‘Calles con nombre de mujer’ campaign wins UN Women distinction
Garage Isla Verde’s (GIV) public service campaign “Streets with a Woman’s Name” (“Calles con nombre de Mujer”) has been awarded the “Premios De Igual a Igual” award by UN Women based in Colombia.
This honor marks the first time a Puerto Rican company and agency, specifically in the automotive sector, have received this international recognition during International Women’s Month, according to officials at Garage Isla Verde, the Mercedes-Benz dealership in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
The campaign, a collaboration between Garage Isla Verde and its advertising agency Sajo//McCann, was chosen from 60 campaigns by agencies in Latin America, advancing as one of the 20 finalists and ultimately emerging as one of the three winners.
“This award underlines GIV’s unwavering commitment to the … positioning and visibility of women in all areas of society,” the company stated.
The “Premios De Igual a Igual” recognize nonsexist advertising that promotes equality through creative and inclusive narratives, free of gender stereotypes.
This initiative is part of UN Women Colombia’s efforts to promote gender equality and female empowerment by encouraging positive cultural changes in the advertising sector’s representation of gender.
“Streets with a Woman’s Name” addresses the disparity in street naming in Puerto Rico, where many streets bear the names of illustrious men, but few acknowledge the achievements of women
At least 10 streets on the island are named in honor of Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León, 11 recognize the career of Puerto Rican statesman Luis Muñoz Rivera, five pay tribute to writer Manuel Fernández Juncos and four are named after statesman José De Diego, among others, but none recognize the achievements of such women as trailblazer Ruth Fernández-Cortada, activist Sylvia del Villard-Moreno and educator Celestina Cordero.
“At Garage Isla Verde we’ve always put women first. This award is a testament to our commitment not only to gender equality, but also to fostering positive social change,” said Harenid Maldonado, promotions and marketing manager at GIV.
“Inclusion is an integral part of our business model, as evidenced by the female leadership within our company. It’s an honor for us to see how our efforts are leading to significant and positive changes in society, proving that thoughtful and purposeful actions can make a real difference,” she added.
Since its launch in mid-2023, “Calles con nombre de Mujer” has gathered more than 5,000 signatures on the Change.org platform and the campaign’s website.
