Bank to light its main building in orange in support of the campaign

Kuwait, 25 November 2020: Gulf Bank is participating in "Orange the World,” a global initiative launched by the United Nations to eliminate violence against women. The event will take place on 25 November 2020, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and will kick off 16 days of activism that will conclude on 10 December 2020, which is International Human Rights Day. Throughout the campaign, Gulf Bank will be illuminating its main building orange in support of efforts to eliminate violence against women and champion broader human rights efforts.

Gulf Bank’s participation in the United Nations’ campaign is a tribute to women’s rights achievements in Kuwait, including the recent passing of Law No. 16 (2020) protecting against domestic violence. The Bank’s participation also comes in light of national progress in achieving the fifth of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 2030 agenda, part of the national development plan, Kuwait Vision 2035.

The Assistant General Manager of Corporate Communications at Gulf Bank, Mr. Ahmad Al Amir, commented: “At Gulf Bank, our social responsibility is based on sustainability at all levels: community, economic and environmental. In order to reach these objectives, it is imperative to grant security to all members of our society so that we can collectively work together to achieve these sustainability goals. We are proud to support this year’s ‘Orange the World’ initiative as part of our belief in every woman's right to a safe environment, and in the importance of eliminating and preventing violence against women. Gender equality is one of the many goals that the United Nations is actively seeking, and we are in full support of these efforts.”

Dr. Lubna Al Qadhi, Director of the Women's Research Studies Center at Kuwait University, welcomed Gulf Bank’s participation in the United Nations’ 16-day campaign against gender-based violence, saying: “Gulf Bank was one of the first Kuwaiti entities to endorse the UN’s Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPS) and will now be joining various parties in the private sector who will be lighting their buildings in orange from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to December 10, International Human Rights Day. These initiatives are a true testament to the role that Gulf Bank is playing in supporting the sustainable development of female empowerment. In 2015, our late Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may he rest in peace, had signed a pledge on behalf of the State of Kuwait and in the presence of world leaders at the United Nations summit held in New York City, USA to adopt the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Last August, the State of Kuwait also issued a historic law to protect women and young girls from domestic violence. It is also worth remembering that Kuwait was also a signatory to the CEDAW agreement, an international agreement to end all forms of discrimination against women. As one of the key societal landmarks in Kuwait, lighting the main Gulf Bank building in orange will undoubtedly send a message to the international and regional community of Kuwait’s belief in the urgency of ending violence against women.”

Gulf Bank is committed to maintaining a robust sustainability program at the community, economic, and environmental levels through sustainability initiatives that have been strategically selected to benefit both the country and the Bank.

In 2019, Gulf Bank’s corporate social responsibility initiatives went hand in hand with international efforts, aligning with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Also known as the Global Goals, the SDGs were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. Gulf Bank’s community sustainability efforts aligned with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals: Zero Hunger, Good Health & Wellbeing, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Decent Work & Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation, & Infrastructure, Sustainable Cities & Communities, and Partnerships for the Goals.