New Report: BSR's HERproject Empowers Women and Improves Business in Six Countries

SAN FRANCISCO, March 23, 2010 - BSR's (www.bsr.org) HERproject (www.herproject.org) — a
factory-based women's health initiative — has significantly improved women's
health awareness, leadership skills, and relationships with their employers,
according to a new BSR report
(www.bsr.org/reports/BSR_HERproject_Investing_In_Women.pdf) revealing
results of research conducted after the first year of HERproject programs in
China, Egypt, India, Mexico, Pakistan, and Vietnam.

"Not only has HERproject given women the knowledge to improve their
health behavior, it has empowered them to seek leadership roles in their jobs
and their communities," said HERproject Manager Racheal Yeager.
(www.bsr.org/about/staff-bio.cfm?DocumentID=39) "The peer-to-peer
model — with women teaching each other about women's health — has given
them the confidence to go against the grain in regions where the traditional
role for women is not as strong."

The benefits of investing in women for social and economic development
are evident around the world — and lead to positive impacts for business as
well: Women support their families and communities, they repay their loans
faithfully, and they provide exemplary leadership at work and in their
communities.

BSR's report, "Investing in Women for a Better World," revealed that
HERproject has had positive impacts on women through enhanced health
awareness, improved health behavior, and growing leadership skills; on
business through improved worker-manager relationships and increased company
collaboration; and on local regions through new public-private partnerships
devoted to local sustainability, through "global to local" networks, and
through the promotion of cultural change.

Key findings from completed HERproject pilots in China, India, Mexico,
Pakistan, and Vietnam include:

    - Women's health programs impact health awareness: At factories in
      Mexico, Pakistan, and Vietnam, women's knowledge of hepatitis B
      increased by an average of 33 percent.
    - Women's health programs increase worker productivity: In Pakistan,
      women reported a 25 percent reduction in poor concentration at work, 28
      percent lower absenteeism, and 33 percent less difficulty in meeting
      production targets.
    - Women's health programs enhance worker-manager relations: According to
      a survey conducted for the report in China, 29 factory managers
      interviewed in three factories said they thought HERproject could
      improve the relationship between factory managers and workers.

To date, HERproject workplace programs have touched approximately 50,000
women. Current projects include eight multinational companies, 30 factories,
eight local organizations, and multiple health-service clinics and local
government departments.

The report features several stories from factory projects, such as one in
Mexico's Pegatron Juarez factory, where 47 peer educators were trained and
later shared their knowledge with 1,090 (94 percent) of their female
co-workers. One peer educator noted the "personal satisfaction of learning
new things and being able to use that knowledge to help others." A nurse at
the factory emphasized the importance of the training in preventative health
care.

Since her training as a peer educator at NJK Enterprises in India,
30-year-old Gowramma Nagesh has become known by her co-workers and neighbors
as the "community nurse."

And since the launch of a program providing free annual gynecological
exams to every female worker in a factory in China that supplies garments to
clothing retailer Nordstrom, 500 women have received exams.

According to Joyce Kam, Global Human Rights Manager at Abercrombie &
Fitch, HERproject has helped the company build "close and meaningful
relationships with both suppliers and workers." Because of HERproject, she
added, "We have planted a seed of positive change in our supplier
communities."

"Investing in women just makes sense: It's good for the women, their
families, their employers, and their communities," said Yeager. "And we have
found that HERproject, as a women's health program, is a great way to start
that investment - and gain significant returns."

Companies interested in joining HERproject can read more in the report at
www.bsr.org/reports/BSR_HERproject_Investing_In_Women.pdf, or contact
HERproject Manager Racheal Yeager at ryeager@bsr.org.

Media interested in interviews about HERproject can contact
Communications Manager Eva Dienel at edienel@bsr.org.

About HERproject

Launched in 2007 in China, BSR's HERproject links multinational companies
and their factories to local NGOs to create sustainable workplace programs
that increase women's health awareness. Working with HERproject partner
Extending Services Delivery, BSR also seeks to demonstrate the return on
investment for factory-based women's health programs. HERproject is active in
China, Egypt, India, Pakistan, and Vietnam. Participating companies include
Abercrombie & Fitch, Clarks, Columbia Sportswear, HP, Levi Strauss & Co.,
Nordstrom, and Timberland. For more information about HERproject, visit
www.herproject.org.

About BSR

A leader in corporate responsibility since 1992, BSR works with its
global network of more than 250 member companies to develop sustainable
business strategies and solutions through consulting, research, and
cross-sector collaboration. With six offices in Asia, Europe, and North
America, BSR uses its expertise in the environment, human rights, economic
development, and governance and accountability to guide global companies
toward creating a just and sustainable world. Visit www.bsr.org for
more information.

Eva Dienel, Communications Manager, BSR, +1-415-984-3233, edienel at bsr.org