Chadchart Sittipunt

Chadchart Sittipunt assumed office as the 17th Governor of Bangkok in 2022, looking at various systems. In Bangkok, as with the human anatomy, there is a main circulatory system for blood flow, with capillaries that spread to different parts of the body.  In this sense, the city’s problems are in the capillaries. Therefore, it is important to focus on the improvement and development of the capillary system without neglecting the strong arteries. The strategy is to implement 9 important policies through 9 “goods.” From the work of the BMA in the past year, there has been improvement, change and development of the capillary system in various fields. This is increased efficiency, improved quality of life, more opportunity, and greater confidence in the future. The BMA is implementing a policy of disclosure of information (Open Data) to achieve transparency for the public. The BMA uses the latest technology platforms, such as Traffy Fondue, which can quickly resolve local issues and increase proactive operational efficiency. The BMA policy was revised to be more in line with the context by revising the strategy into 9 important policies and 9 “goods”, namely good travel, good safety, good transparency, good environment, good health, good education, good economy, good society, and good management.  The BMA has defined 28 development priorities with 226 policies to make Bangkok a livable city for everyone.

For policies related to equality and support of gender diversity, there are 4 items: (1) providing education to develop students into global citizens; (2) Promoting the Pride Month Festival in June of every year; (3) Piloting the development of a gender diversity health clinic (BKK Pride Clinic), which currently operates in 24 sites at hospitals and public health centers under the BMA; and (4) Promoting BMA agencies to understand and support equality and accepting gender diversity. The aim is to create an environment to work together equally, absent of discrimination,  with an understanding of gender sensitivity, accepting diversity of sexual orientation and gender identity in Thai society, and increasing human resource development courses to ensure that all personnel respect differences and support a variety of expressions. For the BMA, dress/attire according to birth sex is not compulsory, and the BMA is ready to create a mechanism to prevent sexual harassment through the announcement of a non-discrimination policy and prevention of sexual or workplace harassment.

For the BMA’s track record in advocating and promoting policies related to the support of gender diversity nationally and internationally, Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt received the 2022 Atthanarisuan Award, the Friendship Award for the gender diversity community (Friendship Award), individual category, and the Person of the Year Award, The People Awards 2023, an award given to people who are inspiring to change society, under the concept of “People of Tomorrow”.