Sabancı University forum launches ‘30 Percent Club’ campaign to raise gender equality in businesses

ISTANBUL

Sabancı University’s Corporate Governance Forum of Turkey (SU-CGFT) has launched the Turkey campaign of its “30 Percent Club,” which aims to increase the share of females in corporate boards in a bid to maintain gender equality in businesses.  

The club aims to achieve a minimum 30 percent of women on company boards and C-levels, according to a joint press release issued at the Turkey launch meeting of the 30 Percent Club, hosted by Borsa Istanbul on March 22. 

A gong ceremony was held with the attendance of board members and CEOs, who founded the club’s Turkey division, at the Borsa Istanbul office. 

Borsa Istanbul Chair Himmet Karadağ said that at present only three out of 10 women are employed in Turkey, adding that this must be averted. 

“The share of females in Turkish companies’ boards is around 25 percent. This must definitely be improved to change businesses for the better,” Karadağ said in his opening speech. 

30 Percent Club Turkey Steering Committee Chair and SU-CGFT Director Melsa Ararat noted that the club aims to increase the share of women on corporate boards and at C-levels, which are 14.2 percent and 15 percent, respectively, to a minimum 30 percent by 2025. 

“We hope to reach this target before 2025,” Ararat said. 

“The more the participation of women on company boards raises businesses’ performances and enables their decisions, the more inclusive and equal they are,” she added. 

The 30 Percent Club was launched in the U.K. in 2010 with the goal of achieving a minimum of 30 percent women on FTSE-100 boards, said the club’s U.K. Steering Committee Member and Big Lottery Fund Board Member Elizabeth Passey.  

This figure currently stands at 27 percent, according to the club’s website.