Business & Human Rights Resource Centre joined 56 other civil society organizations led by FORUM-ASIA in appealing that the Foreign Ministers ensure a transparent, accountable and participatory review process of the AICHR’s Terms of Reference
In time for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting last August 8 to 10, and special meetings of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) held days prior, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre sent an appeal to the AICHR Representatives for the public disclosure of the Baseline Study for Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Rights in ASEAN, which the Commission announced last June to have been completed. In a separate effort, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre joined 56 other civil society organizations led by FORUM-ASIA in appealing that the Foreign Ministers ensure a transparent, accountable and participatory review process of the AICHR’s Terms of Reference, and a substantial review that would provide stronger mandates and support to the AICHR – steps that we see as essential in any effort to strengthen the Commission’s ability to address business-related human rights issues in the region.
On August 8, we received a response from one of the AICHR Representatives about our request for the public disclosure of the Baseline Study. The e-mail stated: “Thank you for your letter enquiring after the Baseline Study for Corporate Responsibility and Human Rights. AICHR presented the study to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers today. We will be releasing it soon on the website. There was never any intention to keep the study under wraps.”
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