Sustainability Is Also About People

What Is the Gender Equality Certification?

The Gender Equality Certification is a standard introduced in Italy to promote organisational policies and practices focused on fairness and inclusion.

It is not simply a statement of intent.

To obtain the certification, an organisation must demonstrate that it has implemented concrete processes, policies and tools designed to promote equal opportunities and the fair recognition of people within the workplace.

The assessment considers areas such as:

• Corporate culture and strategy
• Professional development opportunities
• Work-life balance
• Inclusion and appreciation of diversity
• Fairness in organisational processes
• Monitoring and continuous improvement

In other words, the certification verifies that these principles are not merely written down, but are actively applied in everyday working life.

A Process Verified by an Independent Organisation

The certification was awarded according to the UNI/PdR 125:2022 standard by Dasa-Rägister, an independent certification body specialising in management system assessment and verification.

The process involves a thorough evaluation of company practices and does not end with the issuance of the certificate. Periodic audits and reviews are required to ensure that the standards continue to be met over time.

The certification obtained by SloWays Countryside Travels is valid until 2029 and is subject to annual monitoring.

We believe this is an important aspect to highlight because, for us, the certification is not simply a snapshot of the present. It represents a long-term commitment to continuous improvement.

Our Commitments

Through this certification, SloWays commits to:

• adopting human resource management practices based on inclusion, fairness and equal opportunities;
• ensuring access to employment, career development and pay equity regardless of gender;
• promoting women's empowerment and the correct application of paternity leave policies;
• supporting a healthier balance between professional and personal life;
• communicating transparently, both internally and externally, about its commitment to gender equality, inclusion and diversity;
• fostering a working environment based on collaboration, listening, participation and mutual respect;
• preventing and addressing any form of discrimination, abuse or harassment;
• strengthening a corporate culture that values diversity and inclusion.

Listening and Reporting

A fundamental principle of gender equality is ensuring that everyone feels free to raise concerns or report situations they believe are inconsistent with the organisation's values.

For this reason, we provide accessible and confidential reporting tools.

We already have a system in place for reporting:

• health and safety risks;
• near misses and potentially dangerous situations;
• behaviours that do not comply with established procedures;
• breaches of internal or external regulations;
• situations that may compromise people's wellbeing or safety.

We have also introduced a dedicated Gender Equality Reporting Channel

This channel allows individuals to report situations, behaviours or practices that may be inconsistent with our principles of:

• equal opportunities;
• inclusion;
• respect;
• recognition and appreciation of people.

Reports may concern, for example:

• unequal treatment;
• direct or indirect discrimination;
• non-inclusive language or behaviour;
• barriers to professional growth linked to gender;
• situations that are not aligned with our Gender Equality Policy.

Every report is handled with confidentiality, impartiality and care, with full respect for everyone involved.

Why This Matters for Tourism

We believe this is a fundamental issue for every organisation, not only those operating in the tourism sector.

There is an aspect of sustainability that is often less visible, yet equally important: the people who work behind the scenes to make every journey possible.

We believe that more responsible tourism must be built on organisations that place respect, professional growth and inclusive working environments at the centre of their values.

Social sustainability is an essential part of our understanding of sustainability.

One Piece of a Larger Journey

Those who have followed us for some time know that sustainability has long been at the heart of the way we work.

We describe this commitment in our Sustainability Policy, our Code of Ethics and in the documents that guide our relationships with travellers, colleagues, suppliers and local communities.

The Gender Equality Certification is part of this wider journey.

It is not a final destination, nor does it complete the work that still lies ahead.

Rather, it is a tool that helps us monitor our progress, identify areas for improvement and continue growing in line with the values we want to promote.

We choose to make our policies, certifications, data and processes available because we believe that commitments should be transparent, measurable and verifiable.

And we are pleased to share this achievement because, as individuals as well as an organisation, we know how important it is to support businesses that reflect our own values.

The Journey Continues

When we talk about our walking holidays, we often say that a journey is not simply about reaching a destination, but about taking one step after another.

In many ways, the same is true of sustainability.

There is no point at which you can say the work is finished. There are daily choices, goals, reviews, improvements and new milestones to pursue over time.

Obtaining the Gender Equality Certification is one of those milestones.

A step that makes us proud and encourages us to continue working towards a form of tourism that is more responsible, more attentive to people and more sustainable in every sense.

Because we believe that travelling better also means building better organisations—ones that create value for the people who work with us, for the communities we visit and for the travellers who choose to journey with us.