Excellencies and distinguished guests, good morning and a warm welcome.
The business and human rights landscape over the past few years has been fluid and fast-changing. The track record of companies genuinely respecting and upholding human rights is not encouraging, despite all that is being said about ESG (environmental, social, and governance). Due diligence is becoming a trend, but it is discussed more than it is practised effectively. We continue to see environmental matters take centre stage in corporate conversations, where carbon credits, just transition and various green claims remain, for many, abstract concepts. And the practice of “colourwashing” remains prominent. There is, I think, no other way than for governments to legislate on the matter and compel businesses to take real action to address underlying human rights harms.
My friend, Representative of Thailand to AICHR Dr. Bhanubhatra Jittiang, who is hosting us today, has already provided an overview of this important workshop. I want to add that this is also an opportunity to create something concrete.
As some of you may know, AICHR has been deliberating and producing a series of human rights-based outcome documents on an array of topics. These are our common regional positions and approaches on the matters. Those on responsible business and migration in ASEAN and mainstreaming the gender dimension in business are relevant. They form the groundwork ASEAN needs to advance human rights. One recommendation we are considering is to have a joint ASEAN outcome document with our counterparts in the economic sector to enforce business and human rights obligations.
I look forward to achieving a tangible outcome by the end of this programme. Thank you.
The speaking notes above were prepared for the welcome remarks delivered by Edmund Bon on 13 July 2026 at the ASEAN Workshop on Strengthening the Implementation of Business and Human Rights to Address Forced Labour and Modern Slavery and Enhance Migrant Worker Protection Through Human Rights Due Diligence held on 13 and 14 July 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand. The press release on the workshop is accessible here.
