On 2 March 2023, a roundtable discussion on practical mechanisms for ensuring gender equality in publicly traded Russian companies was held at Moscow Exchange.
At the round table, representatives of the Bank of Russia, Moscow Exchange, European University of St. Petersburg, as well as banks, brokerage and asset management companies and major issuers discussed career opportunities for women in the financial sector, how a commitment to gender equality in management helps business, whether business can influence improvements in the country’s demographic situation, and whether stereotypes exist in Russian society that influence gender inequality.
Roundtable participants also opened the trading day by holding a Ring the Bell for Gender Equality ceremony. Moscow Exchange is participating in the initiative for the sixth year in a row, uniting with global exchanges to highlight the challenges of gender equality and creating equal opportunities for all employees. This year, more than 100 stock exchanges around the world took part.
Yury Denisov, MOEX Chief Executive Officer, said:
"Gender equality is among the fundamental principles of sustainable development, acting as a driver of economic growth. Therefore, today we want to draw attention to the importance and the positive impact of a balanced gender approach and the provision of equal opportunities in business, politics and the economy of our country.
Moscow Exchange is working hard on sustainability and is demonstrating by example the positive impact of gender balance on business. In particular, women currently account for 45% of MOEX employees, which is very high for an IT company. We also support the efforts of Russian companies to achieve sustainable development goals. This year, we have updated the Issuer Guidelines and recommend them as a guide for companies on how to apply ESG principles."
The Ring the Bell for Gender Equality global initiative brings together female business leaders, investors and government officials across the globe. Organizers of the initiative include the IFC, the Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative, UN Global Compact (UNGC), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) and the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE).
