As a company that values diversity and inclusion as
a strong and integral part of its culture, AXA Philippines, one of the country’s
leading insurance providers, held a panel discussion with its employees to
celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia
(IDAHOBIT) this year with the theme, “Our Bodies, Our Rights, Our Lives.” This
is in time for Pride Month and in line with AXA’s continued commitment to fight
for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community by standing up and speaking out
against hate, discrimination, and violence.
On May 17, 1990, the World Health Organization declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder and recognized it as a natural variant of human sexuality. This milestone now marks an annual celebration of sexual and gender diversity, known as the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), which helps educate people and raise awareness for the work still needed to combat discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community.
For the panel, AXA Philippines invited notable
members of the LGBTQIA+ community, namely Beatrice Gomez, the first openly
queer Miss Universe Philippines 2021, and Mela Habijan, the first Filipina to
win Miss Trans Global in 2020, to share their incredible stories. This
discussion aimed to inspire people to continue to rise above the current limits
of society and to fight for equality and inclusion for people of all sexual
orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. Gomez and Habijan were
also joined by AXA Philippines Director for Human Capital Development Peachy
Felix and discussion moderator, Lynn Pinugu, founder of She Talks Asia, which
provides a space for inspiration and support among women across multiple
platforms.
“At AXA, we take pride in our commitment to
fostering a culture that enables every employee to be their true selves in the
workplace and ultimately, their best selves. This is one of the ways we can
truly act for human progress by protecting what matters. As an LGBTQIA+ ally, I
stand firm with this amazing community in the fight against discrimination and
inequality. We urge everyone to join us in supporting and celebrating the
LGBTQIA+ community and embracing a diverse and inclusive culture in the
workplace and beyond,” said AXA Philippines Chief Customer Officer Nandy
Villar.
As part of its effort to establish a diverse and
inclusive work culture, AXA Philippines has also long been supporting gender
equality through its Parent Policy, which has been implemented since 2017. The
policy offers 112-day leave for new parent employees and aims to provide the
same rights and opportunities to parents of all genders and sexual
orientations.
AXA Philippines also collaborates with different
organizations such as UP Babaylan and LoveYourself, to help increase awareness
about LGBTQIA+ issues, promote equality in the workplace, and advocate against
bullying and harassment. In addition, AXA holds an annual Inclusion Conference
focused on LGBTQIA+ inclusion.
With all these initiatives, AXA strives to be an
equal opportunity employer in the Philippines and around the world, creating a
work environment where all employees are treated with dignity and respect.
For more updates and information, visit https://www.axa.com.ph.
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