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Freshfields joins forces with Stonewall to launch groundbreaking reports on global LGBT rights
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP (‘Freshfields’) and Stonewall, the LGBT rights charity, have joined forces to launch a brand new series of reports providing groundbreaking insight into the rights of LBGT communities around the world.
The new ‘Global Workplace Briefings’ launched at an event in London last night, explored the legal and social issues facing LGBT employees across the globe. They are designed to help multinational businesses plan their investment, mobility, and people and benefits strategies in new territories more effectively.
The new briefings cover ten countries including Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Qatar and Indonesia – many of which have no clear national employment protections that cover sexual orientation.
Freshfields provided extensive input to pro bono client Stonewall on the legal situation of LGBT people in the various jurisdictions alongside our partner firms.
The project is the culmination of six months of comprehensive research by Freshfields’ offices across the globe.
These new reports are the latest addition to a series of 27 similar reports, first published in 2016.
Commenting on the launch of the new reports Piusha Bose, Counsel at Freshfields, said:
“The legal and social climate for LGBT people varies dramatically across the world and businesses that employ people in different countries need to be wise to the issues that their LGBT employees might face.”
“These new reports shine a light on these issues and will help businesses become better global employers. We are proud to have partnered with Stonewall on this initiative.”
The event, at which the new reports were launched, took place last night at Freshfields’ London headquarters, and was attended by a number of speakers from organisations around the world, including Paul Twocock, Stonewall’s interim CEO, Matías Valenzuela Cortez from OTD Chile, Patricia Silberman from Carey and Ram Sinha from The Pride Circle in India.
Paul Twocock, Interim Chief Executive, Stonewall said: “Our Global Workplace Briefings give employers insight into the challenges LGBT people face in different countries, so they can better understand what steps they can take to ensure the safety of their staff. Our briefings include information from in-country LGBT groups and feature best practice examples from some of the world’s leading LGBT-inclusive global employers on how they can support their LGBT employees.
‘Employers and businesses have a huge role to play in driving equality, both in and out of the workplace; by working together, we can help bring forward the day when all LGBT people feel safe and accepted.’
All briefings are listed here and available to download.
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About Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a global law firm with a long-standing track record of successfully supporting the world's leading national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments on ground-breaking and business-critical mandates. Our 2,800 plus lawyers deliver results worldwide through our own offices and alongside leading local firms. Our commitment, local and multi-national expertise and business know-how means our clients rely on us when it matters most.