During 23 – 25 August 2018, the Department of International Organisations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Department of Rights and Liberties, Ministry of Justice, United Nations Development Programme (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), launched the Asian Youth Partnership on Business and Human Rights. The programme is aimed at promoting regional network of youth interested in human rights and building capacity of youth as an agent of change to drive forward the issue of business and human rights in the long term. The programme was attended by 65 university students in various fields from Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Viet Nam, Singapore, Brunei, and Malaysia. 
 

                      Mr. Pichit Boonsud, Deputy Director-General of the Department of International Organisations, delivered an opening statement, affirming the Royal Thai Government’s commitment to cooperate with all stakeholders, especially youths, in driving forward the nexus between business and human rights, share Thailand’s best practices on human rights, as well as to apply international standards to improve the implementation of the National Agenda in Thailand. Ms. Pitikarn Sitidej, Director-General of the Rights and Liberties Department, Ministry of Justice and Ms. Deirdre Boyd, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Country Representative also delivered opening remarks. 
 

                      The Asian Youth Partnership on Business and Human Rights programme consisted of (1) a special lecture on Progress of the Implementation on Business and Human Rights by Prof.Emeritus Vitit Muntarbhorn, Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University, Dr. Seree Nonthasoot, 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 (2) a study visit to the Global Compact Network Association Thailand and TrueMoney Wallet  (3) a special lecture on “United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and its three pillars in reality” by Prof. Dr. Surya Deva, Vice Chair of the UN Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises and (4) Innovation Lab led by Prof. Dr. Surya Deva, Mr. Livio Sarandrea, Head of UNDP Asia-Pacific's Business and Human Rights project, and  Ms. Sor Rattanamanee Polka, human rights lawyer and co-founder, Community Resources Centre. 
 

                      At the Innovation Lab, the youth participated proposed innovative ideas to promote and drive forward responsible business practices which align with UNGPs such as the use of block chain technology and escrow account and the utilisation of existing platforms such as Hackathon, Seek and Eyes on You Tracking Programme.
 

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