Latest news with #BusinessandHumanRights
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Asean urged to infuse gender lens in human rights agenda
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Asean must step up its efforts to incorporate gender perspectives into the business and human rights agenda to ensure inclusive regional development. Malaysia's Representative to the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) Edmund Bon Tai Soon said while Asean has progressed in promoting gender equality, the women across the region still face structural barriers that prevent their full participation in decision making and economic life. "Business and human rights are not solely about trade regulations or governance, but it impacts people especially women and girls, and those from vulnerable and marginalised communities whose voices have often been excluded from decision-making. "These barriers remain deeply entrenched in our societies and too often, business structures and practices appear gender-neutral, but continue to reinforce inequality in effect,' he said in his remarks at the Regional Workshop on Gender Lens Perspective on Business and Human Rights in Asean here on Monday. He emphasised that gender discrimination in business settings remains both a cause and a consequence of broader inequality, particularly for women and girls, and should be recognised as a form of violence. "We see on our TV screens, we see in the media, news about war and genocides, that is actual violence, that is physical violence, that is something that we are against. "But structural and cultural discrimination is also a form of violence, and I think that is something that we need to localise,' he said. Bon added that Asean must ensure its frameworks reflect the lived realities of women and girls in line with international standards such as the United Nations Guiding Principles (UNGPs) on Business and Human Rights. "As global standards such as the UNGPs continue to shape international expectations and up-and-coming regulations to reflect, Asean must also evolve to ensure that our frameworks reflect the lived realities of women and girls in our region and that they are not treated as an afterthought in economic growth,' he said. The two-day regional workshop, held in Kuala Lumpur from 30 June to 1 July, aimed to explore how a regional gender lens framework can help address gender-based barriers, tackle structural and cultural discrimination, and enhance the protection of the human rights of women and girls. It was jointly supported by Asean Member States through the AICHR Fund, the Government of Japan via the Japan-Asean Integration Fund (JAIF), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with relevant Malaysian ministries and agencies, as well as the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM). - Bernama
Business Recorder
05-06-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
Business and Human Rights: TDAP participates in seminar on NAP implementation
PESHAWAR: The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Peshawar office, actively participated in a high-level seminar organised by the Ministry of Human Rights, Government of Pakistan, on the Implementation of Pakistan's National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights. The event was held at a local hotel in Peshawar, and brought together a wide range of stakeholders to deliberate on the integration of human rights principles into business practices. TDAP Peshawar made two comprehensive presentations highlighting the role of the Authority in promoting responsible business conduct, ethical trade practices, and inclusive economic development across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially in underserved regions. The presentations underscored TDAP's initiatives to support women entrepreneurs, ensure capacity building of exporters in human rights compliance, and enhance linkages between trade and sustainable development. The presentations received wide appreciation from participants, which included representatives from the Provincial Government departments, trade bodies, academia, legal professionals, NGOs, and a significant number of women entrepreneurs. TDAP reaffirmed its commitment to aligning its trade promotion activities with Pakistan's international human rights obligations and contributing to the effective implementation of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. The Authority looks forward to continued collaboration with the Ministry of Human Rights and other stakeholders in fostering ethical, inclusive, and sustainable trade. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
