Kering signs joint charter with Women’s Aid against domestic violence in the UK

Following the success of similar charters signed in Italy and France, the Kering Foundation has signed a charter with charity Women’s Aid to help prevent and combat violence against women in the UK.

The charter, which was signed by François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering and President of the Kering Foundation, and Polly Neate, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid, will see Kering 1,260 UK based employees undertaking a two-year programme to raise awareness and combat domestic violence against women.

“Work can often be a lifeline for women experiencing domestic violence: one of the only places they can get away from the perpetrator safely,” commented Polly Neate, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid. “We are proud to be working with the Kering Foundation to ensure their workforce understands domestic violence and supports any woman in the organisation experiencing abuse. We look forward to working with the Kering Group to establish best practice in responding to domestic violence in the workplace.”

The programme will be developed by both the Women’s Aid and the Kering Foundation, and employees who will be ‘identified’ as ambassadors will hence be trained to support and refer potential victims to Women’s Aid. The new charter comes after the Kering Foundation signed its first partnership in France in 2010 with Fédération Nationale Solidarité Femmes and second in Italy in 2013, with Donne in Rete contro la violenza. Since then over 400 employees have received training in Italy and France, thanks to the programmes.

“Upon signing the charters with Fédération Nationale Solidarité Femmes and Donne in Rete contro la violenza, we committed to extending such actions across our key operating regions around the world. Today I am very proud that the Kering Foundation is continuing this commitment, by joining forces with Women’s Aid. Through this collaboration, the Kering Foundation opens Kering’s doors to Women’s Aid who will support us in making our employees ambassadors for domestic violence awareness - which is crucial in our combat to bring an end to violence against women,” said François-Henri Pinault, Chairman and CEO of Kering and President of the Kering Corporate Foundation.