Sansiri Partners with UNDP for the Second Year to Reinforce Support for LGBTQ+ Diversity, Joining Forces with 15 Partners to Declare a Strong Stance

Jun 01, 2021 | view 1,605

Sansiri Partners with UNDP for the Second Year to Reinforce Support for LGBTQ+ Diversity

Joining Forces with 15 Partners to Declare a Strong Stance and Create New Standards

On the Theme of "Equality in Every Dimension" from the Organization to Society

· Sansiri is the first company in Thailand and one of 200 leading companies worldwide, including Microsoft, Coca-Cola, Netflix, and Nike, to sign the UN Global Standards of Conduct for Business, supporting diversity and equality in the workplace.

· Joining forces with 15 leading partners across lifestyle, sports, banking, EV charging, and SMEs to campaign and launch the “Live Equally… We Are Equal” initiative, advancing the vision of creating value for “equality in every dimension, openness to diversity, and social acceptance”.

· Committed to driving new standards of “creating a society where equality becomes the norm in every dimension” and ensuring access to business opportunities with large organizations.

· Organizing activities to promote diversity and equality throughout June, including Art Installations at T77 and the Siri Place Bangna-Thepharak project, as well as online activities to encourage participation and openness to diversity.

Every June, the month dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ equality worldwide, or the significant Pride Month festival, Sansiri has participated in campaigns promoting the acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals equally and honoring equality continuously. This year, Sansiri, as the first organization in Thailand to sign the UN Global Standards of Conduct for Business, supports diversity and equality in the workplace for LGBTQ+ employees and partners, continuing its vision under the support of UNDP for the second year, reinforcing its stance as an organization that supports equality and acceptance of diversity, expanding the vision from 2021 to encompass “equality in every dimension” through the launch of the campaign “Live Equally… We Are Equal”, hoping to contribute to a more open society that accepts LGBTQ+ individuals and fosters equality in every aspect of society.

Expanding the campaign from the organization to society, partnering with 15 leading companies in Thailand, including banks, sports, lifestyle, EV sharing, and SMEs, to promote equality and acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals by signing the United Nations Global Standards of Conduct for Business (UN) to reduce discrimination and inequality among the LGBTQI+ community.

Settha Thavisin, Chairman and CEO of Sansiri Public Company Limited, as the first company in Thailand and one of 200 leading companies worldwide honored to sign the UN Global Standards of Conduct for Business supporting diversity and equality in the workplace, stated, “Beyond being open to LGBTQ+ individuals, Sansiri believes that every dimension of life is about equality. This includes the acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals, equal opportunities for gender identity in the workplace, and the implementation of concrete policies within the organization. Equality for everyone or customers in accessing housing more easily is something Sansiri has collaborated with leading banks like SCB to ensure that all couples can own a Sansiri home, including LGBTQ+ groups. Furthermore, we believe that prioritizing equality for those affected by the economy in the current situation is something that should be supported by all sectors, as well as equality in access to investment opportunities for everyone at all levels. For society to achieve equality, it must start from within organizations. We thank our 15 partners who value equality and help make it a reality. We hope this collaboration will inspire other sectors to embrace diversity in society and create equality in every dimension as a growing standard.”

The signing of this agreement results in Sansiri and the 15 partner companies, including Boonthavorn, SHARGE, DIVANA, Ari Football, Gus Damn Good, Thai Commercial Bank, Bangkok Post, and 7 real estate partner companies including All about Steel, K Tech, QS Innovation, Napasanan, Viriyah Sakhakol, Weerasak, and Ahead All Co., Ltd., joining over 200 global companies such as Microsoft, Google, Coca-Cola, Netflix, and Nike, to create positive change in society. The UN Standards of Conduct for Business aims to promote five business principles, which Sansiri has committed to uphold in the workplace, business operations, and within the community.

1. Respect the human rights of LGBTQ+ individuals in all operations and business relationships.

2. Eliminate all forms of discrimination against LGBTQ+ employees in the workplace.

3. Proactively support LGBTQ+ employees by fostering a positive environment that builds confidence, allowing all employees to work together with dignity.

4. Prevent human rights violations that may arise from discrimination against customers, partners, and others.

5. Advocate for equality publicly, support collaborative agreements, encourage discussions in society, or provide financial or other support to organizations fighting for LGBTQ+ rights.

Additionally, René Meyer, representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Thailand, stated, “Promoting gender equality, diversity, and acceptance in society is one of the key goals of sustainable development (SDGs) and a fundamental commitment of UNDP. We are committed to supporting the creation of these values in every country and assisting all partners in adhering to them. Sansiri, as a key business partner of UNDP in Thailand, has demonstrated a commitment to continuing its vision and mission since last year to promote equality, diversity, and acceptance within organizations and communities clearly.”

We commend Sansiri as a commendable model organization and hope it will inspire other sectors to uphold and practice these values.”

Sansiri has organized activities promoting equality in every dimension through the campaign “Live Equally… We Are Equal” throughout June, including reducing the logo symbol (Sansiri Logo) from 5 layers to just 2 layers to reflect the “equal” (=) sign, symbolizing the hope for society to embrace differences and equality in every dimension. Art Installation at Sansiri Backyard in the T77 community with the profound meaning of LGBTQ+ and equality in every dimension under the concept “Circle of Equality… We Are Equal, I Am Equal” reflects equality in every dimension during Pride Month. The equal sign is placed and interpreted in the position of an endless line (circle); when we respect each other's differences in every aspect, there will be no dividing lines of creativity, forming a complete circle. Graffiti Wall Art at the Siri Place Bangna-Thepharak project, changing the logo of HABITO community mall to rainbow colors to celebrate Pride Month and equality, Podcast with a special topic discussion “How Equal is Equal?” led by Settha Thavisin, the CEO of Sansiri, featuring young LGBTQ+ guests like “Kheun-Phatradanai Setsuwan, an idol of LGBTQ+ in Thailand, and Kilin-Aemanan Anantalapachai, a famous LGBTQ+ novelist, #Live Equally photo challenge to promote equality in every dimension with Sansiri and social influencers through the hashtag #LiveEquallyChallenge.