ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Seminar on Promoting CSR and Human Rights in ASEAN 3 - 4 Nov 2016 (Singapore)
The overarching theme of this two-day Seminar was about the need to incorporate CSR and the promotion of human rights in the national and regional development agenda post-2015. The broad consensus of the participants was for ASEAN to adopt and implement an ASEAN Regional Strategy to Promote CSR and Human Rights, as the next step for the CSR and Human Rights agenda.
This outcome was in line with the AICHR Baseline Study on CSR and Human Rights released in 2014, where one of the key recommendations was to launch an ASEAN-wide CSR-Human Rights Strategy and Guidelines in line with internationally-accepted business and human rights principles.
The seminar was jointly organised by the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and ASEAN CSR Network (ACN) for the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and involved the participation of about 130 key stakeholders, including representatives from governments, businesses, academia, civil society and trade unions in ASEAN Member States (AMS).
Dr Shashi Jayakumar – Alternative Representative of Singapore to AICHR, Mr Thomas Thomas (CEO, ACN), Ms. Yanti Triwadiantini (Chair, ACN), Mr Phil Matsheza (UNDP Head of Governance and Peacebuilding Cluster), H.E. Ambassador Barry Desker (Representative of Singapore to AICHR), Dr Amy Khor (Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources & Ministry of Health), H.E. Ambassador Francisco Fontan Pardo (EU Ambassador to ASEAN), H.E Ambassador Hakan Jevrell (Ambassador of Sweden to Singapore), Ambassador Nguyen Thi Nha (Representative of Vietnam to AICHR, H.E. Mr Phoukhong Sisoulath (Representative of Lao PDR to AICHR), Ms Polyne Hean (Representative of Cambodia to AICHR), Dr Seree Nonthasoot (Representative of Thailand to AICHR)
Workshop with ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN bodies 24 - 25 Nov 2016 (Jakarta, Indonesia)
This workshop was held at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia. The objective was to provide ASEAN officers a better understanding of CSR based on international standards and norms, allow relevant partners to understand ASEAN's priorities better and to provide a venue for exploring cooperation and collaboration in implementing the ASEAN 2025 blueprint. It was co-organised by the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN CSR Network, in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Oxfam,
The workshop involved about 80 participants from the ASEAN Secretariat, ASEAN bodies and partner organisations who were involved in in-depth discussions on key CSR and related issues across the 3 pillars of the ASEAN Community. These were good governance, sustainable economic development, inclusive and sustainable socio-cultural development, and environmental protection.
L – R
Mr Gil Gonzales (Executive Director, ASEAN Business Advisory Council), Mr Rene Van Berkel (Chief Technical Advisor, National Resource Efficient and Cleaner Production Programme Indonesia, UNIDO), Ms Diane Foo (Project Executive, AirAsia Foundation), Ms. Yanti Triwadiantini (Chair, ACN),H.E. Dr. AKP Mochtan (Deputy Secretary – General of ASEAN for Community and Corporate Affairs), Ms Elaine Tan (Executive Director, ASEAN Foundation), Ms Dini Widiastuti (Economic Justice Programme Director, Oxfam Indonesia), Atty. Roberto V. Olivia (Executive Director, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity), H.E. Isra Sunthornvut (Secretary General of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly), Mr Thomas Thomas (CEO, ACN)
Past Conferences
Business Integrity Forum 1 Nov 2016 (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Indonesia Business Links (IBL) and ASEAN CSR Network (ACN) co-organised the Business Integrity Forum on 1 Nov 2016 at Jakarta, Indonesia. This provided leaders from government, the private and development sectors to convene, learn and discuss business integrity practices by corporations and organisations while working to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.
UN Business and Human Rights 14 - 16 Nov 2016 (Geneva, Switzerland)
The UN Forum is the world's largest annual gathering on business and human rights with participants from government, business, community groups and civil society, law firms, investor organisations, UN bodies, NHRIs, trade unions, academia and the media.Over three days, participants took part in 60+ panel discussions on topics that relate to the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (the "Protect", "Respect" and "Remedy" Framework), as well as current business-related human rights issues. Mr Thomas Thomas (CEO, ACN) attended this forum and presented our regional work.
Interagency Roundtable on CSR 17 Nov 2016 (Geneva, Switzerland)
The Interagency Roundtable on CSR is a joint initiative co-organized by UNCTAD, ILO and OECD to bring together CSR experts from international organizations and their development partners to explore current topics in CSR, share experiences and identify opportunities for collaboration. Participants are members of United Nations agencies and other relevant international organizations, along with national development agencies, and invited subject matter experts. ACN was invited as well. Mr Thomas shared on the work being done in ASEAN.
Other Updates
Small Grants Fund
10 organisations from 8 ASEAN countries have been awarded the ASEAN CSR Vision 2020 Small Grants Fund offered by the ASEAN CSR Network with the support of the Government of Sweden through its Embassy in Bangkok. This Small Grants Fund provides supplementary funding to local and regional organisations who promote CSR and with an interest to link their work to the ASEAN CSR Vision 2020.
ACN has selected a group of 16 Fellows from 8 ASEAN countries to participate in our inaugural ASEAN CSR Fellowship. They are mid-career professionals, ranging from Head of CSR departments in MNCs, to managers of sustainable tourism projects. From Jan to Oct 2017, they will be travelling to 4 countries in ASEAN – Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar and Philippines. This is to gain a broad and in-depth understanding of responsible business practices which includes topics ranging from anti-corruption to environmentally sustainability. More details on our Fellows will be shared on our website soon.
Sustainability Reporting in ASEAN 2015
This Sustainability Reporting in ASEAN 2015 is a study carried out by both ASEAN CSR Network (ACN) and National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School's Centre for Governance, Institutions and Organisations (CGIO). Please click on the following image to access the full study.
Programme Director
We would like to welcome Ms Braema Mathi who joined ACN on 1 Dec 2016 as our full time Programme Director. She comes with a wealth of experience. She began work as a teacher, moved to journalism and had started a number of Non Governmental Organisations (NGO). She was also a Nominated Member of Parliament in Singapore from 2001 - 2004. Indeed, we are fortunate to have her join our team and we look forward to exciting times ahead with her.
In The News
For the latest media coverage that we received, please read HERE for more.
If your organisation or network is interested in participating in the ASEAN CSR Network, please contact the Participating Organisation who is formalised as the convener for the network in your country. Visit the Participating Organisations page on our website for more information.
If your country does not have a Participating Organisation formalised as a convenor yet, you may contact the Secretariat of the ASEAN CSR Network directly.