Women represent nearly 40% of the global workforce and spend up to 60% of their reproductive years at work. UNFPA estimates that over 190 million women work in global supply chains and often lack adequate support for their Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).

Held in Stockholm, the event brought together business leaders, public officials, and gender equality advocates to spotlight the critical gaps in workplace policies that address women’s health like parental leave, flexible working, menstrual health support, or protection against gender-based violence and harassment.

To address these gaps, UNFPA officially launched the Coalition for Reproductive Justice in Business, a bold initiative providing a metrics-based framework to help companies improve SRHR access and thus workplace well-being. In September 2024, Essity became one of the first global partners to pilot and endorse these metrics.

The introductions by Dr. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director UNFPA, Nina Larsson, Swedish Minister for Gender Equality and Working Life and Magnus Groth, CEO of Essity as well as the subsequent discussions emphasized the crucial role of businesses in advancing women's health and reproductive rights at work. The roundtable also highlighted the growing momentum amongst Nordic companies to lead global progress on sexual and reproductive rights and justice at work and thus workplace equity.

“Our company purpose is to break barriers to well-being, both in the marketplace and across all our workplaces. We are proud of our collaboration with UNFPA and to act as champions in the Coalition for Reproductive Rights and Justice at the workplace. The roundtable was a fantastic opportunity to share our efforts to improve women’s health in Essity’s workplaces across the world and to learn from other companies,” said Sahil Tesfu, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at Essity and keynote speaker at the event.

It also highlighted the growing momentum among Nordic companies to lead global progress on reproductive justice and workplace equity.

1Policy Paper.pdf
2WEF_Blueprint_to_Close_the_Women’s_Health_Gap_2025.pdf