On 23 August 2018, the Department of International Orfanizations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the Department of Rights and Liberties of Ministry of Justice, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) South-East Asia Regional Office, Global Compact Network Association Thailand and Asian Law Students’ Association (ALSA) co-organised a panel discussion titled “Progress of the Implementation on Business and Human Rights” by  Professor Emeritus Vitit Muntarbhorn, Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University, Dr. Seree Nonthasot, Representative of Thailand to ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, and Dr. Decha Pimpisut, Director of the Eco Industrial Development Division, Department of Industrial Works, Ministry of Industry. The panel discussion was a part of the lecture series on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights with the aim to raise awareness and to promote the implementation of the National Agenda: Human Rights as a Driving Force of Thailand 4.0 towards Sustainable Development. 

 

                On this occasion, Mr. Pichit Boonsud, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Organisations delivered the opening remarks to start off the panel discussion, affirming the Government’s commitment to cooperate with all stakeholders, especially youths, in driving forward the issue of business and human rights, and to share Thailand’s best practices on human rights as well as to apply international standards to improve implementation of the National Agenda in Thailand. Ms. Pitikarn Sitidej, Director-General of the Rights and Liberties Department and Ms. Deirdre Boyd, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Thailand also delivered their opening remarks. 

 

                The panelists exchanged views on the challenges of respecting human rights and profit-making. They emphasised on the progress made in the implementation of the National Agenda in accordance with international human rights obligations, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights as well as Sustainable Development Goals, OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and ISO 26000. The panel also discussed the roles of stakeholders, the process of drafting the national action plan on Business and Human Rights, and ways to promote cooperation at the regional and global levels.

 

                For photos and video clip of the panel discussion, please visit Facebook page: Rights Now at https://facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1928373903875500 and https://youtu.be/s9h4-LpilPA