Media

Creating workplaces in Hong Kong free of Sexual Harassment
– A Force for Good Initiative

22 Nov 2017

 

HKU and BRIDGE partner to create a platform for change

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) partners with BRIDGE to co-organise the HKU Force for Good Initiative, a free, three-day programme with the aim to reduce instances of sexual harassment in the Hong Kong workplace. The Initiative brings together senior leaders from business, government, education and civil society to promote an atmosphere of zero tolerance and create meaningful strategies to be implemented post-programme. They will be identified and actioned using innovative leadership development frameworks.

The three-day programme from November 27 to 29 (Monday to Wednesday) will open with a keynote from HKU President Professor Peter Mathieson.  On November 30 (Thursday), there will be a presentation and celebration evening to feedback on the programme and present the new strategies and outcomes. The event is open to the public.

Media representatives are cordially invited to the opening ceremony and closing presentation with details below: 

Opening ceremony
Date: November 27, 2017 (Monday)
Time: 9am-12pm

Closing presentation
Date: November 30, 2017 (Thursday)
Time: 6:30pm – 11pm

Venue: Loke Yew Hall, Main Campus, HKU

The project has been in development since early 2017 and takes place at a time when sexual harassment and intimidation, as well as the culture of turning a blind eye and remaining silent on the issue, is more in the spotlight than ever.

“With the revelations surrounding Harvey Weinstein, the fallout has had a profound effect. The resultant #metoo movement has meant that people are hearing family members, friends and colleagues speaking up about traumatic experiences they have suffered through silently…we are noticing a real wave of intent to make change and create safer environments”, said Alix Farquhar, Senior Consultant of BRIDGE.

The Initiative has received wide support from senior leaders at organisations such as HSBC, Disney, Cathay Pacific, Morgan Stanley, MTR, Greenpeace and the Samaritans, all signing up for the three-day event.

Unlike a typical conference approach, the Force for Good Initiative will rely upon the full participation and contribution of its participants. The programme will be facilitated by BRIDGE, who count over 27 years’ experience in Leadership Development. Having participants from different sectors and sharing their experiences, allows for perspectives to deepen, to be more purposeful and to be effective.

Jason Furness, Director of BRIDGE explains the process: “Day one is focusing on setting the scene, learning powerful leadership tools that will be applied during the event and beginning the data collection process. Day two is to immerse ourselves in interviews with a range of people connected to the subject, making sense of information, looking for patterns and emerging themes. We will then begin the process of unearthing key insights. Day three is developing the key breakthroughs into viable next steps. We will prototype and experiment, leading to specific recommendations of ways forward. We will prepare to present recommendations to key stakeholders.”

Whilst BRIDGE is a consultancy that primarily works towards helping corporate leaders and organisations evolve, they have spent the last seven years to bring their skills into not-for-profit programmes that drive purposeful, positive social change in areas aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

HKU brings prestige and a history of thought leadership and commitment to the principle of equality, among other things. In fact, with the leadership of its current president, Peter Mathieson, HKU has been the first University in the world to commit to the United Nation Women’s HeForShe initiative, something this upcoming Initiative is in support of.

Speaking on the importance of ongoing work and effort to curb these issues, Puja Kapai, Associate Professor of the HKU Faculty of Law, said: ‘In light of the global discourse on the pervasiveness of sexual harassment and the many spaces in which it occurs without effective recourse, HKU’s partnership with Bridge is poised to generate innovative approaches to help us make progress on this critical issue’.

More information about Bridge at: http://bridge-partnership.com

Media representatives interested in attending, learning more or supporting the Initiative, please contact:

Bridge
Clare Furness
Partnership Consultant
clare.furness@bridge-partnership.com

Tiranth Amarasinghe
Global Marketing Manager
tiranth@bridge-partnership.com

The University of Hong Kong
Professor Karen Laidler
Deputy Head – Department of Sociology
kjoe@hku.hk