Zurich International’s headquarters will get a new look tonight (Thursday) to mark UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities (UNIDPD).

Temporary purple lighting has been installed at Zurich House, Isle of Man Business Park, in support of the global movement #PurpleLightUp.

Symbolising the company’s commitment to driving disability inclusion worldwide, #PurpleLightUp looks to celebrate and draw attention to the economic contribution of the 386 million disabled employees around the world.

The big switch on at Zurich House is at 4pm has been made possible thanks to Isle of Man-based lighting, sound and special effects business, ELS.

Zurich International believe it will be the first time that an office building in the Island has been lit up to mark UNIDPD.

The company says that supporting UNIDPD and #PurpleLightUp reflects the company’s inclusion and diversity values, and those of its parent company, Zurich Insurance Group.

UN International Day of Disabled Persons began in 1992.

Since then, it has provided an annual focus to raise awareness of disability inclusion as an essential condition to uphold human rights, sustainable development, and peace and security.

The commitment to realising the rights of persons with disabilities is not only a matter of justice, says the UN, it is an investment in a common future. For this year’s UNIDPD, the focus is on how the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has deepened pre-existing inequalities, exposing the extent of exclusion and highlighting that work on disability inclusion is imperative.