On 17 December 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, the Ministry of Justice, the UN Global Compact Network Thailand, the UNDP Thailand and the Federation of Thai SME co-organised the 5th National Dialogue on Business and Human Rights, under the theme of Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD), utilising experiences from European countries that are global leaders in this field as case studies. The Minister of Justice delivered opening remarks along with several high-level representatives, including the Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Chulamanee Chartsuwan.

The Meeting focused on (1) the developments and trends in legalising HRDD; (2) the sharing of best practices from both Thai and foreign companies in implementing HRDD; (3) progress and experiences in drafting and implementing due diligence laws in Europe; and (4) recommendations on how to prepare for such regulations.

The Meeting agreed that new regulations to enforce responsible business practices which respect human rights and the environment throughout the supply chain will be enacted in many countries. It will become a new norm that businesses will not be able to avoid. This Meeting is therefore a crucial starting point in raising the private sector’s awareness and initiating their preparations for the upcoming due diligence regulations.

This will be a turning point for Thai companies to start adapting and preparing for this changing landscape. Doing so will raise the country’s competitiveness while upholding human dignity and preserving the environment, bringing about a truly sustainable socio-economic development for all.