ASEAN CSR Network May 2017 Newsletter

Promoting and enabling
responsible business conduct in ASEAN

Highlights

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​Thailand to Focus on Drafting National Action Plan
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On 31 May 2017, a large-scale international conference was held in Bangkok and opened by H.E. Mr. Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Prime Minister of Thailand.

The event saw the signing of the Declaration on cooperation in implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in Thailand by the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Commerce, Minister of Justice, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade Thailand, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries, Chairman of the Thai Bankers Association and the Chairman of the Global Compact Network Thailand.
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​Regional Workshop on Business & Human Rights: Moving ahead with National Action Plans in ASEAN, 1-2 June 2017, (Bangkok, Thailand)
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The Regional Workshop was a follow-up to a meeting held in Singapore, 3-4 November 2016. It was organised by ACN, UNDP, Ministry of Justice Thailand, the AICHR Representitive from Thailand, and UNESCAP, with support from Sweden, Oxfam and UNGCN Thailand. 200 participants were present to discuss the progression of Business and Human Rights in ASEAN.  

To read a brief report on each session, please click here. A full report will be released soon.

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​Regional Dialogue on Women's Rights and Natural Resources, 30 May-1 June, (Phnom Penn, Cambodia)
 

International Women's Rights Action Watch Asia Pacific (IWRAW Asia Pacific) in collaboration with Gender and Development for Cambodia (GADC) organised a 3-day Regional Dialogue on Women's Rights and Natural Resources from 30 May - 1 June 2017 in Cambodia.

For full post and pictures, click here.

News Around the World 

ASEAN, UN discuss regional economic cooperation in support of the SDGs

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A high-level policy dialogue on regional economic cooperation and integration in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs) was convened during the ministerial segment of the 73rd session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) on 18 May 2017 in Bangkok, Thailand.

To read more, click here.

Paris climate deal: Trump pulls US out of 2015 accord

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President Donald Trump has announced that the US is withdrawing from the 2015 Paris climate agreement.

He said moves to negotiate a new "fair" deal that would not disadvantage US businesses and workers would begin.

Image and article source - BBC News. To read more, click here

Taiwan's top court rules in favour of same-sex marriage

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Taiwan's top judges have ruled in favour of gay marriage, paving the way for it to become the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex unions.

​In a press release following the ruling, the court said that "disallowing two persons of the same sex to marry, for the sake of safeguarding basic ethical orders" constituted a "different treatment" with "no rational basis."
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Image and article source - BBC News. To read more, click here

Better Business Better World: Business & Sustainable Development Commission report presented at the Ecosperity conference, Singapore, 5 June 2017
 
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The report brings together leaders from business, finance, civil society, labour, and international organisations, with the twin aims of mapping the economic prize that could be available to business if the UN Sustainable Development Goals are achieved, and describing how business can contribute to delivering these goals.

To read more about it's potential impact in Asia, click here

ASEAN continues to stride forward with its regional integration efforts with a view to narrowing the development gap and delivering more benefits to more people. A factsheet has been done up and it highlights the progress of the three ASEAN Community pillars and priorities as the grouping celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2017.