AICHR, SEANF co-host regional workshop on sharing good practices, effective remedy for migrant workers

BANGKOK, 1 October 2024 – The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the Southeast Asia National Human Rights Institution Forum (SEANF) co-hosted “AICHR-SEANF Regional Workshop:  Sharing Good Practices and Effective Remedy for Migrant Workers in Business and Human Rights in ASEAN” on 24 September.

The workshop was attended by AICHR, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs), ASEAN sectoral bodies, regional stakeholders including the business community, international experts, and civil society organisations. At the workshop, participants took the opportunity to update on the progress and exchange views on the strategies to advance the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) in the region.

The meeting focused on good practices and effective remedies for migrant workers in business contexts, the efforts by NHRIs to promote remedies, and the corporate performance in context of transnational human rights impacts. The meeting also addressed progress of UNGPs implementation in Japan, the roles of private sector in promoting non-state, non-judicial remedies, and the challenges faced by migrant workers in accessing justice.

Experts and participants exchanged views on good practices to move forwards, including to develop and to integrate UNGPs and international standards into national policies and regulations, to enhance stakeholder engagement and public participation in business and human rights initiatives, to strengthen support and safeguards for vulnerable groups, including migrant workers, among others.

Over 140 participants from across the region attended the one-day programme regional workshop, which was conducted as part of the 2024 United Nations Responsible Business and Human Rights Forum conducted by the United Nations agencies from 23-27 September.

The meeting addressed challenges of the current and future remedy programmes, for instance, to streamline access to justice mechanisms for migrant workers, to strengthen legal and regulatory frameworks to protect environmental rights, to enhance capacities of justice sector institutions to address business-related human rights violations, and to improve legal empowerment and aid for communities affected by business operations.

Aiming to promote effective remedies in the region, participants exchanged views on the development of a regional framework for addressing transboundary human rights impacts by businesses and to strengthen regional cooperation on migrant worker protection and rights.

AICHR and SEANF hosted the event with the support from the Japanese Government through Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF), the European Union (EU), the Danish Institute for Human Rights (DIHR), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).