Doan Thi Huong, who spent more than two years in a Malaysian prison for allegedly killing Kim Jongnam, the half-brother of North Korea’s leader, is back home in Vietnam.
LONDON: British billionaire Richard Branson urged fellow business leaders to use their clout and put pressure on countries such as Brunei that persecute citizens for their sexuality.
Brunei’s decision to impose the death penalty for gay sex had spurred the call for action, Branson wrote in a blog posted on Virgin. com on Thursday.
He was joined by 20 other top executives, who put their names to a wider initiative in support of LGBT+ rights.
“Why take action now? The answer is simple. I feel that every opportunity to stand up for what we believe in is a good opportunity to shift the conversation on a global scale,” said Branson.
John Fallon, chief executive of education group Pearson, and Paul Polman, former chief executive of consumer goods company Unilever, were among 21 signatories of an initiative supported by Open For Business, a coalition of global firms promoting LGBT+ inclusion.
“It is time for all of us, as business leaders and as human beings, to stand up to ensure that people are free from the fear of abuse for who they love,” the 21 signatories wrote.
“This is our responsibility to our employees, to our customers and to communities all over the world.”
The initiative calls for businesses to create inclusive workplaces, actively support criminalised LGBT+ communities, and engage with repressive regimes on their policies.
Brunei sparked outcry last month when it rolled out laws penalising sodomy, adultery and rape with the death penalty.
Celebrities, from actor George Clooney to singer Elton John, have galvanised support, with protesters boycotting the Dorchester Collection of hotels, owned by the Brunei Investment Agency.