclusion in our daily life.

Anyone can be an advocate for gender equity. It begins with humble listening, learning from one another, reflecting, and exerting effort. Organizations must work to create an environment that empowers all employees to be advocates. This means fostering a workplace culture where everyone can feel comfortable speaking up about issues related to equity and inclusion, and where their voices are heard and respected.

Engaging men as advocates for gender equity and inclusion is critical in creating a workplace where everyone can thrive. Men have a unique role to play in this process, and MARC provides a platform for them to become change agents in their organizations. Hitachi's initiative to promote gender equity during IWD month is a step towards creating a more equitable and inclusive workplace, where everyone has access to the same opportunities to succeed. By embracing equity, we can create a world that is fair and just for all.