Stefan Persson and H&M contribute to gender equality and the empowerment of women. This is acknowledged by the United Nations Association of New York (UNA-NY) that presents Stefan Persson, Chairman of H&M, the "Humanitarian of the Year" award.

Empowering women connects directly with the core values of H&M and who we are as a company.

Stefan Persson, Chairman H&M

- The leadership and dedication of Stefan Persson to gender equality and the empowerment of women make him an inspiration to all of us and a worthy recipient of our annual award, says Abid Qureshi, president of the UNA-NY.

"Empowering Women, Promoting Peace and Progress" is the theme of this years' award which will be presented in New York on October 29 at the annual ceremony celebrating the founding of the United Nations. Each year the UNA-NY considers individuals who have accomplished important strides in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, including the issue of gender equality.

The UNA-NY recognizes H&M's long-term sustainability work in Asia well as the contribution to international trade creating more than a million jobs in the textile industry, not least for women. The importance of collaborations between the Conscious Foundation and organizations such as CARE, UNICEF and WaterAid is acknowledged as well as the fact that gender equality has been H&M's mission since its founding in 1947.

- Empowering women connects directly with the core values of H&M and who we are as a company. We know that the majority of the people employed by H&M's suppliers in the textile industry are women and that a paid job with a stable income is a first step towards an independent life, says Stefan Persson.

About The United Nations Association of New York
The United Nations Association of New York (UNA-NY) is dedicated to supporting the principles and vital work of the United Nations, strengthening the UN system and promoting constructive US leadership. The UNA-NY UN Day Gala is held every October to celebrate the founding of the United Nations.

Read more in UN'spress release.

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