Implementing the pledge of human rights in business

This one is for the last day of the forum, the morning session.

Again, kudos to my pals on IGCN, grrrreat work!

Panelists share their experience in implementing and promoting human rights in their businesses.

Indonesia Global Compact Network (IGCN) held the Business & Human Rights Forum to promote the UN Guiding Principles of Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and update its implementation in business.

Adhering to defending human rights in business activities needs sustainable and mutually agreed partnership between human rights champions.

Human rights issue in business can be tackled if people are aware, thus companies will actively contribute whilst being monitored by the government for continuous evaluation.

Public awareness about the issue must be maintained to ensure that business leaders are implementing actions to defend human rights. It is obligatory for stakeholders of all levels to discuss ways to do it. As stated by Mugiyanto, Senior Program Officer for Human Rights & Democracy, International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID), that it needs collaboration to increase the awareness as what have been done by UNGP with officials on local levels.

In the meantime, alignment between business, government, and the society is required to ensure businesses are conducting properly and not violate the rights of the employees and the people around it. For Anugraha Dezmercoledi, Co-Chair Business & Human Rights Working Group (B&HRWG), Indonesia Global Compact Network (IGCN) & Senior Program Manager, Rajawali Foundation, with hundreds of millions of people working in the global industry, there are many existing problems that may only be solved only by human rights approach. He thinks that the government holds the key to ensure the regulations and justice are uphold.

After creating regulations and implementations by all partakers, it comes the time for evaluation. Rafendi Djamin, Senior Advisor for Human Rights, HRWG Indonesia and Dr. Mualimin Abdi, SH., MH. Director General for Human Rights, Ministry of Law and Human Rights explained how the United Nations Guiding Principles are helping the issue to be widely known – helpful for the Indonesian government to ensure that businesses are adhering to the regulations.

Efforts by the Indonesian government resulted in companies conducting corporate social responsibility as a goodwill act to help the society.

However, people have to know that human rights is an issue that must be handled by people in all industry, not only on manufacturers and producers. According to Indira Abidin, Chief Happiness Officer (CHO), PT. Fortune Indonesia, Tbk., even the service industry needs to ensure they are defending the human rights of the employees, because it is not only about business sustainability, but also the human sustainability.  

Conclusion: Partnering everyone to keep the spirit of defending human rights in business alive is a way that must not be overlooked. Participation and evaluation is the key, and the UNGP would be useful for business leaders in spreading the issue further.

 

      Day-3: Thursday, 19 October 2017

Morning Session: 09.00 AM – 12.30 PM

          Business & Human Rights Forum

 

Topic	Invited Speakers
Introduction Video	UN Global Compact
Welcome Note	Debora Tjandrakusuma VP Human Rights, IGCN & ‎Legal and Corporate Affairs Director, Nestlé Indonesia
Special Address	Saiti Gusrini, Project Officer, European Union – European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EU-EIDHR)
Special Address: “Update on UNGPs on Business & Human Rights”	Rafendi Djamin Senior Advisor for Human Rights, HRWG Indonesia
Keynote Speech	Dr. Mualimin Abdi, SH., MH. Director General for Human Rights, Ministry of Law and Human Rights
Panel Discussion: “How Human Rights Apply in a Business Context“	Dicky Komar Director, Directorate of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
	Saptari Hoedaja President Director, PT Kaltim Prima Coal
	Indira Abidin Chief Happiness Officer (CHO), PT Fortune Indonesia, Tbk.
	Moderator: Yanti Triwadiantini Advisor, IGCN & Sustainability Advisor, Indonesia Business Links
Followed by Multi-stakeholders Dialogue series on UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights – series 5	Lead Discussant: Sugeng Bahagijo Executive Director, International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID)
	Lead Discussant: Aloysius Suratin Business Development Director, Oxfam GB Indonesia
	Moderator: Yanti Triwadiantini Advisor, IGCN & Sustainability Advisor, Indonesia Business Links
Closing Remarks	Anugraha Dezmercoledi Co-Chair, B&HRWG IGCN & Senior Program Manager, Rajawali Foundation
Master of Ceremony: Satrio Anindito Program Manager – Development, IGCN & Secretary General, B&HRWG* IGCN

 

* B&HRWG – Business and Human Rights Working Group IGCN

Read more: http://www.indonesiagcn.org/news_center/detail/38

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