Unilever, FMCG company, charges victims of domestic violence to ‘speak out’

…Unveils ‘Unmute’ campaign 

Ben Eguzozie

Unilever, global fast-moving consumer (FMCG) manufacturer, as part of its decided effort at ending rising cases of domestic violence, has called for an end to the anti-human act, while at the same time, it encouraged victims of the vice to speak out.

Aline Santos, executive vice president, marketing, and chief diversity & inclusion officer of Unilever, said the organization hinged its focus on the menace of domestic violence to raise a voice for victims, while ensuring that the anti-human act loses its ground.

Santos, speaking recently during activities marking this year’s International Women’s Day, said: “Ensuring that victims of abuse are seen and heard is the focus of our actions marking this year’s International Women’s Day. We #ChooseToChallenge the silence on domestic violence.”

Recent reports estimated that cases of domestic violence increased by 20 per cent around the world during the Covid-19 lockdown, a figure which prompted the United Nations (UN) to term the act as “shadow pandemic.” 

Statistics from UN also show that prior to Covid-19, thirty-five per cent of women worldwide have experienced either physical or sexual intimate partner violence, or non-partner sexual violence, with 60 per cent of all cases going unreported and unheard.

In tackling the menace, Santos added: “At the top of the list is a significant first for our business. We are offering other organizations access to our Global Domestic Violence and Abuse Policy and the measures we have put in place to support colleagues who have experienced abuse. 

“We hope that by sharing what we have learned shaping our policies, it will help employers that currently don’t have anything in place.”

Ola Ehinmoro, human resources director at Unilever West Africa, speaking further on IWD, said that the organization was launching #Unmute – an external campaign urging action to end the silence on domestic violence. 

He said, “This includes a short film and a filter offering our followers on social media the option to hit the #Unmute button on a post and add a selfie showing support for Unilever’s call to end the silence on domestic violence.”

Ehinmoro said, “sometimes the thing that stops us from speaking out is that we feel unsure how to help out or how to ask for help. To provide colleagues with resources and direction, four in-depth training modules that demonstrate how to identify domestic abuse, provide insight on how to help someone, and give examples of how to stay safe are now available in nine different languages via degreed.”

He however, encouraged all to join the “Unmute” challenge and dare to challenge the silence on domestic violence.