The second and final day of Ethos 360° Sao Paulo Conference, one of the main events ASG (Environmental, Social and Governance & ESG), held this Wednesday (18) and Thursday (19), at the Ibirapuera Biennial Pavilion, in the state capital, presented in his opening panel lecture of the minister of the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU), Vinicius Marques de Carvalhoin participation with Andrea Alvares, Chairman of the Board of Ethos Institute, the minister addressed the role of CGU in promoting integrity and reinforced the importance of companies implementing ethical practices, in addition to detailing the strategies adopted to prevent corruption and recommended actions to align corporate values with standards of integrity.
“THE corruption has come to be treated as an economic problem. At the same time, it was clear that acting only in a punitive way is not enough. However much it is insisted on applying punishments, only 2% or 3% of corruption cases involving companies are identified. It was found that it is necessary to adopt another strategy to disseminate in the corporate culture the expected integrity standards.” The minister also highlighted the success of the Pro-Ethics Seal, a partnership between CGU and the Ethos Institute, which aims to recognize and highlight companies that adopt integrity, ethics and transparency practices in their operations.
Combating Inequalities
Following, Lais Abramo, National Secretary of Care and Family Policy, participated in the panel National Care Policy as a tool to combat inequalities and addressed the barriers faced by women to access and remain in the labor market and highlighted the importance of the National Care Policy, a priority agenda of the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Hunger Combat (MDS).
Abramo explained that “the theme of care has always been present in the lives of all people, especially women, but this subject only became a public agenda a year ago, when two secretariats were created to address this issue” She pointed out that “often women are unable to enter the labor market because of their responsibilities with the home and family”.
The panel Responsible use of AI and combating inequalities it sought to reflect on how artificial intelligence can be used ethically and responsibly to promote inclusion and reduce inequalities. The debate was attended by Clarice Tavares, Human Rights Coordinator of InternetLab, who said that the algorithm still reinforces gender discrimination. “Just look who is the singer of the first song of most playlists: a man. And the posts of the LGBT population are less propagated for bringing words considered toxic by the standards of algorithms. More diversity is needed in the development of technology.To avoid and mitigate these biases, we need to invest in people training and technology to change this pattern”, he completed.
Viviane Lisboa, coordinator of the Data Analytics Center at Prodam, recalled that “AI regulation is important to achieve data protection, transparency, security (with ethical use) and accountability of actors” And Rafael Miranda, professor and co-director of the Jean Monet Center of Excellence on Business and Human Rights at FECAP, who completed the panel, concluded: “The advancement of AI can be used for the promotion of human rights and the promotion of equality. It is fundamental to think of collaborative, multi-stakeholder solutions”.
Climate change
The panel COP30 and Climate Adaptation Plan: The role of companies in reducing climate vulnerability in Brazil he discussed the opportunity that Brazil has from the event to reaffirm its leadership in environmental preservation and coping with the impacts of climate change, as well as leading by example.
Inamara Melo, general coordinator of Climate Change Adaptation at the Ministry of the Environment, pointed out that “the Climate Plan is a relevant effort by the government to consolidate climate actions, but it needs the engagement of all. The fight against climate change is a sectoral and multilevel agenda, which needs a sectoral pact with many actors, including governments, companies and civil society”. The panel also had the participation of Priscila Matta, senior Sustainability Manager at Natura, and Felipe Saboya, deputy director of the Ethos Institute and mediator of the debate.
Business integrity
The panel The Brazilian Business Sector and the Advancement of Business Integrity: Challenges and Perspectives, offered by Ype, discussed the advancement of business integrity in Brazil, analyzing how companies have faced challenges related to transparency, ethics and responsibility. Cristine Kohler Ganzenmuller, Director of Private Integrity at CGU, reinforced that “there are many challenges faced, because the theme of integrity is constantly evolving. A very significant advance is the inclusion of the Human Rights agenda in the agenda of Integrity.The Anti-Corruption Law and the Bidding Law are other extremely important advances”.
Pedro Rubio, Legal Director, Compliance, Institutional Relations and External Communication at Ype, pointed out that “ethical conduct is fundamental, however, there is a long way for companies. It is important to note that, yes, it is possible to act ethically and achieve the expected business results. It is necessary to end the myth that privately held companies cannot advance this agenda“. The panel also had the participation of Valeria Cafe, director general of IBGC, and Caio Magri, director-president of the Ethos Institute, as mediator.
THE Crisis capitalism and the need for a new economic paradigm it was the subject of a panel that addressed how recent corporate governance scandals highlighted the structural flaws of a capitalism focused on profit at any cost, raising questions about the sustainability of this economic model. Joao Paulo Pacifico, CEO of Grupo Gaia, explained that profit at any cost is a practice that persists to this day, but has already proven to be unsustainable. “Companies need to take into account impact investing, which takes into account not only financial return but also social and environmental return” - SOLon Neto, co-founder and director of news and audience of Alma Preta, reinforced that this behavior is seen even in the daily news. “Falta diversity even in the news. The different vehicles always report with the same bias, for the same people”.
The debate also included the participation of Adila Nascimento, manager of Finance and Strategic Operations at System B Brazil, and the mediation of Andrea Alvares, president of the Board of the Ethos Institute.
Deconstructing racism in language
The panel Glossary in reverse: deconstructing racism in language it presented a proposal for the deconstruction of racist structural terms, developed by Black Counselors of the Council for Social and Sustainable Economic Development (CDESS/SRI/PR) and by researchers from the Audre Lorde Activist Research Group and the Activist Collective of Psychoanalyst Activists in Psychoanalysis, Education and Culture.
Monica Veloso, vice president of the Osasco Metalworkers Union, stressed the importance of defining what racism is and where harassment begins. “The workspace also builds discriminatory languages and they can become micro-aggressions”. She reported the development work with companies to create processes to change this type of relationship. “Racism is a violation of Human Rights and companies need it act”, he reinforced.
Rosangela Hilario, permanent teacher of the Academic Master in Education/UNIR, recalled that the Brazilian language is extremely rich and does not need racist words. “A change has to start at school, with the belonging of black students and in the treatment of teachers. We have to deconstruct structural terms of racism as a presupposition of access to citizenship indeed”the panel also had the participation of Alcieli dos Santos, trainer and director of Education at the Iungo Institute, who explained that the glossary will be presented on several fronts “to serve as a strategic tool in combating the structural terms that consolidate naturalized racism”.
Food insecurity and fighting hunger
The “ panelFood Insecurity and Fighting Hunger”, promoted by Assai, addressed the multiple dimensions of food insecurity in the country. Kiko Afonso, CEO of Citizenship Action, recalled that it is necessary to dialogue with the various stakeholders so that Brazil leaves the UN hunger map and arrives in 2030 as a country with zero hunger. “For the vast majority of companies, the fight against hunger (SDG 2) is not materiality in the GRI reports. Therefore, investments come from Marketing and not from ESG, with lower values”, he said.
Fabio Lavezo, manager of Sustainability and Social Investment at Assai, recalled that companies have a role to play in this agenda to combat hunger. “The pandemic was a time of much reflection and learning and ways to address solutions”, he further explained that food redistribution is the most obstacle in combating hunger, as currently less than 10% of the unconsumed food is donated in the country. “We have a regulatory barrier over the accountability of food produced and donated”, said Lavezzo.The mediation of the panel was done by Glaucia Oliveira, leader of Management and People and Organizational Development of the Ethos Institute.
Also, highlight for the panels Corporate Volunteering: Strengthening Organizational Culture and Generating Strategic Social Impact, organized by Raizen Diversity, equity and inclusion (The role of business for a more equitable society, offered by Novelis, and Sustainable Finance & Business Opportunities and Financing, conducted by Banco do Brasil.
Sponsors: Diamond Sponsorship: Raizen and Novelis | Silver Sponsorship: Bank of Brazil and Federal Government | Bronze Sponsorship: ArcelorMittal, Assai, Caixa, Energy Cup, Gerdau, Ype | Support | Abvtex, CropLife, EuReciclo, Facility Doc, Globo, Itau, Klabin, Safe Harbor, Educare Network, Rumo, SmartCafe | Institutional Partnership Alcoa, Hydro, Natura, PwC, Sebrae and Shell.v