Supporting the well-being and resilience of women

Women and girls continue to be most affected by global challenges; disproportionately impacted by social and economic crises and armed conflicts.

• Economic hardship disproportionately affects women, and this inequality is amplified by factors such as climate change and conflict. In 2024, 24.3 million more women than men lived in extreme poverty. At this rate, projections suggest eradicating extreme poverty among women could take another 137 years.

• Globally, there is a deeply concerning persistence of gender-based and sexual violence against women and girls. Globally, nearly one in three women, or approximately 736 million, has experienced physical and/or sexual violence at least once and intensifying forced displacement globally continues to expose girls and women to gender-based violence.

These factors are intrinsically linked and tend to reinforce each other with multiplied consequences. Yet, only 4% of bilateral international aid programs have the primary objective of supporting them.

That’s why we are proud of our ambition to support the wellbeing, empowerment and resilience of 5 million women through our philanthropic efforts by 2030.

The L’Oréal Fund for Women

Historically committed to supporting women’s rights, L’Oréal sought to strengthen its actions, and provide a response to the consequences of the sanitary crisis, by launching the L’Oréal Fund for Women in 2020. This philanthropic endowment fund, initially endowed with a budget of 50 million euros, was renewed in 2023 with a budget of 30 million euros until 2026. Worldwide, its mission is to promote, accompany, and support non-profit initiatives of grassroot organizations in favor of women in high vulnerability, in particular with regards to the following priorities:

• Helping women to get out of poverty

• Preventing domestic or sexual violence against women

Particular attention is given to projects aiming to help women experiencing multiple types of vulnerability, such as is notably the case of women refugees or women with a disability. Beyond emergency support, the L’Oréal Fund for Women aims to actively contribute to the resilience of women and girls by supporting social and professional inclusion projects and fighting against obstacles to education.

Example :

Les Maisons des Femmes – France

Supporting Women’s Empowerment: The Maison des Femmes Initiative in the Fight Against Violence

Founded by Ghada Hatem-Gantzer, the first Maison des Femmes opened its doors in Saint-Denis with the mission of providing comprehensive support to women who have experienced violence, particularly migrant women. The goal was to offer a secure space where these women could rebuild their lives.

Since its creation, the L'Oréal for Women Fund has been a dedicated partner, supporting the work of the Maisons des Femmes, vital structures for women victims of violence in France. Today, the Maisons des Femmes are key players in the fight against violence towards women. Through targeted programs, such as legal, psychological, and professional support, these houses empower women to regain their independence and rebuild their lives after experiencing violence.

Over the years, the Maisons des Femmes have assisted thousands of women, providing them with crucial support in their journey toward recovery. The impact of this initiative has been further amplified with the creation of Réseau Restart in 2024, which aims to replicate this successful model in more regions across France, ensuring that even more women have access to the essential services they need.