On December 6, AmCham Macedonia in cooperation with the US Embassy in Skopje marked 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence by leading the conversation on creating a safe working environment for women. Local and foreign experts discussed the situation on the ground and global best practices and offered practical mechanisms to address gender-based issues in the workplace. Sneshka Ilikj, a researcher from Reactor, spoke about the preliminary findings from Reactor’s ongoing research into sexual harassment in the workplace. The US Embassy’s Human Resources officer Barbara Mozdziers presented the policies and mechanisms the US Government utilizes to ensure a working environment free of harassment and discrimination. AmCham’s Executive Director Dijana Despodov presented the Universal Business Principles, a set of guidelines for responsible, ethical working that includes respect for the dignity of the worker and creating a safe working environment for women and vulnerable groups.
“It is fundamental to the philosophy of AmCham Macedonia that good ethics and good business are synonymous. We believe that business plays an important role as a catalyst for positive social change by promoting human welfare and the principles of free enterprise. AmCham Macedonia encourages member companies to set the highest standards for ethical business practices and serve as role models for the rest of the economy.”- Dijana said.
AMCHAM endorses the following values and expects member companies to comply with the Universal Business Principles: Compliance with all applicable laws; Good corporate citizenship; Respect for the individuality and dignity of the worker; Encouraging diversity and ensuring a safe working environment for women; Investing in training and education for employees; Environmentally responsible business practices; Improved market access and promotion of intellectual property rights; and High standards of professional and business ethics.