Discussion «Politics of Equality and Diversity: Business Experience»

05 June 2020 y.

Recently, there was an online discussion «The Politics of Equality and Diversity: Business Experience» hosted by the «NGO Fulcrum UA» and the HGNO «Suchasna Zhinka» with the support of the International Foundation «Vidrodzhennya». The representatives of Ukrainian business shared their companies' experience: how they support diversity in the workplace, adopt European best practices, and what problems they face the most. Daria Nagaivska, the project manager of the HGNO «Suchasna Zhinka», coordinated the discussion. Olga Boyko, the coordinator of the Ecology and Sustainable Development Committee of the European Business Association, said that the practice of focusing not only on investors but also on stakeholders was increasingly used in the Ukrainian business. Such practices include respect for human rights, equality policies, and contributions to climate change issues. Zlata Kostyuk, the CSR specialist at Auchan, noted that Auchan has been implementing a corporate social responsibility policy and equal employment opportunities for many years: the company employs people with hearing impairment, with cerebral palsy and Down's syndrome. Olga Shapoval, the director of the Kharkiv IT Cluster, talked about IT business implementing a diversity and non-discrimination policy. Olga said that IT companies are mainly focused on the Western market, so many of them supported the tolerance policy. She also noted that our society is currently adopting similar policies like a lot of other countries in the world. Olga also talked about the IT4Life charity fund, which had provided an opportunity for Kharkiv IT-companies to finance the purchase of medical equipment and other necessary supplies. Kharkiv IT Cluster was happy to take part in such an outstanding social event. The policy of equality in the modern world is an urgent and acute topic, which has to be discussed and put into practice.