SUPPORTERS

Why They Stand With 24 May

These voices reflect the living spirit of our initiative.

Coming from the corporate, academic, institutional, political, and civil society sectors, these women and men believe that a safer and more equitable world of work is not only necessary, but possible. In their own words, discover why they chose to stand up for dignity, inclusion, and respect in the workplace.

Chapter 1 & 2

Micheline Calmy-Rey

Godmother of the initiative for Switzerland
Former President of the Swiss Confederation in 2007 and 2011
President of the Gymnastics Ethics Foundation

Elisabeth Moreno

Godmother of the initiative for France
Former Minister of Equality French Government 2020-2022
Former CEO of Hewlett Packard Africa & Lenovo France

OLivier Sandoz

Deputy General Director
Fédération des Entreprises Romande Genève

« Everything must be done to fight against all forms of discrimination and harassment within companies and society in general. It is a noble and essential mission. » Olivier Sandoz

Vincent Subilia

Director Général de la Chambre de Commerce, d’Industrie et des services de Genève (CCIG)

« Advocating for inclusion and fighting against harassment is a double battle that must be carried out on a daily basis to ensure a world of work worthy of the name » Vincent Subilia

GG

Director, Prevention & Response to Sexual Misconduct – International organisation

« Everyone, without exception, has a right to a safe and respectful workplace in which they can contribute and thrive. Harassment, especially sexual harassment, violates this and must not be tolerated. »

Tal Schibler

Former President – Disability Home Foundation

« The international day against harassment and for inclusion in the world of work is obvious: over 365 days, it should be among the priorities and the question should rather be: how come it has not yet been placed on the world calendar ? » Tal Schibler

Roxane Sheybani

President of the Human Rights Commission –
Geneva Bar Association

« As long as politicians do not consider that it is up to the State to monitor on the one hand and to sanction on the other hand companies that practice harassment and discrimination, we will never achieve a solution. » Roxane Sheybani

Kim Smouter

Director at European Network Against Racism (ENAR)

« There is an economic cost to exclusion for the society, it is important to have a day which puts the focus on these issues, to become more aware about the complexity, the expression and the prevalence of these issues. » Kim Smouter

Rokhaya diallo

Journalist, TV and radio presenter,
director and writer

« A common day during which we would reflect on the implications of harassment in the professional context. » Rokhaya Diallo

Crédit photo : © Mario Epanya

Eleanor Nwadinobi

President
Medical Women International Association (MWIA)

« The future of inclusive excellence should be a mindset that we imbibe and a lifestyle that we practice every day.» Eleanor Nwadinobi

Philippe Pozzo di Borgo

Writer whose story inspired the multiple
award-winning film “The Untouchables”

« The reality of human nature is that we are vulnerable. Common sense leads us to respect the other, because we need the other. Life only exists in the relationship to the other. » Philippe Pozzo Di Borgo

Chapter 3

Lieve Verboven

Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Office to the EU and the Benelux countries

Nadège Defrère

Team Leader for Non-Discrimination
European Commission

Bernard Clerfayt

Minister of Employment and Vocational Training
Government of the Brussels-Capital Region

Kris De Meester

Director for Safety, Health and Well-being at Work
Federation of Enterprises in Belgium (FEB)

Chapter 4

Stéphanie Lachat

Co-Director
Swiss Federal Office for Gender Equality

«The economic autonomy of women is at the heart of public equality policies in Switzerland and international standards in this area. This undoubtedly requires equal, safe, and sustainable employment conditions.» Stéphanie Lachat

Blaise Matthey

Vice President
IOE – International Orgnization of Employers

« This day is an opportunity to highlight that a balanced and productive workplace is built on respect and diversity. » Blaise Matthey

Arnaud Bürgin

Deputy General Director
Fédération des Entreprises Romande Genève

J. Jarpa Dawuni, Esq., Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Political Science at Howard University – Founder of the Institute for African Women in Law

Valentina Beghini

Legal Specialist, Violence, Harassment and Non-Discrimination
International Labour Organization

« Together we can build a world of work based on dignity and respect for all. » Valentina Beghini

Valérie Borioli Sandoz

Head of Equality and Work-Life Balance Policy.
Travail.Suisse

« This International Day is a powerful statement of our determination to resist any rollback of hard-won rights and to continue advancing them. Only a society that respects and includes all its members and minorities, and that firmly condemns exclusion and harassment, can truly thrive — for the benefit of everyone.» Valérie Borioli Sandoz

Frode Hvaring

Expert en Ressources Humaines
Talent ☆ Culture ☆ Strategy

« Neutralising biases is not difficult at all, if we look at them as concrete actions at our own level. It is obvious to me that too many talents are underutilized because we consider only part of the population. For me, there is no question of depriving ourselves of 100% of the talents available!» Frode Hvaring

Maya Hertig Randall

Vice Dean & Professor of constitutional law
University of Geneva

« Creating an inclusive and harassment-free workplace is not just a moral or economic imperative, it is a human rights obligation that requires constant effort. » Maya Hertig Randall

Thibaud Brière

Corporate philosopher
Author – “Toxic Management”

« In light of a number of managerial excesses, it is crucial to give people the freedom to speak up and encourage ways of working that foster diversity well beyond mere consensual variety.» Thibaud Brière

Dominique Steiler

Founder of the UNESCO Chair for a Culture of Economic Peace, Senior Professor, Research Fellow at CTI Princeton

« The business world has long forgotten that the very purpose of the economy is to serve the common good by strengthening the social fabric. The challenge is how to move from an economy that sees the world as an object of exploitation to a world that is a subject of relationships. Strengthening our ability to ‘learn from elsewhere – learn from others’ is fundamental. Difference should not be seen as a wall that divides, but as a ‘between,’ a space for meeting and exchange. » Dominique Steiler