Women are half of CADE's workforce and hold 44% of the agency's leadership positions

The International Women's Day is commemorated on 8 March. The date represents women's fight for equal rights and was adopted by the United Nations in the mid-1970s. Although many advances have been made in recent decades, there is still room for progress in the labour market.  According to the latest survey by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), women hold only 37% of leading positions in Brazil.

Gender equity is a reality at CADE, and this and related topics are at stake in discussions and initiatives held by the antitrust authority. Women represent 49% of CADE's workforce and occupy 44% of the agency's leadership positions.

For Ana Paula Guimarães, Head of the Office of the President of CADE, being part of an organisation with numerous female colleagues in leadership roles is a privilege. "To work in a place where gender equity is more than a distant hope gives me opportunities: I know I'm respected and able to grow in my career, and there are several women in leadership positions to look up to here".

Ms Guimarães also believes that an inclusive and equal professional environment has a positive impact on other fields of women's lives and, consequently, on society. "Better work conditions ensure our financial independence, which results in the equal sharing of domestic responsibilities.  It also affects our self-esteem and changes paradigms. I believe more empowered women translates into more role models for future generations".

For Cristina Portela, Coordinator-General of Human Resource Management at CADE, more opportunities for women in companies means acknowledging each gender has its particular characteristics. Taking women into account is trying to repair a history of rights violations. In the professional field, this means to give up beliefs and face many kinds of injustice and violence". Ms Portela says she feels proud of being part of an organisation in which women have important roles in their teams.

Women in antitrust law

The Brazilian antitrust community has a record of women in positions of power. Carolina Helena Fontes, Coordinator-General of Antitrust Analysis at CADE, recalls her taking office at the former Secretariat for Economic Law in 2009. At the time, several women held important positions in the body, including the head of the Antitrust Department and the chair of the Secretariat itself. In 2012, CADE underwent a structural change, but the female presence in leadership posts remained.

"We are in a field in which women are valued for their competency. That is why we hold management posts.  I was invited to lead the Antitrust Analysis Unit 3 during my first maternity leave. I felt valued, as a professional and as a woman", said Ms Fontes, acknowledging this is not the reality for most working mothers today.

Ms Fontes also mentioned there are multiple highly competent female lawyers working with competition law in Brazil who have achieved international recognition. An example of this is Woman in Antitrust, a network that brings together women who made a career in antitrust law to share their experiences of work, leadership, visibility, and professional respect.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) also has a strong agenda for gender and competition, promoting scientific production on the topic and initiatives for female inclusion.