H.E. Mr. Vijavat Isarabhakdi, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, stressed Thailand’s commitment to promoting business and human rights and the implementation of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) at the opening of the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) activity on “The Essentials of Human Rights Due Diligence in Business: A Training for Regional Institutions in Asia,” on 1 December 2020, at the Athenee Hotel Bangkok.

Thailand is the first Asian country to launch a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, focusing on labour; community, land, natural resources; human rights defenders; cross border investments and multinational enterprises on the UNGPs’ 3-Pillar framework of “Protect”, “Respect” and “Remedy”. The Vice Minister encouraged participants to exchange views on how Human Rights Due Diligence should be implemented by businesses at all stages of operations. He also commended and encouraged AICHR to continue promoting business and human rights consistent with the UNGPs through trainings and peer-learning projects in ASEAN.

The 2-day training activity was held by Dr. Amara Pongsapich, Representative of Thailand to the AICHR, with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Justice of the Kingdom of Thailand. The hybrid training was aimed at strengthening capacity of human rights institutions in the region in dealing with Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) in business conduct, with a focus on labour standard and environmental sustainability.